School of Animation & Visual Effects

MFA Program Learning Outcomes

The MFA in Animation and Visual Effects focuses on storytelling with an emphasis on technical acuity and emotional response. Graduate students are grounded in strong traditional skills that are then translated into the depth and dimension facilitated by technology. The program educates students in all aspects of animation and visual effects film processes from concept to post production while fostering skills mastery, creativity, problem solving, and professionalism.

During Directed Study, the production phase of Final Projects, real world skills such as process, communication, collaboration, and time management are practiced to ensure graduates meet or surpass the needs of the industry. Each graduate student’s Final Project is evaluated by a committee of professionals for consideration in film festivals and exhibition during the Spring Show.

MFA graduates of the School of Animation & Visual Effects will meet the following student performance criteria:

• MFA Thesis Project

  • Present an original thesis concept worthy of the MFA degree
  • Demonstrate the feasibility of their thesis project
  • Produce a professional-standard project with topical content for the industry, which showcases their technical and artistic ability.

• Visual Storytelling

  • Develop visual stories that support comedic or dramatic situations.
  • Select camera choices that enhance the development and mood of the story.

• Drawing

  • Draw convincing poses, expressions, character designs, thumbnails, and storyboards (as appropriate to their specialization) that demonstrate an understanding of the principles of composition, color and design.
  • Design composition and performance specifically for a 3-dimensional medium (where applicable).

• Technical Skills

  • Demonstrate facility with animation technology and software.

• Presentation Skills

  • Clearly discuss their work and workflow process with a review committee, using industry terminology.
  • Pitch their ideas in a compelling way.
  • Create visually compelling, professional quality presentation materials

• Preproduction Skills (Project Development)

  • Execute projects that demonstrate attention to: research, analytical thinking, detail, flexibility in problem solving, and revision.

• Collaboration

  • Collaborate artistically on their projects, including identifying project needs and necessary skill sets.

• Professional Readiness

  • Present a comprehensive professional demo reel / portfolio demonstrating achievement of their specialty skills and an understanding of their target niche.
  • Demonstrate accountability for planning complex projects, prioritizing tasks and meeting project milestones.
  • Document project workflow.

• Specialty Skills: Animation

  • Apply the major principles of animation in their projects.
  • Create pieces that showcase their awareness of expression and emotion.
  • Stage their stories through effective camera placement choices.
  • Create animatics to assist in story development.

• Specialty Skills: Modeling

  • Convincingly model forms in 3-dimensions that demonstrate a thorough understanding of anatomy and sculptural form.
  • Display a range of modeling skill sets including hard surfaces and organic.
  • Create textures that will be applied to the surface of their models.
  • Produce industry-standard turnarounds and wireframes

• Specialty Skills: Storyboarding/Visual Development

  • Stage their stories through effective camera placement choices.
  • Demonstrate strong drawing skills and facility with anatomy, proportion, figure, and animals, perspective, color and design, and composition
  • Research and design an environment for each scene, demonstrating strong drawing skills and consideration of camera angles
  • Create value studies that set the mood for each scene, applying an understanding of light source.
  • Art direct a scene through color and design elements consistent with the overall look of the film.
  • Demonstrate continuity in visual storytelling
  • Visual Development only: Develop a well-designed and differentiated cast of characters to support the story.

• Specialty Skills: Compositing

  • Create believable images by combining elements from different sources.

• Specialty Skills: Visual Effects

  • Design digital effects that meet the needs of the imagery.
  • Generate digital elements
  • Combine digital effects with live action media to create a seamless image.
  • Create animatics to assist in story development.

Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:

1. Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
2. Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
3. Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
4. Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
5. Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
6. Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
7. Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.

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