3D Animation, Art and Design

Our Program

With Humber's 3D Animation, Art and Design diploma, you can develop well-rounded knowledge and skills that will include strong art and animation abilities and a solid understanding of the latest computer animation technologies, based input from industry advisors. Learn the way the pros work – use the same software and tools used by industry professionals to transform creative thoughts into compelling images and design.

Develop a blend of the most relevant digital and analog art skills, and an understanding of the creative and technical processes involved. Become familiar with the theories of art and put them into practice as you learn to draw, visualize and effectively apply colour principles. Translate your traditional art and design skills into models of characters, objects, scenes and virtual worlds. Build skills in cinematography so that story continuity and believability become the hallmarks of your productions.

Go beyond the surface impression of moving objects to get to the heart of 3D animation – telling an engaging story that captures the hearts and minds of your audience.

Your Career

Pour your creative ideas and your technical skills into a dynamic career in the fast-evolving field of 3D animation, where your chances to progress are only as limited as your imagination. The rapid advancement in computer technology, combined with skyrocketing global demand for animated entertainment for cable and satellite TV and the Internet, has led to a surge in career opportunities for those who have the expertise to tell effective stories and create compelling digital characters and worlds in 3D.

You can steer your 3D animation career into the film animation industry. According to box office statistics for 2011, three of the top 10 grossing movies were strictly animated films – and that does not take into account the five other movies that contain computer-generated imagery (CGI).

Another significant source of employment for animators is the video game industry. In Canada alone, in 2011, this industry employed nearly 16,000 people and contributed approximately $1.7 billion in economic activity. With a projected growth rate of 17 per cent over the next two years, the hiring of new graduates is expected to increase markedly.

Enjoy the excitement of a vibrant industry where innovation rules, new ideas are appreciated and opportunities for advancement are plenty. Apply your talent, skills and ingenuity to creating everything from special effects for live-action and animated films to broadcast graphics for games, television and commercials. Or, pursue roles in CGI, character animation, lighting, rigging, rendering or technical directing.

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status
Grade 12 English (ENG4C or ENG4U)
If English is not your first language, refer to the English Language Proficiency Policy
Three Grade 11 or Grade 12C, U or M courses in addition to those listed above
Applicants who do not possess the required courses may complete admission testing to determine equivalencies. Invitation and booking of admission testing is done using the email address provided on the online application
Your portfolio submission should include:

- exactly ten samples of your best creative work (this can be in any media – drawing, painting, digital, musical, written, photography, etc.). A variety of media is ideal as we can see how you work creatively with different tools

- a short written essay (150 – 300 word), that creatively outlines who you are, your artistic background, and why you are interested in studying 3D Animation at Humber. The essay should also communicate what you hope to gain by studying in this program, as well as your artistic influences and inspirations (i.e. whose work you admire)

Note: For more information, refer to Selection Procedures.
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.

Fees / Scholarships

The 2013/2014 fee for two semesters is

domestic $6,525.32
international $12,950.

Amounts listed are the total of tuition, lab and material fees, student service and auxiliary fees for the first two semesters of the 2013/2014 academic year. Fees are subject to change. For more information, refer to Fees and Financial Assistance.

Additional Costs

Approximately $1,000 per year for books and supplies.

Note: Students of this program will need to own a high-end computer and peripheral devices (Wacom Tablet, external hard drive (HD), etc.). This expense will be in addition to the costs for books and supplies.

Curriculum (View the 2012/13 Curriculum)

Semester 1

Course Code	Course Name
ANMN 100	Animation Art 1 Animation Art 1 Course Code: ANMN 100 This course is designed to give students a firm foundation in the traditional principles of animation (squash and stretch; follow through and overlapping action, etc.) and the processes by which professional animators would approach an animation problem.
ANMN 101	Life Drawing for Animation 1 Life Drawing for Animation 1 Course Code: ANMN 101 This course begins with the study of the basics of life drawing: gesture, contour, volume, proportions, weight and balance. Secondary topics include the basics of drawing: line control, alignments, measurements, negative space, basic perspective and format control.
ANMN 102	Production Art 1 Production Art 1 Course Code: ANMN 102 In this course, students will become familiarized with the fundamental design issues that apply to 3D animation production. Topics that are introduced include: composition, perspective, layout, structure, line and tone.
ANMN 103	3D Art 1 3D Art 1 Course Code: ANMN 103 This course introduces students to industry standard methodologies for 3D art development. Throughout this course, students are taught professional techniques for texture mapping, modelling, rigging, lighting, cameras, and animation.
ANMN 104	2D Art 1 2D Art 1 Course Code: ANMN 104 This course introduces students to digital texture painting. Throughout the duration of this course, students are taught various techniques for texture mapping, digital painting and colour theory.
GNED 101	An Introduction to Arts and Science An Introduction to Arts and Science Course Code: GNED 101 The humanities course focuses on fundamental questions individuals ask of themselves as they proceed through life. Why are we the way we are? Do we have free will or are we prisoners of our past experience or our biological inheritance? What motivates societies to change? Why do societal changes so often divide people into opposing camps? Why do so many people find contemporary life at home, at work, and in the community unfulfilling? What constitutes good government? How should injustice be fought? Can nations successfully deal with global problems? What is science and how does it differ from other kinds of inquiry? Can scientists provide solutions to the problems we face? What is art and does it offer answers of its own? What is its relationship to beauty, to knowledge, and to ethics? Is objectivity about art (or anything) possible? These questions are organized into units that begin with issues concerning the nature of the individual and then extend outward to various social, cultural and physical contexts. The issues explored in this course are too complex to have any one right answer. Rather, individuals must search for answers that make sense of their experiences via various theoretical perspectives. The humanities course supports this endeavour through study of different thinkers presented in the readings and exploration of different points of view explored in class discussions.
WRIT 100	College Reading and Writing Skills College Reading and Writing Skills Course Code: WRIT 100 College Writing Skills emphasizes elements of the writing process. Although subject matter and format may change from one program to another, the skills necessary for effective writing remain the same, as do the professional standards that all Humber students are expected to attain. Students will practice the reading and writing skills that will be valuable in their college programs and build a strong base for professional business writing. Those students who plan to further their studies will develop the fundamental skills for writing acceptable academic English. To help students reach these goals, the course covers the following: analytical reading and critical thinking; essay organization and development; and the elements of clear writing, including grammar and punctuation skills. To complete WRIT 100 successfully, students must produce writing that meets or surpasses the minimum departmental standards as set out in the attached criterion sheet.

Semester 2

Course Code	Course Name
ANMN 150	Animation Art 2 Animation Art 2 Course Code: ANMN 150 This course is designed to equip students with the ability to overcome the single most common error in character animation: body mechanics. The course has its emphasis on animation exercises with a simple character, which forces students to focus exclusively on the core concepts of body mechanics.
ANMN 151	Life Drawing for Animation 2 Life Drawing for Animation 2 Course Code: ANMN 151 In this course, emphasis is placed on the three-dimensionality of the figure. Students study structural gesture, anatomical landmarks, the skeletal system, structure, the head and features. The course also introduces students to rhythm, joints and the dynamic nature of human motion, as well as foreshortening.
ANMN 152	Production Art 2 Production Art 2 Course Code: ANMN 152 In this course, emphasis is placed on the principles underlying linear perspective and structural drawing. Throughout this course, students will focus on the observation and translation of three-dimensional forms into two-dimensional drawings.
ANMN 153	3D Art 2 3D Art 2 Course Code: ANMN 153 In this course, students continue to develop their knowledge and skills for computer-based 3D modelling as they focus on the principles of 3D environment design. Texture mapping and lighting (indoor and outdoor) are key components of this course.
ANMN 154	2D Art 2 2D Art 2 Course Code: ANMN 154 This course introduces students to the tools and techniques used for masking and combining images. Merging technical direction and inspiration, students will apply the creative aspects of image compositing in order to seamlessly assemble images.
ANMN 155	Film Art Film Art Course Code: ANMN 155 This course is designed to establish students in the ABCs of traditional filmmaking and to lay the foundation of engaging storytelling through the correct application of the timeless principles of cinematography. Throughout the course, students will become fluent in the sight, sound and motion of movies.
WRIT 200	Workplace Writing Skills Workplace Writing Skills Course Code: WRIT 200 Business Writing Skills introduces students to the strategies of effective written workplace communication. This course is designed to build on and reinforce the writing skills developed in WRIT 100 and requires students to apply these skills to vocationally relevant assignments. Students will learn how to select and organize pertinent information according to purpose and audience and will practise presenting their ideas clearly, precisely, and effectively in various written formats. To complete WRIT 200 successfully, students must produce writing that meets or surpasses the minimum departmental standards as set out in the criterion sheet.

Semester 3

Course Code	Course Name
ANMN 200	Animation Art 3 Animation Art 3 Course Code: ANMN 200 In this class, students will explore the advanced concepts and methods of animated motion and body mechanics. Students will learn how to amalgamate the principles into an approach that they can use to create more believable motion in their characters.
ANMN 201	Life Drawing for Animation 3 Life Drawing for Animation 3 Course Code: ANMN 201 In this course, primary topics include rhythm in gesture, continuity of movement, human anatomy and structural drawing. Students will also cover forceful shapes and comparative anatomy.
ANMN 202	Production Art 3 Production Art 3 Course Code: ANMN 202 Beginning with a thorough review of perspective and structural drawing, students of this course will focus on the techniques involved in the creation of layouts. Throughout this course, students will begin to learn how to breakdown 2D storyboards and design elements into 3D shots.
ANMN 203	3D Art 3 3D Art 3 Course Code: ANMN 203 In this foundational course, which focuses on technical direction, students are introduced to the elemental issues and techniques of character rigging and scripting. Beginning with basic character rigging methods such as IK, FK and Skinning, students then move onto the basics of scripting for the creation of custom attributes and for object creation.
ANMN 204	Post-Production Art 1 Post-Production Art 1 Course Code:
ANMN 205	Acting for Animation Acting for Animation Course Code:
GNED	General Education Elective General Education Elective Course Code: GNED The following courses represent the GNED General Education electives that you can choose from as part of your program's curriculum. Introduction to Liberal Arts and Sciences GNED 101 An Introduction to Arts and Sciences Anthropology ANTH 202 Physical Anthropology ANTH 205 Cultural Anthropology Arts ARTS 138 Understanding Movies: An Introduction to Film Studies ARTS 229 Musical Pioneers ARTS 241 Exploring Music and Film ARTS 246 Art and Artists - Money, Madness and Masterpieces Cultural Studies CULT 211 Conspiracy Theories and Critical Thinking CULT 214 AlterNative Pathways: Aboriginal People in Canada CULT 217 Encounter with Latin America CULT 228 Pop Culture: Shaping How We Live CULT 236 China: The Next Superpower CULT 239 Digital Culture CULT 242 Culture, Technology and Identity CULT 243 Crossing Borders: Migration and Culture CULT 244 Gender, Race and Ethnicity CULT 245 The Body: Beauty, Sex and Consumerism CULT 248 Women and Popular Culture Economics ECON 110 Real Life Economics ECON 204 People, Money and Markets ECON 206 The History of Money English ENGE 110 Literature: An Introduction ENGL 239 Dark Days Ahead ENGL 242 Pulp Fiction ENGL 246 Contemporary Fiction ENGL 247 Life Stories ENGL 248 Voices from the Underground Geography GEOG 210 The Nature of Ontario GEOG 212 Political Geography History HIST 110 Canada: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly HIST 203 Monsters of the 20th Century HIST 217 History of War HIST 218 The Making of the Modern World HIST 222 The Age of Europe: From the Enlightenment to 1989 Humanities HUMA 137 Art Matters: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Art HUMA 226 The Arts and the 21st Century Imagination: Longing for Paradise HUMA 235 World Religions HUMA 241 Risky Business: Living in a Dangerous World HUMA 242 Vampires: In Film and Literature HUMA 244 Ordinary Heroes: Extraordinary Lives! HUMA 250 God, Science and Religion Languages SPAN 110 Introductory Spanish 1 Philosophy PHIL 100 Ideas: An Introduction to Philosophy PHIL 110 The Love of Wisdom: An Introduction to Philosophy PHIL 217 Ethical Issues PHIL 225 Philosophy of Love and Sex PHIL 227 Business Ethics PHIL 228 Success: Philosophical Perspectives PHIL 229 Violence, Order and Justice: An Introduction to Political Philosophy PHIL 230 Environmental Ethics Political Science POLS 110 Introduction to Politics POLS 204 Morality, Democracy and Politics POLS 219 Globalization POLS 223 War and Terrorism POLS 224 Justice, Equality and Rights POLS 225 Environmental Policy and Economics Psychology PSYC 110 Psychology - An Introduction PSYC 205 Applied Psychology and Leadership PSYC 207 Psychology of Sport PSYC 210 Psychology - Developmental PSYC 220 Psychology - Social PSYC 230 Psychology - Abnormal Science SCIE 110 The Science of Everything SCIE 208 Water: A Life or Death Issue SCIE 213 Astronomy: The Evolving Universe SCIE 216 Origins of Life SCIE 219 Dangerous Earth SCIE 221 The Environment SCIE 223 Astrobiology: Life in the Universe SCIE 224 Discovering Dinosaurs Sociology SOCE 100 Canadian Society and Culture SOCI 110 Sociology: Introduction SOCI 205 Social Entrepreneurship: Profit, People and the Planet SOCI 219 Sport and Society SOCI 232 Gender, Power and Society SOCI 233 Sociology of Cultural Difference SOCI 234 Society and Conflict SOCI 236 Issues in Crime SOCI 237 Sociology of Fashion SOCI 238 Sociology of Food SOCI 239 Citizenship, Immigration, and Democracy SOCI 240 Sociology of the Family SOCI 246 Sociology of Emotions SOCI 247 Leadership SOCI 249 Imagining the City SOCI 257 Canada Today SOCI 277 Sexual Diversity: Contemporary Social Issues

Semester 4

Course Code	Course Name
ANMN 250	Animation Art 4 Animation Art 4 Course Code: ANMN 250 In this course, students will begin exploring the ideas and concepts (emotion, non-clich? acting choices, and carefully timed and planned gestures) that add life and originality to character animation. Throughout the course, students will carefully implement all of the principles they have studied and practiced with the goal of animating (to give life to) a bipedal character.
ANMN 251	Life Drawing for Animation 4 Life Drawing for Animation 4 Course Code: ANMN 251 This course begins with the study of facial anatomy, portraits, comparative anatomy, value (light and shadow), modelling forms and planes, and extended value studies.
ANMN 252	Production Art 4 Production Art 4 Course Code: ANMN 252 This course is designed to introduce students to the process of storyboarding as it relates directly to narrative structure. Primary topics include elements of narrative structure, and many established storyboard techniques used in television, film, Internet and video game production.
ANMN 253	3D Art 4 3D Art 4 Course Code: ANMN 253 In this course, students will build upon foundational technical direction and rigging skills. Topics include IK/FK arms, spline IK, advanced skinning, constraints, dynamic simulations and muscle bones. Students will also delve deeper into scripting custom attributes, parameters and functions.
ANMN 254	Post-Production Art 2 Post-Production Art 2 Course Code: ANMN 254 Throughout this course, students will learn to evaluate and execute the best way to approach a shot and what tools will provide a viable solution. Using examples similar to those found in productions, course instruction will cover topics such as colour space, bit depth and film format, advanced keying and despill techniques, blur and grain (the secret glue), and DOF (close vs. far colour, contrast, saturation, and environmental fog).
ANMN 255	Animated Short Development Animated Short Development Course Code: ANMN 255 In this course, students study and practice the theories and concepts behind the development of a 3D animation short film. Primary topics include story background and theory, building better content, acting, character development, dialogue, storyboarding and staging.
GNED	General Education Elective General Education Elective Course Code: GNED The following courses represent the GNED General Education electives that you can choose from as part of your program's curriculum. Introduction to Liberal Arts and Sciences GNED 101 An Introduction to Arts and Sciences Anthropology ANTH 202 Physical Anthropology ANTH 205 Cultural Anthropology Arts ARTS 138 Understanding Movies: An Introduction to Film Studies ARTS 229 Musical Pioneers ARTS 241 Exploring Music and Film ARTS 246 Art and Artists - Money, Madness and Masterpieces Cultural Studies CULT 211 Conspiracy Theories and Critical Thinking CULT 214 AlterNative Pathways: Aboriginal People in Canada CULT 217 Encounter with Latin America CULT 228 Pop Culture: Shaping How We Live CULT 236 China: The Next Superpower CULT 239 Digital Culture CULT 242 Culture, Technology and Identity CULT 243 Crossing Borders: Migration and Culture CULT 244 Gender, Race and Ethnicity CULT 245 The Body: Beauty, Sex and Consumerism CULT 248 Women and Popular Culture Economics ECON 110 Real Life Economics ECON 204 People, Money and Markets ECON 206 The History of Money English ENGE 110 Literature: An Introduction ENGL 239 Dark Days Ahead ENGL 242 Pulp Fiction ENGL 246 Contemporary Fiction ENGL 247 Life Stories ENGL 248 Voices from the Underground Geography GEOG 210 The Nature of Ontario GEOG 212 Political Geography History HIST 110 Canada: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly HIST 203 Monsters of the 20th Century HIST 217 History of War HIST 218 The Making of the Modern World HIST 222 The Age of Europe: From the Enlightenment to 1989 Humanities HUMA 137 Art Matters: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Art HUMA 226 The Arts and the 21st Century Imagination: Longing for Paradise HUMA 235 World Religions HUMA 241 Risky Business: Living in a Dangerous World HUMA 242 Vampires: In Film and Literature HUMA 244 Ordinary Heroes: Extraordinary Lives! HUMA 250 God, Science and Religion Languages SPAN 110 Introductory Spanish 1 Philosophy PHIL 100 Ideas: An Introduction to Philosophy PHIL 110 The Love of Wisdom: An Introduction to Philosophy PHIL 217 Ethical Issues PHIL 225 Philosophy of Love and Sex PHIL 227 Business Ethics PHIL 228 Success: Philosophical Perspectives PHIL 229 Violence, Order and Justice: An Introduction to Political Philosophy PHIL 230 Environmental Ethics Political Science POLS 110 Introduction to Politics POLS 204 Morality, Democracy and Politics POLS 219 Globalization POLS 223 War and Terrorism POLS 224 Justice, Equality and Rights POLS 225 Environmental Policy and Economics Psychology PSYC 110 Psychology - An Introduction PSYC 205 Applied Psychology and Leadership PSYC 207 Psychology of Sport PSYC 210 Psychology - Developmental PSYC 220 Psychology - Social PSYC 230 Psychology - Abnormal Science SCIE 110 The Science of Everything SCIE 208 Water: A Life or Death Issue SCIE 213 Astronomy: The Evolving Universe SCIE 216 Origins of Life SCIE 219 Dangerous Earth SCIE 221 The Environment SCIE 223 Astrobiology: Life in the Universe SCIE 224 Discovering Dinosaurs Sociology SOCE 100 Canadian Society and Culture SOCI 110 Sociology: Introduction SOCI 205 Social Entrepreneurship: Profit, People and the Planet SOCI 219 Sport and Society SOCI 232 Gender, Power and Society SOCI 233 Sociology of Cultural Difference SOCI 234 Society and Conflict SOCI 236 Issues in Crime SOCI 237 Sociology of Fashion SOCI 238 Sociology of Food SOCI 239 Citizenship, Immigration, and Democracy SOCI 240 Sociology of the Family SOCI 246 Sociology of Emotions SOCI 247 Leadership SOCI 249 Imagining the City SOCI 257 Canada Today SOCI 277 Sexual Diversity: Contemporary Social Issues

Semester 5

Course Code	Course Name
ANMN 300	Capstone 1 Capstone 1 Course Code: ANMN 300 This course is designed to cover two key stages of the animation production cycle. The first half of the course focuses on the development stage, which includes topics such as, story development, character design, art direction and storyboarding. By the end of this course, students will have moved on to and completed the pre-production stage of their capstone projects. Topics covered include the planning, creation and assembling of digital elements, as well as scheduling, budgeting, animatics, CG modelling, texturing and character/element setup.
ANMN 301	Life Drawing for Animation 5 Life Drawing for Animation 5 Course Code: ANMN 301 Throughout this course, students will study and practice the principles of dynamic gesture, facial expression, exaggeration and distortion, the figure in space and relating two figures. Woven into the course are topic threads such as line economy, composition, scaling, portraits, and incorporating character traits like age, body type and posture.
ANMN 302	3D Art 5 3D Art 5 Course Code: ANMN 302 In this course, students will build upon intermediate technical direction and rigging skills. Topics include artist tool development, advanced user interface (UI) development and how to work with transform matrix values. Students will also delve deeper into character rigging as they develop automatic rigging scripts.
ANMN 303	Analog Portfolio Analog Portfolio Course Code: ANMN 303 Students will use this course to compile the elements of a professional portfolio. They develop an understanding of the marketing campaign needs of modern animation portfolios including visual continuity, business documents, traditional still art portfolios, process and practice samples and promotional items. They use this knowledge to assemble their own portfolios. The course also covers related information regarding job interviews, trade shows, professional standards and contract negotiation.
ANMN 304	Animation Art 5 Animation Art 5 Course Code: ANMN 304 Throughout this course, students will be immersed into advanced acting techniques, comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences between acting for animators and real-world acting. Students will also examine the common mistakes and the inherent challenges of translating a meaningful and powerful performance into the animated world.
ANMN 305	Animation History Animation History Course Code:

Semester 6

Course Code	Course Name
ANMN 350	Capstone 2 Capstone 2 Course Code: ANMN 350 Throughout this course, students will focus on shot production and post-production. Students will begin by executing their production pipeline, which will cover areas such as, animation, lighting, rendering, VFX and compositing. The later part of the course deals with the wrap-up phase of the student capstone project, which includes audio, final editing, titles and marketing.
ANMN 351	Life Drawing for Animation 6 Life Drawing for Animation 6 Course Code: ANMN 351 This course brings closure to the previous life drawing programs covering topics such as, forceful figures, clothing and costumes, interacting figures, morphing animal and human traits and incorporating character traits like age, body type, posture and facial expression. Students will also study and demonstrate skills in composition, light and shadow, camera angle/viewpoints and storytelling.
ANMN 352	Digital Portfolio Digital Portfolio Course Code: ANMN 352 In this course, students assemble their digital films for distribution via DVD and the web. Students will utilize the guidelines and best practices in the development of a personalized, professional online portfolio. Each student showcases their talent via a professional portfolio presentation, which will be critiqued by faculty, peers, and industry professionals.

Diploma to Degree

Humber offers pathways from Ontario college diplomas to Humber degrees. Find out where your diploma can take you.

You can also choose another postsecondary institution. Humber has formal articulation agreements indicating the specific transfer arrangements from a Humber program to a particular degree program, as well as general policies on admissions at specific institutions. Click here to find out more.

May 2013 Program Availability

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3D Animation, Art and Design

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Our Program

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Admission Requirements

Fees / Scholarships

Additional Costs

Curriculum (View the 2012/13 Curriculum)

Semester 1

Animation Art 1

Life Drawing for Animation 1

Production Art 1

3D Art 1

2D Art 1

An Introduction to Arts and Science

College Reading and Writing Skills

Semester 2

Animation Art 2

Life Drawing for Animation 2

Production Art 2

3D Art 2

2D Art 2

Film Art

Workplace Writing Skills

Semester 3

Animation Art 3

Life Drawing for Animation 3

Production Art 3

3D Art 3

Post-Production Art 1

Acting for Animation

General Education Elective

Semester 4

Animation Art 4

Life Drawing for Animation 4

Production Art 4

3D Art 4

Post-Production Art 2

Animated Short Development

General Education Elective

Semester 5

Capstone 1

Life Drawing for Animation 5

3D Art 5

Analog Portfolio

Animation Art 5

Animation History

Semester 6

Capstone 2

Life Drawing for Animation 6

Digital Portfolio

Diploma to Degree