CMPT 466: Animation / CMPT 888: Computer Animation

(Fall 2018)

Introduction
Prerequisite
Course Staff
Resources
Course Schedule

Introduction
Topics and techniques in computer animation, including: The history of animation, traditional animation, animation production pipeline, 3D model representation, kinematic animation, motion capture, particle systems, physics-based animation, character animation, soft objects and deformation.

Prerequisite

Must-have: CMPT 361 Intro to Computer Graphics, and MACM 316 Numerical Analysis I.
Good-to-have background: Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, Data Structures and Algorithms, Fundamental Physics.
Good-to-have skills: strong in programming; comfortable with math.

Course Staff

Principal Instructor: KangKang Yin
Guest Lecturers: James Jacobs; Kevin Loken
Teaching Assistant: Like Ma (like_ma@sfu.ca)

Resources
Recommended Textbook: "Computer Animation: Algorithms and Techniques (third edition)", Rick Parent. Morgan Kaufmann, ISBN 9780124158429. The first edition of this book is available online here.
The movie and game industry has strong presence in Vancouver:
Electronic Arts Atmosphere Sony Imageworks
Publication venues for animation research:
Siggraph Eurographics SCA Motion in Games CHI Pacific Graphics I3D
Some cool confereces you wanna check out:
GDC GTC

Course Schedule (tentative, subject to changes, check regularly)

The classes will be held on Tuesdays @ 11:30 - 13:20 in AQ 3003 and Thursdays @ 11:30 - 12:20 in WMC 3260. Instructor's office hours Thursdays 3-4pm (TASC1 8015). TA's office hours Tuesdays 3-4pm (ASB9808).
The Maya Labs will be in CSIL 9840. The first two rows of machines have Maya installed. Alternatively you can bring your own laptop, but make sure to install a free strudent version of Maya prior to the classes.
The final exam is scheduled on TBD. There is no mid-term exam for this course.
Lecture notes will be available before classes. Please do not circulate the notes electronically, however, as I don't have time to contact the original authors for all the images and videos I use. We need to follow the fair use principles.
Evaluation and Grading: Class Participation: 5%; Programming Assignment: 35% (C++); Animation Assignments: 20% (Maya); Final Exam: 40% (open book).

*Date*	*Topics*	*Assignments*	*Related Links*
Sep 4 (T)	Introduction to Animation; Animation Production		Siggraph on YouTube Graphics Papers on the Web Graphics Gems The 5 Types of Animation Dreamworks Animation Pipeline Chapter 1.3 (before 1.3.1) Chapter 1.4 and 1.4.1 Chapter 4.1
Sep 6 (R)	Review: Coordinates and Transformations		Chapter 2.1.2-2.1.4 Appendix B.3.1 and B.3.2
Sep 11 (T)	Principles of Traditional Animation; Interpolation and Smoothing		Chapter 1.3.1 Principles of traditional animation The cartoon animation filter 12 Principles of Animation Chapter 3.1 Chapter 3.4.3
Sep 13 (R)	Maya Basics (CSIL 9840)		Maya Interface Tour
Sep 18 (T)	3D Object Representations (cancelled due to medical emergency)		NURBS vs. Polygon in Maya Chapter 12.1 and 12.1.1 Chapter 12.3
Sep 20 (R)	Building a Character in Maya (CSIL 9840)		Maya Basics - Creating Primitive Objects
Sep 25 (T)	3D Rotations		Chapter 2.1.5 and 2.2 Appendix B.3.3 and B.3.4
Sep 27 (R)	Skeletal Animation and Forward Kinematics	Programming Assignment I Out	Chapter 5.1 Chapter 5.2
Oct 2 (T)	FK Continued Curves and Splines		Appendix B.5
Oct 4 (R)	Interpolation of 3D Rotations		Chapter 3.3 Chapter 2.2.3 Maya Gimbal Lock Explained
Oct 9 (T)	Motion Capture	Maya Assignment I Out	Chapter 6
Oct 11 (R)	Maya Assignment I (CSIL 9840)	Programming Assignment I Due	Chapter 9.3.1 Chapter 9.3.2 Animating Walk Cycles
Oct 16 (T)	Inverse Kinematics		Chapter 5.3 Damped Least Squares Method
Oct 18 (R)	Physics-based Animation Intro	Maya Assignment I Due Programming Assignment II Out	Chapter 7.1 Appendix B.7
Oct 23 (T)	Particle Dynamics and Particle Systems		Appendix B.8 Differential Equation Basics Chapter 7.3 Particle System Dynamics
Oct 25 (R)	Particle Systems in Maya (CSIL 9840)
Oct 30 (T)	Rigid Body Dynamics		Chapter 7.4
Nov 1 (R)	Articulated Rigid Body Systems		Chapter 7.4
Nov 6 (T)	Physics-based Character Animation		Chapter 9.3.3 Chapter 9.3.4 SIMBICON
Nov 8 (R)	Rigging and Skinning	Programming Assignment II Due	Chapter 9.1
Nov 13 (T)	Guest Lecture by James Jacobs (Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Ziva Dynamics)	Project Proposal Due (5% for graduate students); Maya Assignment II Out	Ziva Dynamics
Nov 15 (R)	Maya Skinning (CSIL 9840)
Nov 20 (T)	Deformation		Chapter 4.3 Chapter 4.5
Nov 22 (R)	Learning-based Animation Methods		Chapter 11.4 Deep Learning: A Crash Course The Theory of Everything
Nov 27 (T)	Guest Lecture by Kevin Loken (Head of Technology for EA Worldwide Studios Content)	Maya Assignment II Due	Electronic Arts
Nov 29 (R)	Review and Discussion (for undergraduate students)
Dec 6 (R)	Final Exam (for undergraduate students) AQ3005 12:00-14:00	Project Due (35% for graduate students)