CMPT 466: Animation

(Spring 2018)

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 Instructor:
Teaching Assistant: Lin Yang

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 Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays 11:30-12:20 at SECB1011. Instructor's office hours (TASC1 8015) Tuesdays 3:00-4:00pm. TA's office hours (ASB9808) Fridays 3:00-4:00pm.
The final exam is scheduled on 2018 April 16th 3:30pm-5:00pm at AQ5018. 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*
Jan 3	Introduction to Animation		Siggraph on YouTube Graphics Papers on the Web Graphics Gems
Jan 5	Review: Coordinates and Transformations		Chapter 2.1.2-2.1.4 Appendix B.3.1 and B.3.2
Jan 8	Animation Production		Dreamworks Animation Pipeline Chapter 1.3 (before 1.3.1) Chapter 1.4 and 1.4.1 Chapter 4.1
Jan 10	Principles of Traditional Animation		Chapter 1.3.1 Principles of traditional animation The cartoon animation filter
Jan 12	Maya Basics (CSIL 9840)		Maya Interface Tour
Jan 15	Interpolation and Smoothing		Chapter 3.1 Chapter 3.4.3
Jan 17	3D Object Representations I		NURBS vs. Polygon in Maya
Jan 19	Building a Character in Maya (CSIL 9840)		Maya Basics - Creating Primitive Objects
Jan 22	3D Object Representations II		Chapter 12.1 and 12.1.1 Chapter 12.3
Jan 24	3D Rotations I		Chapter 2.1.5 and 2.2 Appendix B.3.3 and B.3.4
Jan 26	3D Rotations II		Chapter 2.1.5 and 2.2 Appendix B.3.3 and B.3.4
Jan 29	Skeletal Animation and Forward Kinematics	Programming Assignment I Out	Chapter 5.1 Chapter 5.2
Jan 31	Curves and Splines		Appendix B.5
Feb 2	Interpolation of 3D Rotations		Chapter 3.3 Chapter 2.2.3 Maya Gimbal Lock Explained
Feb 5	Motion Capture		Chapter 6
Feb 7	Inverse Kinematics I	Maya Assignment I Out	Chapter 5.3
Feb 9	Maya Assignment I (CSIL 9840)	Programming Assignment I Due	Chapter 9.3.1 Chapter 9.3.2
Feb 12-16	reading break, no classes
Feb 19	Inverse Kinematics II		Chapter 5.3
Feb 21	Inverse Kinematics III	Maya Assignment I Due	Chapter 5.3
Feb 23	University closed due to heavy snow
Feb 26	Physics-based Animation Intro		Chapter 7.1 Appendix B.7
Feb 28	Particle Dynamics	Programming Assignment II Out	Appendix B.8 Differential Equation Basics
Mar 2	Particle Systems		Chapter 7.3 Particle System Dynamics
Mar 5	Particle Systems in Maya (CSIL 9840)
Mar 7	Rigid Body Dynamics I		Chapter 7.4
Mar 9	Rigid Body Dynamics II		Chapter 7.4
Mar 12	Articulated Rigid Body Systems		Chapter 7.4
Mar 14	Physics-based Character Animation I		Chapter 9.3.3
Mar 16	Physics-based Character Animation II	Maya Assignment II Out	Chapter 9.3.4 SIMBICON
Mar 19	Rigging and Skinning		Chapter 9.1
Mar 21	Guest Lecture by James Jacobs		Ziva Dynamics
Mar 23	Maya Skinning (CSIL 9840)
Mar 26	Deformation I		Chapter 4.3
Mar 28	Deformation II	Programming Assignment II Due	Chapter 4.5
Mar 30	good friday, no class
Apr 2	easter monday, no class
Apr 4	Crowd Simulation	Maya Assignment II Due	Chapter 11.4
Apr 6	Learning-based Animation Methods		The Theory of Everything
Apr 9	Review and Discussion
Apr 16	Final Exam (3:30-5:00pm) AQ5018