Module Descriptors
INTRODUCTION TO ANIMATION AND MOTION CAPTURE
GAME40162
Key Facts
Faculty of Arts and Creative Technologies
Level 4
30 credits
Contact
Leader: Nigel Butler
Email: N.S.Butler@staffs.ac.uk
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 72
Independent Study Hours: 228
Total Learning Hours: 300
Assessment
- COURSEWORK weighted at 50%
- COURSEWORK weighted at 50%
Module Details
Module Additional Assessment Details
A coursework weighted at 50%
Practical Video and Reflective Forum Thread showing development of final animation and understanding of animation techniques. (LO 1,3)
A coursework weighted at 50%
Presentations of motion capture data in a Games Engine plus the motion capture design documentation. Students will present as a group but will work and be marked individually. (LO 2,3,4)
Practical Video and Reflective Forum Thread showing development of final animation and understanding of animation techniques. (LO 1,3)
A coursework weighted at 50%
Presentations of motion capture data in a Games Engine plus the motion capture design documentation. Students will present as a group but will work and be marked individually. (LO 2,3,4)
Module Indicative Content
Students will study:
- Fundamental Techniques of Key Frame Animation
- Kinematics, Constraints, Hierarchies and other Animation Tools
- Particle Systems
- Physics Simulations
- Motion Capture Pipeline
- Cleaning Motion Capture Data using Motion Builder
- Refining and combining Motion Capture Data
- Import Process for Animation into a Games Engine
- Presentation using a Games Engine
- Fundamental Techniques of Key Frame Animation
- Kinematics, Constraints, Hierarchies and other Animation Tools
- Particle Systems
- Physics Simulations
- Motion Capture Pipeline
- Cleaning Motion Capture Data using Motion Builder
- Refining and combining Motion Capture Data
- Import Process for Animation into a Games Engine
- Presentation using a Games Engine
Module Learning Strategies
3 hour lecture/tutorial per week
Module Texts
The Animators Survival Kit, Richard Williams, (2002) Faber & Faber, ISBN: 0571202284
The Animator's Motion Capture Guide: Organizing, Managing, and Editing, Matt Liverman (2004), Charles River Media, ISBN: 1584502916
The Animator's Workbook, Tony White (1988), White Watson-Guptill, ISBN: 0823002292
Understanding Motion Capture for Computer Animation 2nd Edition, Alberto Menache (2011), Morgan Kaufman, ISBN 9780123814968
MoCap for Artists: Workflow and Techniques for Motion Capture, Midori Kitigawa (2008), Focal Press, ISBN: 9780240810003
The Animator's Motion Capture Guide: Organizing, Managing, and Editing, Matt Liverman (2004), Charles River Media, ISBN: 1584502916
The Animator's Workbook, Tony White (1988), White Watson-Guptill, ISBN: 0823002292
Understanding Motion Capture for Computer Animation 2nd Edition, Alberto Menache (2011), Morgan Kaufman, ISBN 9780123814968
MoCap for Artists: Workflow and Techniques for Motion Capture, Midori Kitigawa (2008), Focal Press, ISBN: 9780240810003
Module Resources
Autodesk 3D Studio Max, Autodesk Motion Builder, UDK, Vicon User Manuals, RARE Optical Motion Capture Studio, Digital Academy