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Welcome to Animation 12
In this course, we will be delving into the world of animation and the various techniques that animators use to develop impactful and meaningful productions. We will exploring both the more complex nuance of 2 D animation work and then moving on to begin working in a 3 D context where we learn more about meshing, sculpting, modelling, rigging, animation, dope sheets and camera and lighting. This is a vast course with many exciting technical and creative challenges ahead. It should be noted that this is challenging technical journey and it takes a considerable amount of time and patience to gain competence within the 3 D aspect of the course. Therefore, we will start small and build out our ideas as the course progresses.
Vancouver Film Festival 2026
Final Submission Deadline
Vancouver Film Festival 2025 - Animation 3D
If you can't make up links for the spreadsheet, then create a folder with your full name on it and drag and drop all your files into this ONE folder only!
Create a one Drive share link - create an 'on line' spreadsheet for sharing course assignments
Create and Share links in ONE drive - A 'how to' guide
Example - T Linburg - (using Google Sheets - but you could use your Microsoft version of Excel)
T Linburg - grade and assessment link spreadsheet (adjust the share permissions to allow Mr. Linburg to edit)
Please make share links that can be opened JUST by Mr Linburg ONLY .(to find me for sharing - start typing in tel... (and my name should pop up!)
Module # 2 - Working with both Low Poly and 'Realistic' Landscapes / Urban Cityscapes - Setting the "scene" for our Animation Work
Due:
We will now turn our attention to developing dynamic background scenes that will set the stage for our future animation work. We will be exploring both the Low Poly Style and 'urban realism' in order to learn about different approaches to texture and scene development. In order to construct these TWO very different landscapes you could follow one of the tutorials listed below OR search out one more to your liking. If you are intending to follow your own, then please email me the link to this.
The aim here is to learn about scene creation, camera angle(s), texture, lighting...with the goal of using ONE of these for your first feature animation. If you would rather create this in more of a 'free flow format' then please go ahead.
Additional Tool suite add-ons to help with creative Terrain work flow
Part ONE - Create ONE Low Poly Landscape
In this first section, we will be exploring the world of low poly 'landscape' environments. This stylized format is warm and inviting and adds an artistic flair to our scenes and compositions. Notice the 'explicit' geometry present with these compositions? This style also characterized by low resolution compositions with more attention to colour and shape than to specific object details. This style, once mastered, saves a lot of time with your project development work. Less detail = less time and more time for actual animation. Have fun with this distinctive approach to scene creation!
Please use one of the videos or other help guides listed below or search out your own inspiration!
Please use one of these helpful videos to assist you as you develop your skills with this style.
To add color to a landscape with elevation try the following:
Low Poly Landscapes / Low Poly Landscape 'tricks' / Low Poly Landscapes (Winter has set in...)
Part TWO - Create ONE 'Photorealistic' scene while exploring material and texture options (choose a tutorial or create your own!)
This second landscape environment could be clean and modern or it could be war torn, it could be 'post apocalyptic', it could be 'alien' extraterrestrial, this is up to you. In this lesson you will also have the opportunity to explore the world of free 'prefabs' to add realistic enhancements to your scene. I would suggest importing textures and using JPG's or the equivalent to texture wrap the building structures.
Intoduction - (Pre-reading)
What is Photorealism and what are its uses and examples?
The essential building blocks of Photorealism in Blender -
MODELLING
MATERIALS
LIGHTING
POST PRODUCTION
Please use my 'Step by Step' Guides for both the table introduction and a Photorealistic Cityscape environment
Part I (see page link) - Create a wooden table in the style of 'photorealism'
Part II (see page link) - Create a "Photorealism' Scene as a backdrop for one of your animations.
Module # 1 Introduction to 3 D Animation with Blender
Introduction to the Blender interface and basic functions of the program.
Important reference guides
Primitives - Blender (manual)
Always the most important function (undo function Control 'ctrl + alt + z' )
Part I - Introduction to the Blender Interface Due:
Watch these videos to get started:
Introduction (fundamentals)
Instructions (once you have gone through these videos)
When you have watched these first intro videos you are asked to make your own Blender summary sheet (please use the snipping tool or screen shots to add a visual where possible) that describes the following:
A clear Description of the different parts of the Blender workspace
Identify all the different tabs in Blender (see above image - eg layout modelling....)
How do you add a mesh object in Blender? What is the difference between the different modes: eg Object Mode / Edit Mode?
How can you change the faces and number of vertices in a blender Mesh object?
How could you use the sculpt mode function in Blender
Part II (One scene from Part II and III - two parts of the same project)
Create your first Primitive Object Image in Blender Comprised entirely of primitive shaped objects. An effective analogy is...playing with child's wooden block set.
How original can you be?
Instructions (Please add at least five different objects)
In this first section you will be adding a collection of Blender primitive objects together to create a scene. This scene could be a castle or a forest or a collection of fruit in a bowl. Please try to incorporate into your scene at least one of EVERY single mesh object into your picture. Please add a high degree of complexity and detail to this. As we proceed we will also be joining objects together, smoothing the faces (by subdividing the vertices), using sculpt tools, adding textures and materials and creating a complex scene. Some examples of this could be a complete castle, a town, a bowl of fruit, a collection of ice cream cones...the possibilities are only limited by your imagination.
To Join Objects together:
Left-click to select the first object, one which you don't want to be the parent. ...
Once everything you want to be joined is selected, click on the “Join” button in the object menu (as shown in the above image) or simply press “Ctrl + J”.
To Merge Two Objects Together:
Other helpful links:
How to join objects in Blender / Using the new Primitive Add feature in Blender 2.1
Working with a "curve modifier" - to make your vertex curved for a variety of applications - Great video on the topic! to "bend an object
Part III - Use at least FIVE of the modelling tools to create a refined scene
Due:
30 Blender Modelling tools explained / adding texture in Blender models (image texture) / texture UV unwrapping
(Extrude / Bevel tool / loop cut / inset tool / knife tool / Bisect tool / Split tool / Merge / Subdivide / sculpting)
Part A - More sophisticated modelling using tool suite
30 Blender Modelling tools explained
In this second follow up activities, you will be asked to create a second primitive object scene. However, you will be experimenting with some of the many modelling tools to help you sculpt and create scenes in 3 D. For example, the extrude key will allow you to pull or push a face on your mesh object. Some of the other tools allow you to merge vertices, cut objects in half or carve into one of the faces. Our goal here is to build an object and then practice using at least FIVE of the different modelling tools as described in the "30 Blender modelling tools explained" link.
Part B - Add texture to your objects / UV texture unwrapping
In this next segment, you will be working on adding texture and then using UV texture maps to place the texture in the exact locations you wish.
Before you begin - take a look at some of these links:
adding texture in Blender models (image texture) /
summary of the various methods (also you can use an image for this - see second half of tutorial)
We will now take our scene and work on our texture / texture unwrapping. How do we accomplish this? Image texture cube example / texture unwrapping (UV map)
You will hopefully learn to add texture to all the objects on your scene. However, I would strongly suggest you exit out and just practice the texture unwrapping with a basic cube shape (as outlined in the video).
Other Links and resources
Part IV - Sculpting - What can you sculpt from a basic 'lump of virtual clay'...? (a Snowman, a rocket ship? )
Due:
Lets expand our 3 D modelling optiions by exploring. "Blender Sculpting". Blender has the capacity, through the sculpt tools, to treat a digital primative object (such as a sphere) as a 'ball of clay. Open your mind and imagination to decide what you might be able to sculpt and create from a 'ball of clay' . Use the various Blender scultp tools to mold and shape an object into something relatable (a tree, an apple?) Try to do this process 'organically' without tutorials. However, you may, of course, search something up, if needed!
Here are some examples of what you can sculpt using these tools.
Please refer to this link to review the basics of sculpting and the use of sculpting tools.
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