What is a Computer Animation Diploma Program?
Computer animation is used extensively in television, film, theme park rides, computer games, and all sorts of digital environments. A diploma in computer animation will give you the necessary skills and understanding of the creative and technical processes you need to begin a career. You will learn to draw, visualize, and effectively apply principles of color, perspective and shading. A good program will teach you about texture mapping, motion capture and animation, and help you translate your traditional art skills into the characters, objects, scenes, and virtual environments that will become the digital world you are creating. Some programs offer skills in audio and video production also, to give you an overview of the entire process of creation that leads to a final product.
Skills Acquired
To succeed in the world of computer animation, you need to master many skills. A good diploma program will teach you drawing, color, character design and computer applications. You will learn advanced 2-D and 3-D animation principles as well as story development, background design, scene layout and special effects, and achieve proficiency with such animation software tools as PhotoShop, After Effects and 3D Studio Max. You'll learn animation theory and techniques, drawing and design for animation, 3D animation production, 3D graphics production, techniques for life-like drawing and rendering, and more. Students with the academic and practical training offered by a diploma program in computer animation can find work in various industries and specialties. A good program will equip you with a professional quality portfolio to demonstrate your talent and skills. Areas where you might turn for entry-level employment include computer generated lighting, compositing and rendering, storyboarding, texturing, computer modeling, special effects, graphic art, background painting, forensic art, or video post-production.
Coursework in a Computer Animation Diploma Program May Include:
- Animation Theory and Techniques
- 3D Animation Production
- 3D Graphics Production
- Life Drawing and Rendering
- Cinematography for Animation
- Compositing and Post-Production
Career Outlook and Salary Information
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer animation specialists should have good job opportunities for the next several years, though competition will be sharp. Still, demand for skilled computer animators continues to grow as the demand for authentic looking graphics continues to grow in entertainment, education and information applications. In 2004, the average annual income for computer animation artists was about $50K.
