Game Art and Animation - Computer Game Design School

Overview

The Game Art and Animation program prepares students for entry-level positions in the computer game and animation field. These positions are typically found in video game production studios, visual effects houses, TV production studios, and computer animation studios.

To prepare for a career in art and production in a video game studio, visual effects studio, or animation studio Madison Media Institute students are grounded in the principles of 3D computer graphics, modeling, texturing, animation, lighting, rendering, compositing, as well as traditional art skills. Graduates of the program will be positioned to enter the industry with expertise in all the standard studio tools. Students will learn how to build 3D models, animate characters and bring them into computer games using the state of the art computer game engine, Unreal III by Epic. Additional courses will give students a strong foundation in cinematography, performance driven story, and real and virtual world lighting techniques.

Students will work with the latest generation of video game development software including Autodesk’s Maya, Motion Builder, and Mudbox as well as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Flash, After Effects and Premiere. Additionally, students will learn how to use the revolutionary ZBrush modeling and texturing tool. As students progress through the program, they can concentrate on selected skill sets to prepare them as modelers, character animators and technical animators. Mentored directly by industry professionals, students will learn highly desirable traits and skills.

A highlight of the program will be firsthand experience in a working motion capture (Mocap) facility. Students will edit and integrate Mocap data, their own character and environment models and key frame animation into a working game.

The Game Art and Animation program includes a well rounded set of general studies, team building and job preperation course work. Graduates will leave with a complete portfolio which will include a game level, demo reel, website and DVD tailored to their artistic style and allow them to stand out from the crowd.