✕

Animation and Special Effects, Minor

Animation & Special Effects Minor

Kelly Delaney, Advisor
kellydel@andrew.cmu.edu
https://ideate.cmu.edu 

Overview

Animation & Special Effects comprise a rich field of inquiry at the intersection of art, science, and technology. Students in the IDeATe Animation & Special Effects minor will gain experience and competency across a wide range of techniques, while learning about the diverse histories, theories, and practices of animation from renowned faculty experts and visiting artists. Coursework cultivates development of unique aesthetics and individual voice through opportunities for group critique, iteration, public screening and exhibition. Through the minor, students will: have opportunities to collaborate and connect with peers in other fields of research; develop relevant practical skills and abilities that can be applied across a variety of independent studio and industry contexts; deepen cultural sensitivities while expanding their own creative practices; and develop a compelling animation portfolio. In particular, students will gain skills and competencies in the following areas:

  • Storytelling through animation
  • Digital 2D and 3D animation techniques
  • Expanded and experimental animation methods
  • Real-time animation systems
  • Motion-capture technologies
  • Visual effects and procedural animation
  • Rendering and compositing

The Animation & Special Effects minor is offered through a collaboration between IDeATe and the Robotics Institute, bringing together expertise from across the university.

Curriculum

Animation & Special Effects MinorMinimum of 45 Units
One Computing Course - Minimum of 9 units
Units
15-104Introduction to Computing for Creative Practice10
15-110Principles of Computing10
15-112Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science12
60-212Intermediate Studio: Creative Coding12
One IDeATe Portal Course - Minimum of 9 units
60-125IDeATe: Introduction to 3D Animation Pipeline12
IDeATe Animation & Special Effects Courses - minimum of 27 units
15-463Computational Photography12
53-325IDeATe Special Topics in Animation: Bipedal Rigging for Animation Production9
53-362Advanced Look Development: The Two Worlds of Texture9
60-218Intermediate Studio: Real-Time Animation10
60-220IDeATe: Technical Character Animation10
60-222Intermediate Studio: 3D Animation10
60-224Intermediate Studio: Expanded Cinema10
60-413Advanced ETB: Real-Time Animation10
60-414Advanced ETB: Hand Drawn Animation10
60-415Advanced ETB: Animation Studio10
Additional course options as available. Please refer to the IDeATe website for courses for the current and upcoming semester. 
Double-counting

Students may double-count up to two of their Animation & Special Effects minor courses toward other requirements.

Back to top