Fundamentals

Week 1: Video Tutorial Q&A

We’ll review what was discussed in the tutorial videos and do a Q&A on the material covered. We’ll also have a LIVE DEMO of the first exercise: “The Flying Saucer”, where we’ll cover the basic steps shown in the video from the previous week and then we’ll take things a bit further.

Week 2: Anatomy of an Action

Hop reference videos will be reviewed and we’ll get an introduction to my Anatomy of an Action philosophy (a method for breaking down an action into its most important poses) as well as my keyframe workflow passes (block, rough, polish) We’ll also introduce 'key framing tutorial videos'.

Week 3: Key Framing Live Demo

First, we’ll take a moment to review the key framing videos introduced last week, then I’ll walk everyone through my application of the Anatomy of an Action to my hop reference and block out an animation of a hop in MotionBuilder.

Week 4: Review of Hop Block

We’ll take a look at how people made out with their hops and then assign a small research assignment while also introducing *Motion Capture Introduction tutorial videos* A small research project regarding the motion capture industry will also be assigned.

Week 5: Introduction to Motion Capture

Lectures on my motion capture workflow philosophy (protecting the performance, editing the performance, enhancing the performance). The final workshop assignment will be introduced so that everyone knows what we’re working towards as a final goal.

Week 6: My First Mocap

Live Demo of a “Simple Action” (mocap) protecting and editing the performance. Anatomy of an Action will be used to help identify key poses to enhance.

Week 7: Review First Mocap

Review of Simple Action and Q&A.

Week 8: Final Assignment: The Modified Cycle

Taking the basic cycle to the next level: a benefit to film, TV and games. Live Demo: Extracting the base cycle and making it loop.

Week 9: Adding the final organic touch

LIVE DEMO illustrating how to make natural modifications to mocap data as well as adding organic detail that may have been removed during the cycling process.

Week 10: Review Final Assignment

Review the WIP on the Final Assignment and/or the first mocap exercise.

Week 11: Anatomy of an Action (The Sequel)

Go back and revisit the hop data, but this time apply AoA to extract key poses from which to animate with using the story mode.