3D Animation Course - Digital Animation Design Tutorials & Digital Media Courses

The Industry

Digital Media and Animation have become two of the fastest growing industries in the world. They currently represent 43.8% of the total global revenue for all forms of commercial and industrial computer graphics.

The link below gives a perfect illustration of growth in these areas. As illustrated in the attached table, digital media and animation are expected to generate an additional $US46 billion in worldwide revenue by 2010, creating unprecedented demand for qualified professionals and skilled content creators with specialized training in this field.

In a recent report entitled ‘Digital Industry Action Agenda: Unlocking the potential’, Australia’s Federal Government identified the Digital Content Industry as the fastest growing sector globally. It has an estimated value to the Australian economy of $21 billion, contributes 3.5% to Australia’s GDP and employs 300,000 people.

To secure a key slice of this burgeoning market, the report clearly outlines the need for Australia to support and educate creative talent in this field and most importantly, to produce industry-ready students who are able to contribute to the creation and management of superior content, and to the Federal Government’s projected goal of achieving a sustainable and internationally competitive Digital Content Industry with a value of $A42billion by 2015.

The project-inspired curriculum, superior technology and unique practical integration programme experienced by the JMC Academy’s 3D Animation and Digital Media students ensures without question our readiness and ability to help government and industry meet this challenge.

Studying at the JMC Academy

The JMC Academy’s Digital Media and 3D Animation post-production oriented courses are at the leading edge of entertainment technology training. They offer students extensive instruction in the fundamentals of 2D and 3D animation, screenwriting, web and graphic design, interactive games, special effects, project management and the integration of sound and vision for games, TV Commercials and feature films.

All courses aim to explore key technical, theoretical, and cultural issues in the creation, production, and distribution of digitally animated television, film and new media. The courses reflect the world wide trend in convergence of traditional and new media into the unified digital experience that entertainment has become.

Year one introduces the student to the foundational skills and tools essential for a career in animation, emphasising on drawing, the role of hardware, colour, sound and movement and animation technique.

After building a website and merging it with flash created content, creating a graphic novella, and exploring the fundamentals of 3D animation, year one culminates in the practical production of an animated character within the context of a television commercial.

Year two introduces students to Screen Writing, Digital Television Production, Asset Resource and Management, Architectural visualization, and Graphical User Interface Design. Projects include the writing of a short screenplay, the making of a film utilising machine-style animation, the design of a graphic user interface for specific hardware, and the creation of a short animated film which incorporates live components shot earlier at the DTV studio as part of the course.

By year three, Screen Writing II teaches the students about feature length and television based writing. Students may choose between writing a script for a television film, a television pilot for a series, or, a screenplay for an animated feature.

Real Time Game Engines takes students behind the scenes of game design with industry relevant projects. As a deeper foray into the profitable industry of architecture, students are taught to construct, texture, light, and fly a camera through a series of buildings in a professional level project.

With a final theoretical exploration of film history, students are required to complete their final ‘team’ project through the planning and execution of a high quality 3D animated film which is worked upon for two semesters.

What Makes this Course Unique?

The JMC Academy’s Digital Media and 3D Animation department is the only one of its kind to integrate the teachings of animation television, interactivity and multimedia with theoretical and practical exposure to the production of audio, video, television and entertainment.

JMC Academy students have the advantage of being able to walk away with a complete understanding of how all of these components interact for maximum effect and impact.

Careers in the Industry

Students are given extensive and practical exposure to a diverse range of skills, information and related industries to ensure they are able to identify and pursue employment in relevant professional fields.

A career in animation requires strong artistic skill and an ongoing familiarity with the latest in computer animation technology and software. It also requires the ability to turn creative thoughts into compelling images, using them to effectively communicate a vision. A fertile imagination is a must and the results can be enormously rewarding.

Animators can find full-time employment with film or television production houses, with advertisers, architects, web design firms, or video game companies. Work may also be found with television stations working on promos, animation, titles and credits, and with production houses specialising in the production of interactive multimedia DVD and CD experiences for children and educational institutions.

Freelance work is another option for animators, particularly those specialising in web animation and movie effects. A strong portfolio of work, which the JMC Academy will help you to develop, is an essential part of securing a job in computer animation.

Specific roles within animation may include:

Web Designer, Concept Artist, Storyboard Artist, Modeler, Texture Artist, Rigger, Lead/Assistant Animator, Render Wrangler, Visual Effects Artist, Matte Painter, Special Effects Animator, Compositor, Scriptwriter, Games Designer, Project Manager

Course Structure

All units of study for the Diploma, Associate Degree and Degree programmes are delivered on JMC Academy premises and are attainable at the following levels:

Diploma
Based on full time status, students complete the programme in 2 semesters or 1 Academic Year (36 weeks).

Associate Degree
Based on full time status, students complete the programme in 4 semesters or 2 Academic Years (72 weeks).

Bachelor Degree
Based on full time status, students complete the programme in 6 semesters or 3 Academic Years (104 weeks).