Unit 1Keyframes and Animation Basics
11 lessons1 Week
Keyframes and Animation Basics
 Week 1
Lesson 1
Unit / Week 1 Overview
An introduction to the basics of 3D animation in Blender, covering key concepts and tools that will be used throughout the course.
Lesson 2
Lesson: Keyframes
Learn the fundamentals of keyframes, which are used to define specific points of animation for objects over time.
Lesson 3
Exercise: Keyframes
Practice creating and manipulating keyframes to animate a simple object within a scene.
Lesson 4
Lesson: Dopesheet, Interpolation, Graph Editor
Explore the Dopesheet for managing keyframes, understand interpolation methods for smooth transitions, and use the Graph Editor to fine-tune animations.
Lesson 5
Exercise: Dopesheet
Gain hands-on experience with the Dopesheet by organizing and adjusting keyframes for a basic animation.
Lesson 6
Exercise: Interpolation
Experiment with different interpolation modes to see how they affect the motion and behavior of animated objects.
Lesson 7
Lesson: Animating the Camera
Learn techniques for animating the camera, including setting keyframes for camera position and rotation to create dynamic shots.
Lesson 8
Exercise: Animating the Camera
Animate a camera by practicing smooth movement.
Lesson 9
Lesson: Rendering Animation to Video
Understand the process of rendering an animation sequence to a video file, including setting up render settings and output formats.
Lesson 10
Project: Obstacle Course
Apply your animation skills to create an animated sequence of an object navigating through an obstacle course, focusing on timing and fluidity.
Lesson 11
Project: The Bouncing Ball
Create a realistic animation of a bouncing ball, a project that every professional animator has had to master!
Unit 2Armatures and Rigging
5 lessons1 Week
Armatures and Rigging
 Week 2
Lesson 12
Lesson: Bones, Armatures, and Rigging
Learn the basics of bones and armatures, and how to rig a 3D model to prepare it for animation by creating a skeletal structure.
Lesson 13
Exercise: Bones, Armatures and Rigging
Practice creating and placing bones within a 3D model and setting up an armature to enable complex animations.
Lesson 14
Lesson: Deforming Mesh with Armature and IK
Understand how to deform a mesh using an armature and the basics of Inverse Kinematics (IK) to create more natural and controlled animations.
Lesson 15
Exercise: Deforming Mesh with Armature and IK
Apply armature deformation and IK techniques to a model, adjusting the mesh to follow the movements of the rig seamlessly.
Lesson 16
Project: Low Poly Person
Rig a low poly character, incorporating bones, and armatures - and then animate it!
Unit 3Physics and Simulations
10 lessons1 Week
Physics and Simulations
 Week 3
Lesson 17
Lesson: Rigid and Soft Body Physics
Explore the principles of rigid and soft body physics in Blender, understanding how to simulate realistic physical interactions between objects.
Lesson 18
Exercise: Rigid Body Physics
Practice setting up rigid body physics simulations, adjusting properties like mass and friction to create believable collisions and movements.
Lesson 19
Lesson: Rigid Body Physics (Extended)
Dive deeper into rigid body physics, learning advanced techniques and settings to fine-tune simulations for more complex scenarios.
Lesson 20
Lesson: Fluid Simulation
Learn the basics of fluid simulation, including how to create and control fluid dynamics to simulate realistic liquid behavior.
Lesson 21
Exercise: Fluid Simulation
Experiment with fluid simulation by creating and animating a fluid system.
Lesson 22
Lesson: Cloth Simulation
Understand the principles of cloth simulation, including how to create and animate cloth materials that respond naturally to forces and collisions.
Lesson 23
Exercise: Cloth Simulation
Practice setting up a cloth simulation, experimenting with different settings to achieve realistic results.
Lesson 24
Lesson: Particles and Physics
Discover how to use particles in Blender, combining them with physics simulations to create dynamic and interactive effects.
Lesson 25
Exercise: Particles
Experiment with particle systems and particle-based effects.
Lesson 26
Project: Wheat Field
Create a simple animated wheat field using particle systems and physics simulations.
Unit 4Personal Projects
1 lesson1 Week
Personal Projects
 Week 4
Lesson 27
Personal Projects Overview
This part of the course allows students to apply the skills learned throughout the course to their own creative projects. Students are encouraged to create their own animations and reach out for guidance or feedback all along the way!