
Diploma in Houdini+3D for Film or Games
DURATION
54 up to 64 Weeks
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Feb 2025
TUITION FEES
CAD 32,750 *
STUDY FORMAT
Blended
* for international students |CAD 29,750 CAD domestic students
Key Summary
Introduction
Taught through Think Tank’s interactive platform, Portal, the first 48 weeks combine prerecorded tutorials, collaborative workshops, and one-on-one training to prepare students for a career in Film, TV, or Games.
The final 16 weeks of this program take place at the Think Tank Campus in North Vancouver, an international hub for Film and Games. Work directly with your personal mentor while taking advantage of the full Think Tank experience: access to exclusive events, seminars from local studios, and the opportunity to work alongside CG artists from a variety of specializations.
Harnessing the power of Houdini, you’ll master the software’s advanced procedural workflow to create elevated animations, VFX sequences, and 3D assets. As a true benchmark in 3D and VFX software, your ability to both comprehend and integrate Houdini into a pipeline immediately elevates not only your work but your value to a project.
Gallery
Ideal Students
This program is for artists new to CG who wish to spend the majority of their Houdini-focused program remotely, but want to complete their portfolio in a highly collaborative, in-person setting. Students must be ready to dedicate at least 40-60 hours a week to their studies. Working while studying is not recommended.
Admissions
Virtual Openhouse
Chat with us live and hear all about our CG Programs & the wider 3D Industry!
Curriculum
Term 1 (Online)
Start with the basics. From a brief history of VFX to texturing, lighting, compositing, rendering, asset creation, and more…this term is designed to train you in the most essential facets of 3D Modeling. Alongside a concentration on Houdini, you’ll be introduced to the other important software tools you’ll use when working in the industry.
The courses you’ll take in this term will emphasize and enhance your organization, flexible thinking, and problem-solving skills. In just 16 weeks, you’ll become an extremely well-rounded artist, with a strong inkling of the area of CG you might specialize in.
Courses
- History of VFX
- Houdini
- Look Development
- Final Project
- Procedural Modeling
- Texturing & Shading
Term 2 (Online)
The fundamental courses started in Term 1 continue, becoming more intense, complex, and demanding. You’ll be presented with more in-depth, creative techniques and tools that will allow you to produce more complex and detail-oriented work.
As you move through Term 2, you’ll start to build on your skills in Houdini and really start to grasp the revolutionary workflows and procedures that the software offers. From here, you’ll produce your Intermediate Final Project – producing an environment, a creature or character, or another type of asset for Film or Games.
Courses
- Environment Modeling
- Advanced Modeling
- Look Development
- Texturing & Shading
- Vellum CFX
- Lighting & Rendering
- Particles & Effects
- Scripting & Expressions
- Term 2 Final Project
- Production Pipeline
Term 3 (Online)
Courses in this term focus on advanced Houdini tools, uses, and methods that will prepare you for the final stages of your specialization. Upon being connected with your personal mentor, you’ll begin to develop a full-term final project that will serve as a high-quality asset preceding the portfolio production stage.
You’ll be required to maintain a full production schedule under the guidance of your supervisor while advanced stream courses continue. By the end of the term, you will have a robust understanding of Houdini's advanced capabilities and be well-equipped to tackle your portfolio.
Courses
- Environment Modeling
- Groom & FUR
- Vellum CFX
- Fluid Simulation
- Lighting & Rendering
- Advanced Particles & Effects
- Production & Advanced Tools
- Look Development (LOPS & Unreal)
- Rbd Simulations (DOPS)
- Final Project
Term 4 (Campus)
Unlike our fully online program, Term 4 takes place at the Think Tank Campus in a hub for the industry, North Vancouver. Here you’ll receive the added value of working closely with other artists from different specializations such as Rigging, Animation, Compositing, and VFX. There’s also the opportunity to attend specialty classes like Sculpting & Life Drawing along with a range of exclusive industry events.
Alongside making definitive creative decisions on your portfolio pieces–such as finalizing shots, completing lighting, rendering, and compositing, you’ll take lessons focusing on presentation skills, portfolio packaging, career preparation, and job search which will provide invaluable direction on preparing resumés and cover letters, as well as industry practices and ethics.
Courses
- Presentation Skills
- Portfolio Packaging
- Job Search
- Production Pipeline
- Final Portfolio Production
Program Outcome
Students graduate with a competitive understanding industry standard software, practices and skills. With an studio-ready portfolio in hand, and hours of Career Development under your belt, you'll be ready to step into the world of CG Art for Film, TV, or Games.
Program Tuition Fee
Program delivery
Portal
Your virtual home base. Connect with classmates, and your supervisor, take in live sessions, and explore the student gallery.
Weekly Challenges
Utilize training materials, such as video, software screen capture, exercises, resources, and assignments.
Peer Learning
Take part in live question-and-answer sessions with your classmates and supervisor to share your ideas.
Small Classes
Each class has a max of eight students. This means less theory, less waiting, more collaboration, and more feedback.
24/7 Access
Throughout your program, you’ll get 24/7 access to all recorded live sessions and proprietary training materials.
Leave with Results
At the end of the day, walk away with a final project that you’ll proudly add to your portfolio, resumé, and bedroom wall.