ATEC 6351 Digital Arts: Animation & Motion Capture

Course Credit Hours: 3

Time: T 7:00pm-9:45pm

Web Address http://atec.utdallas.edu/midori/6351/syllabus.htm

Instructor Professor Midori Kitagawa, Ph.D.

Phone: (972) 883-2806
Office: JO 4.810
Email: midori@utdallas.edu

Links to Process Books Group names and links Group members

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References:

Links to the 2005 fall semester mocap class's process books: ReAnimation, Space salesman, Scum
vs. Soap Dance-off, Daemon, Rosanna

Links to the 2005 spring semester mocap class's process books: Swordman and Dummy, American
Idols in Space, Restroom Romance, Mr. Bowjangles

Office Hours Thursdays 1:30-3:00 or by appointment.

Course ATEC 6351 is a group project based course in which students follow the 3D computer
Description animation production process and learn the motion capture pipeline from setting up
the lab and capturing data to applying the data to animated characters. The end
project is expected to be an animation of quality that will be included in a professional
portfolio.

Course Understand the 3D computer animation production process.

Objectives
Understand the theory and practice of motion capture technology.

Develop an animation to be included in a professional portfolio.

Learn technical terms related to 3D computer animation and motion capture

technology.

Enhance ability to discuss current issues related to 3D computer animation.

Demonstrate the ability to offer both technical and aesthetic criticisms of the work of
peers and self.

Create an on-line "process book" in HTML format that documents the conceptual,
technical, and artistic development throughout the semester.

Course
Methodology Students are expected to be participating and working in each and every class.
Students are encouraged to collaborate in solving some of the difficult technical and
conceptual problems that are part of their project.

Class sessions will consist of critiques, video reference, and discussions focusing on
 class projects. The class format will take on a variety of styles, as the subject dictates.
Examples will be presented and discussed. Students will present their work in critique
sessions.

Students are encouraged to complete all work at the ATEC computer labs in order to
benefit from collaborative learning with your peers. Students choosing to use "offsite"
hardware and software must have their current working files on the system and
available for review at the beginning of each and every class. Problems with "offsite"
systems and/or incompatibility will not be an acceptable excuse for missed
assignments.

Tentative Week
Topics Reading Assignment Assignment
Course Date
Schedule Wk 1 Student works from previous
1/10 classes, test capture.
(Course Schedule is Motion capture, history of
subject to change at the mocap, pipeline, group
discretion of the Wk 2 forming, Setup and calibrate Chap 3. Motion Capture A1. Planning a capture
1/17 (iQ), marker sets (John's, Session session
instructor. Check UTD standard), capture and
periodically for updates.) edit
Wk 3 Storyboard presentations, Chap 1. Motion Capture A1. Due
1/24 test capture Primer A2. Data capture
Wk 4 Chap 2. Motion Capture
Capturing, cleaning (IQ)
1/31 Controversy
Wk 5
Capturing, cleaning (IQ) Chap 5. Character setup
2/7
Applying motion to a skeleton A2. Due
Wk 6 (MotionBuilder): actor & A3. Applying motions to a
2/14 character. Start modeling a skeleton
character
Wk 7 Editing & blending
2/21 (MotionBuilder)
A3. Due
Wk 8 IK/FK blend (Maya), blending A4. Applying motions to a
2/28 using Trax skin bound character and
creating an animatic
3/6-3/11 Spring break
Wk 9
IK, binding skin (Maya)
3/14
Environment mapping
A4. Due
Wk 10
-- Target: skin bound A5. Final animation &
3/21
character and an animatic breakdown guide
done by this week
-- Target: all modeling (props
Wk 11
& environments) done by this
3/28
week
Lecture on human motions by
Dr. Stuart Sumida
Wk 12
4/4
-- Target: lighting & texturing
done by this week
Wk 13 -- Target: low resolution
4/11 rendering done by this week
Portfolio preparation
Wk 14 Title & credits
4/18 -- Target: final full-size
rendering & editing
Wk 15
Final presentation A5. Due
4/25
 Assignments All assignments should be uploaded into your web site as parts of your process book.
Read and follow additional instructions.

A1. Planning a capture session

A2. Data capture (iQ)
A3. Applying motions to a skeleton (MotionBuilder)
A4. Applying motions to a skin bound character (Maya) and creating an animatic
A5. Final animation & breakdown guide

Grading policy Students must demonstrate satisfactory achievement of course objectives through
fulfillment of course assignments and by contributing to class discussions and
critiques. Course assignments will require students to use software and equipment
available at the ATEC computer labs. Collaboration between students in the course,
other faculty, staff and students in the ATEC program is encouraged. Course
evaluation will be based upon the following:

l Assignments 1 - 4: 18% each, where 30% of each assignment grade is given to

process book research and documentation.
l Assignment 5: 28% each, where 30% of each assignment grade is given to
process book research and documentation.

All students are required to be on time and in attendance for each and every class.
Students arriving to class more than 15 minutes late will be counted as absent. Two
(2) absences will lower a final grade by 1/2 a letter. Three (3) absences will lower your
final grade by one letter. Four (4) absences will result in a failing grade ("F ") for the
course.

Adherence to deadlines is expected. It is the individual student's responsibility to keep

track of the goals and deadlines, and to present the work to the class and instructor
on the specified dates. Late assignments will affect your grade: 10% will be deducted
for each class period. Students will be expected to make a formal presentation of their
progress on dates specified by the course timeline.

Use of copyrighted materials or intellectual property of others will result in a failing

grade.

If you need to drop the class for any reason, you are responsible for initiating the drop
procedure. Contact the Register's Office. If you do not withdraw by the specific drop
date and you do not fulfill the requirements of the class, you will receive a failing
grade.

Grading Scale A+/A 4.00 C 2.00

A- 3.67 C- 1.67
B+ 3.33 D+ 1.33
B 3.00 D 1.00
B- 2.67 D- 0.67
C+ 2.33 F

Text Book Understanding Motion Capture for Computer Animation and Video Games by Albreto
 Menache (out of print but available online)

Course Notebook/Sketchbook
Supplies Archive Material: CD or DVD

Accommodation It is the policy of UTD to provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations for
Process individuals with documented disabilities. This University will adhere to all applicable
federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing
reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is
the student's responsibility to contact the appropriate office in a timely manner if s/he
desires to arrange for accommodations.

Scholastic Dishonesty UTD may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of scholastic
dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to statements, acts, or
omissions related to application for enrollment, the ward of a degree, and/or the
submission of one's work of material that is not one's own. Scholastic dishonesty may
involve one or more of the following acts; cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and
falsifying academic records.

Cheating is the willful giving or receiving of information in an unauthorized manner

during an examination, illicitly obtaining examination questions in advance, copying
computer files, copying internet material, using someone else's work for assignments
as if it were one's own, or any other dishonest means of attempting to fulfill the
requirements of a course.

Plagiarism is the use of an author's works or ideas as if they were one's own without
giving credit to the source, including, but not limited to, failure to acknowledge a direct
quotation.

Copyright Violations It is a federal crime to reproduce copyrighted software. Anyone caught reproducing
software from the UTD labs will be subject to disciplinary action. In addition, anyone
caught reproducing outside software in the lab will automatically lose all lab privileges
and will be subject to other disciplinary action as deemed necessary.