Institutions & Courses Natcoll Design Technology Courses
Diploma of Animation (Advanced)
This course is available at the following Natcoll Design Technology campuses:
Christchurch - Canterbury
Wellington
Wellington is New Zealand’s capital city. It’s full of cafes, bars and theatres and has a beautiful harbour.
Auckland
Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city, with 1.3 million people.
A full-time, 41 week, Level 6 course which uses industry standard software to help students create an animated world and bring it to life. Students put together a showreel that reflects their talents. Course components include:
- Art and design – develop creative and design skills; study life drawing, animation and art history, screen composition, lighting and colour; develop an understanding of visual language and how to create storyboards.
- Animation principles – make objects move in a realistic way; learn how to use weight, elasticity, anticipation and exaggeration to show thoughts and attitudes of a character or object.
- Industry practice – learn how copyright and legal issues affect production; how an animation production is managed and how workflow is organised; develop communication skills essential for working in animation industries.
- Modelling and rigging – model both mechanical and organic forms using the latest 3D modelling techniques; design and create characters complete with facial expressions and skeletons for use in animations.
- Character animation – bring simple characters to life; learn how acting and directing can influence animation; create walk cycles; animate a character to convey emotions and thoughts.
- Animation production – finish animations to a commercial standard; design surfaces and light scenes; manage rendering and complete animation using compositing techniques.
- Visual effects (VFX) – incorporate smoke, fire, weather and explosions into your animations. Use 3D matte painting techniques to create realistic environments.
- Group project – working as part of a team, create an animated short film using all the skills learnt through the course; this group project simulates working in an animation studio.
- Individual / joint project showreel – apply what you have learnt to produce a short animation to include in your showreel.
- Software - software used on this course includes: Maya, Photoshop, After Effects, Final Cut Pro and Soundtrack Pro.
