3D Animation Associate

Objective: Begin the week by conceptualizing a short 3D animated sequence. Your goal is to develop a clear narrative that can be translated into a storyboard and form the basis for later 3D development. This task focuses on planning, creativity, and establishing a strong narrative foundation. You will be required to submit a comprehensive storyboard file in PDF format. The final deliverable should include a detailed concept document and a complete series of storyboard panels.

Key Steps to Complete the Task:

• Conduct research on a chosen theme or story idea that inspires you.
• Write a creative concept document outlining the narrative, characters, environment, and key animation moments.
• Create a detailed storyboard that clearly indicates camera angles, frame transitions, key poses, and descriptions of each scene.
• Review and refine your storyboard to ensure clarity and consistency in visual storytelling.

Expected Deliverables: A PDF file containing a concept document (minimum 300 words) and a set of storyboard panels drawn either digitally or by hand and scanned for submission.

Evaluation Criteria: Your work will be assessed on creativity, clarity of narrative, detail in storytelling, and the overall quality of the storyboard. Extra emphasis will be placed on how well the storyboard communicates the intended animation sequence. The content must demonstrate thorough research, a well-structured narrative, and clear visual instructions that can be easily understood. The file should be well-organized with identifiable sections. This task requires about 30 to 35 hours of dedicated work and self-reflection. Ensure that the submitted file is comprehensive and self-sufficient, needing no external references.

Objective: This week, focus on bringing your storyboard to life by designing a detailed 3D character and a simple environment using industry-standard modeling software. The emphasis is on the creative process of building a digital asset, rigging it for basic movement, and preparing the model for animation. You must prepare and submit a project file containing your 3D modeled assets along with rigging setups.

Key Steps to Complete the Task:

• Select a character and create a detailed model using tools like Blender, Maya, or another industry-standard application.
• Create a basic environment that complements the character’s narrative from Week 1.
• Develop a simple rig for the character ensuring basic functionality such as limb movement and facial expressions.
• Document your process with screenshots and brief descriptions within the project file.

Expected Deliverables: A single project file (or compressed folder) containing all 3D models, rigging data, and a process document detailing your approach, methodologies, and challenges encountered during the project.

Evaluation Criteria: The project will be evaluated on model detail, rigging efficiency, and overall cohesion with the previously developed storyboard. Emphasis is placed on technical skills as well as creative interpretation. Ensure your submission is organized, properly labeled, and reflects a professional approach to 3D asset creation. This assignment is designed for about 30 to 35 hours of work and should be complete in a self-contained file.

Objective: In this task, your focus will shift to animating the character and environment created earlier. You are required to produce a short animated clip that demonstrates character movement, camera manipulation, and visual storytelling. The aim is to bring dynamic movement to your project while ensuring continuity of the narrative. The final submission will be a rendered animation file in a commonly accepted video format.

Key Steps to Complete the Task:

• Import your 3D models and rigs into your animation software.
• Create a short animation (between 15 to 30 seconds) that tells a coherent segment of your storyboard narrative.
• Implement dynamic camera movements such as pans, tilts, or zooms to enhance the storytelling.
• Utilize key-frame animation techniques and adjust timing and easing to ensure smooth transitions.

Expected Deliverables: A rendered video file (e.g., MP4 or AVI) of your short animation along with a document (PDF) of approximately 300 words explaining your animation choices, camera angles, and the process behind the creation.

Evaluation Criteria: Your submission will be evaluated based on technical proficiency in animation, creativity in camera work, clarity of the narrative as it unfolds, and overall production quality. The animation should be engaging and visually consistent with your prior design work. Dedicate sufficient time (30-35 hours) to refine your animation and ensure the final file is self-contained and includes all necessary visual and documentary assets.

Objective: The final task involves the post-production aspect of animation. You will focus on lighting, shading, rendering, and basic post-production editing to polish your animation project. Your task is to enhance the visual quality and mood of your animation by applying creative lighting techniques, realistic rendering settings, and any necessary post-production adjustments. This task culminates in delivering a final animation project file that exhibits a professional finish.

Key Steps to Complete the Task:

• Refine the lighting setup in your scene to match the narrative’s mood and atmosphere.
• Adjust material properties and apply shaders to improve visual realism or artistic style.
• Render the short animation sequence in high quality. Experiment with different rendering settings to balance quality and render time.
• Conduct basic post-production editing, such as color correction or compositing, to enhance final output.

Expected Deliverables: A final high-quality video file (e.g., MP4) of your animation with polished visuals. Additionally, include a process journal in PDF format (minimum 300 words) documenting the lighting and rendering strategies, post-production decisions, and any challenges encountered with solutions.

Evaluation Criteria: Your final product will be judged on visual quality, consistency with previous tasks, technical expertise in lighting and rendering, and the overall professional finish of the work. The evaluation focuses on creative decisions, technical implementation, and the clarity of your documented process. The task is expected to require 30 to 35 hours and must be submitted as a self-contained file package containing all relevant files and documentation.