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ArtFX Visual Effects or 3D Animation

ArtFX

Visual Effects or 3D Animation

Montpellier, France

5 up to 5 Years

English

Full time

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On-Campus

Key Summary

    About: The Visual Effects or 3D Animation program offers students in-depth training in creating compelling visual narratives and stunning animations. It covers essential techniques and tools, equipping students with the skills needed to excel in the rapidly evolving field of visual media. The course is structured to provide a comprehensive understanding of both theoretical concepts and practical applications in visual effects and 3D animation.
    Career Outcomes: Graduates can pursue various career paths, including positions as 3D animators, visual effects artists, game designers, or motion graphics designers. They may find opportunities in film, television, gaming, or advertising industries, where their creative and technical talents will be highly valued.

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Introduction

DIPLOMA IN 5 YEARS (Master’s degree equivalent)

VFX or 3D Animation

The first two years are designed to provide a solid foundation for students before embarking on filmmaking. The first year is a preparation artistic class. The courses are divided into short interventions around basic themes and concrete projects to help the students become familiar with the different concepts.

1st Year> Acquisition of Solid Bases in Cinema

Artistic & Cultural Development - Maturity of Work

Goals

  • Acquire solid artistic and cultural bases
  • Gain work maturity to give yourself every chance to succeed
  • Develop your creativity, your curiosity, and your ingenuity
  • Acquire an artistic and cinematographic culture
  • Master the basics of drawing, photography, sculpture, film analysis and animation
  • Learn about teamwork and organization
  • Acquire the basics of Business English communication

Collective Courses

  • Drawing, anatomy
  • Artistic & visual development
  • Sculpture, volume
  • The history of art
  • Photography
  • Perspective
  • Culture & cinematic analysis
  • Stop motion
  • Project management
  • Traditional animation
  • Character design
  • Writing and concept development
  • Directing
  • Psychology of information
  • Business English

Admission Process

  • BAC (or equivalent)
  • Present an artistic portfolio
  • Participate in an individual interview
  • Complete a written exam

2nd Year > Basic Knowledge of Cinema

Teamwork: Organizing & Becoming Rigorous

Goals

  • Acquire basics in computer graphics, image editing, and animation
  • Perfect your artistic skills
  • Discover the professions of the cinema and develop a solid culture of the image
  • Make a first short film

Collective Courses

  • 3D modeling
  • Digital image retouch
  • Concept art
  • Character design
  • Lighting, texturing, rendering
  • 2D and 3D animation
  • Visual effects
  • Semiotics
  • Image grammar
  • Scenario, storyboard
  • Montage and sound
  • Cinematographic analysis
  • Professional English

Admission Process

  • BAC (or equivalent) +1 year of higher education studies
  • Present an artistic portfolio
  • Participate in an individual interview
  • Complete a written exam

3rd Year > Specialization

  • Visual Effects (VFX)
  • 3D Animation
  • Computer Graphics (CG)

Goals of the VIsual Effects Specialization

  • Acquire cutting-edge artistic and technical skills in CGI and VFX
  • Master professional work habits (methodologies and VFX pipeline): supervising and directing a film, knowledge of the cinema and 3D professions, post-production methodologies, directing and monitoring a production, audiovisual law, management, business creation, etc.
  • Mastering the software needed for this field: Nuke, Maya, Zbrush, nCloth, Houdini, RealFlow, Hair & Fur, etc.

Career Paths

The Visual Effects (VFX) sector has a wide range of highly sought-after careers that need more qualified artists:

  • Compositing artist
  • VFX supervisor,
  • Tracking specialist
  • Matte painter
  • Color grader, etc.

VFX Courses

  • Image composition
  • Matte painting
  • Camera mapping
  • Environment Development
  • Tracking
  • Color Grading
  • FX: Houdini, ncloth, Hair & Fur, fluids, particles…
  • Digital Filmmaking, Lighting
  • Green Screen Filming
  • Concept Art
  • Stereography, photogrammetry

Goals of the 3D Animation Specialization

  • Acquire sharp skills in 3D animation
  • Master professional 3D animation work habits: supervising animation teams, post-production methodologies, production management, audiovisual law, business creation, cinematography knowledge, CGI professions, etc.
  • Master all the software aligned with CG Animation: Maya, ZBrush, nCloth, Toon Boom, Storyboard Pro, Krita, Photoshop, Affinity Photo, etc.

Career Paths

The 3D Animation sector has a wide range of highly sought-after careers that need more qualified artists:

  • CG animator
  • Layout artist
  • Setup artist
  • Character designer
  • Concept artist
  • Artistic director, etc.

3D Animation Courses

  • Traditional 2D/3D Animation
  • Facial, Body mechanics, and Lipsync Animation
  • Character design
  • Anatomy, Movement and Life Drawing
  • Drawing & Concept Art
  • Miming and Acting
  • Layout
  • Modeling for Animation
  • Rigging (characters, creatures, and objects)
  • FX : nCloth, hair & fur

Goals of the CG Specialization

  • Acquire advanced technical skills in computer graphics
  • Master all stages of the digital production chain: control of the organization and distribution of animation and compositing work, direction and supervision of CGI, artistic direction of projects, knowledge of cinema and CG trades, post-production methodology, production management, and monitoring, audiovisual law, management, business creation, etc.
  • Master CG software: Houdini, Maya, Zbrush, ncloth, Arnold, Vray, Mental Ray, etc.

Career Paths

The Computer Graphics sector provides full employment in all types of fields:

  • CG artist
  • FX artist
  • 3D lead
  • Environment artist
  • Lighting / Shading artist
  • Texturing artist, etc.

CG Courses

  • Hard surface modeling
  • Organic modeling
  • Advanced texturing
  • 3D environments
  • Concept art
  • FX: Houdini, ncloth, Hair & Fur, fluid, particles
  • Tracking, camera mapping
  • HDRI
  • Lighting, shading, and color grading
  • Photogrammetry
  • CG rotoscoping
  • Spatial reconstruction
  • Skinning setup

4th Year > Professionalization

Perfecting Skills, Internships, Preparation of Graduation Projects

Goals

  • Mastery of technical and artistic know-how
  • Internship in a professional setting
  • Creation of a professional demo reel
  • Management of a team project

5th Year > Graduation Project

Creation of graduation project, graduation jury, and transition into a professional working environment

During this year, students test their ability to supervise a team and projects in conditions identical to those within production studios.

Professionals intervene throughout the year to bring their expertise and share their experience. The 5th year ends with a graduation jury, which includes rapid job interviews. As a final graduation requirement, each student must complete a detailed report regarding his/her first postgraduate job or internship.

GOALS

  • Making a short animation or VFX film
  • Confronting the realities of a production and developing additional professional experiences
  • Making a formal presentation in front of a jury of professional artists (representatives of the largest French and international production studios)
  • Participating in rapid job interviews and managing first job offers

Annual Tuition & Fees (2019/2020)

Year 1: 7 000 €

Years 2 to 5: 8 000 € / year

  • Registration fees (EU students): 1st time (350 €) / renewal (250 €) / Additional costs to anticipate (Social Security, equipment and school supplies) Beginning in their second year of studies, all students are required to have a personal computer. Beginning in their second year of studies, all students are required to have a personal computer.
  • Registration fees (Non EU students): 1st time (850 €) / renewal (350 €) / Additional costs to anticipate (Social Security, equipment and school supplies) Beginning in their second year of studies, all students are required to have a personal computer. Beginning in their second year of studies, all students are required to have a personal computer.

Application Period

Online application period: November 2019 - May 2020

About the School

Questions

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