Spring 2023

Animation (CTAN)

• http://cinema.usc.edu/animation
• Fall and Spring only: Animation CTAN class d-clearance request info: cinema.usc.edu/studentaffairs/animation.cfm Summer only: Animation CTAN class d-clearance request info: cinema.usc.edu/summer/index.cfm Your D clearance will only be effective until its expiration date and all elective courses will change from 'D' to 'R' after the end of early registration. YOU MUST ATTEND THE FIRST SESSION of each course or you may be replaced by a student on the waiting list, even if you are registered.

CTAN 102L: Introduction to the Art of Movement (2.0 units)

Theory and practice of animation with a focus on movement, gesture, timing and performance. Open to freshman in Animation and Digital Arts majors only.

• Prerequisite: CTAN 101
• Restriction: Registration open to the following major(s): Animation and Digital Arts
• Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Freshmen

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17956D	001	Lecture-Lab	7:00-9:50pm	Thursday	15 of 15	Lee McCaulla	SCB205

CTAN 110: Design Fundamentals for Animation I (2.0 units)

Developing skills in design, composition, shape language, image-making, and visual thinking to create more sophisticated style frames and imagery for animation practice.

• Restriction: Registration open to the following major(s): Animation and Digital Arts

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17992D	001	Lecture-Lab	7:00-9:50pm	Wednesday	15 of 15	Justin Parpan	SCB102

CTAN 200g: The Rise of Digital Hollywood (4.0 units)

An overview of the evolution of computer graphics in modern media.

• General Education: This course satisfies the university's general education requirement.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17960R	001	Lecture	12:00-3:50pm	Thursday	67 of 68	Tom Sito	SCI108

CTAN 201L: Intermediate Animation Production (3.0 units)

Tools, skills and procedures used in animation production with a focus on professional execution of independent and collaborative productions. Prerequisite: CTAN 102. Open to sophomore animation majors only.

• Prerequisite: CTAN 102
• Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Sophomore
• Restriction: Registration open to the following school(s): School of Cinematic Arts

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17922D	001	Lecture-Lab	7:00-9:50pm	Friday	16 of 16	Katie Smith	SCB102	PDF (475922 KB)

CTAN 202L: Introduction to 3-D Character Animation (3.0 units)

3-D animation performance utilizing preset rigs and virtual characters. Emphasis on timing, gesture, and performance.

• Restriction: Registration open to the following major(s): Animation and Digital Arts
• Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Sophomore

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17957D	001	Lecture-Lab	7:00-9:50pm	Tuesday	16 of 16	Morgan Kelly	SCB102
			4:00-6:50pm	Friday			SCB102

CTAN 336: Ideation and Pre-Production (2.0 units)

Emphasis on lateral thinking working across boundaries to find underlying principles in terms of ideation: the act of becoming an agent of ideas.

• Prerequisite: CTAN 301
• Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Junior
• Restriction: Registration open to the following school(s): School of Cinematic Arts

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17855D	001	Lecture-Lab	6:00-9:50pm	Monday	21 of 21	Josh Staub,Nicole West	SCB102	PDF (1251241 MB)

CTAN 401b: Senior Project (4.0 units)

b: Completion and exhibition of the short animated film to demonstrate understanding and further examination of the possibilities of animation time based graphic media. Open to senior animation majors only.

• Prerequisite: CTAN 401a
• Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Senior
• Restriction: Registration open to the following school(s): School of Cinematic Arts

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17853D	001	Lecture-Lab	1:00-3:50pm	Wednesday	16 of 17	Eric Hanson	SCB205

CTAN 420: Concept Design for Animation (2.0 units)

Creating characters and environments for animation, live action, and video games.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17917R	001	Lecture	7:00-9:50pm	Thursday	16 of 16	John Mahoney	SCB207

CTAN 425: Studio Careers: Story to Screen (2.0 units)

Seminar featuring guest speakers from major animation studios to provide an overview of a feature animation pipeline from development to pre-production, production and post-production.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17858D	001	Lecture	1:00-2:50pm	Monday	16 of 16	Josh Staub	SCB207

CTAN 432: The World of Visual Effects (2.0 units)

Introduction to the expanding field of visual effects; topics include integration for cinematic storytelling and the study of digital productions employing the latest visual effects.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17856R	001	Lecture	4:30-7:20pm	Thursday	31 of 40	Craig Barron	SCB104	PDF (100501 KB)

CTAN 436: Writing for Animation (2.0 units)

Workshop exploring concept and structure of long and short form animated films through practical writing exercises.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17865R	001	Lecture	1:00-3:50pm	Monday	14 of 16	Elizabeth Brauer	SCB304

CTAN 452: Introduction to 3-D Computer Animation (2.0 units, max 4)

Lecture and laboratory in computer animation: geometric modeling, motion specification, lighting, texture mapping, rendering, compositing, production techniques, systems for computer-synthesized animation using Maya software.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17891R	001	Lecture-Lab	7:00-9:50pm	Thursday	15 of 15	Dariush Derakhshani	RZC117
			9:00-11:50am	Friday			RZC117
17892D	001	Lecture-Lab	7:00-9:50pm	Tuesday	15 of 15	Dariush Derakhshani	SCA356
			9:00-11:50am	Friday			RZC117
17893R	001	Lecture-Lab	9:00-11:50am	Tuesday	14 of 15	Maks Naporowski	SCA356
			7:00-9:50pm	Friday			SCA356
17894R	001	Lecture-Lab	4:00-6:50pm	Monday	13 of 15	Marcel Valcarce	RZC117
			7:00-9:50pm	Friday			SCA356
17895R	001	Lecture-Lab	1:00-3:50pm	Monday	13 of 15	Maks Naporowski	RZC117
			9:00-11:50am	Friday			RZC117

CTAN 454: Real-Time Animation (2.0 units)

The fundamentals of lighting and rendering in real-time. Creating complex, compelling and dynamic scenes and manipulating them in real-time using Unreal Engine.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17919R	001	Lecture	4:00-6:50pm	Wednesday	14 of 15	Jordan Halsey	SCB102

CTAN 460: Character Design Workshop (2.0 units)

The basics of character design for animation: anatomy, poses, facial expressions, silhouettes, and anthropomorphism. Development of a portfolio.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17909R	001	Lecture	7:00-9:50pm	Monday	14 of 15	Tapan Gandhi	SCB205

CTAN 462: Visual Effects (2.0 units)

Survey of contemporary concepts and approaches to production in the current state of film and video effects work. Digital and traditional methodologies will be covered, with a concentration on digital exercises illustrating modern techniques.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17900R	001	Lecture-Lab	1:00-3:50pm	Friday	14 of 16	Maurice Bastian	RZC117
			1:00-3:50pm	Thursday			RZC117

CTAN 465L: Digital Effects Animation (2.0 units)

All aspects of digital effects animation, including particles, dynamics, and fluids. Creating water, fire, explosions, and destruction in film.

• Prerequisite: 1 from (CTAN 452 or CTAN 462)

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17912R	001	Lecture-Lab	7:00-9:50pm	Friday	13 of 15	Domin Lee	RZC117
			1:00-3:50pm	Thursday			RZC117

CTAN 480: Advanced Character Animation for Games (2.0 units)

Advanced techniques for animating 3-D creature characters in games. An emphasis on unique non-human fantasy characters.

• Prerequisite: CTAN 280

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17910R	001	Lecture-Lab	1:00-2:50pm	Monday	Canceled
			1:00-2:50pm	Wednesday

CTAN 496: Directed Studies (2.0 units, max 4)

Individual research under faculty guidance.

• Restriction: Registration open to the following major(s): Animation and Digital Arts

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17908D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	9 of 15	Teresa Cheng	OFFICE

CTAN 497L: Procedural Animation (2.0 units)

Introduction to software packages and practices exploring current animation techniques that leverage simulation systems. Artificial intelligence as a tool for animation.

• Prerequisite: CTAN 452

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17921R	001	Lecture-Lab	9:00-11:50am	Wednesday	15 of 15	Jordan Halsey	RZC117

CTAN 499: Special Topics (2.0-4.0 units, max 8)

Detailed investigation of new or emerging aspects of cinema and/or television; special subjects offered by visiting faculty; experimental subjects.

Section	Session	Units	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
Cinematic World Building
17927D	001	2.0	Lecture	7:00-9:50pm	Friday	14 of 15	Jang Lee	SCB205	PDF (1589063 MB)

CTAN 503: Storyboarding for Animation (2.0 units)

Focus on film grammar, perspective, and layout, staging and acting as it relates to storyboarding for animation.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17920R	037	Lecture	1:00-3:50pm	Monday	13 of 16	Tom Sito	SCB205

CTAN 504L: Creative Production in Virtual Reality (2.0 units)

A creative studio course in producing both a linear cinematic virtual reality short film and associated real-time immersive experience.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17990R	037	Lecture-Lab	9:00-11:50am	Tuesday	14 of 15	Eric Hanson	RZC117	PDF (448067 KB)
			9:00-11:50am	Thursday			RZC117

CTAN 505: The Business of Animation (2.0 units)

Overview of the global production, media and entertainment industries and fundamental business skills, with an emphasis on animation and the animation professional.

• Restriction: Registration open to the following major(s): Animation and Digital Arts
• Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Master Student

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17924D	037	Lecture	4:00-6:50pm	Monday	18 of 20	Richard Goldsmith	SCB205	PDF (352127 KB)

CTAN 564L: Motion Capture Fundamentals (2.0 units)

Fundamental principles of motion capture technology explored while working through a structured series of assignments based around performance, gesture and motion.

• Prerequisite: 1 from (CTAN 452 or CTAN 462)

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17997R	037	Lecture-Lab	1:00-3:50pm	Tuesday	15 of 15	John Brennan	RZC117
			4:00-6:50pm	Friday			RZC117

CTAN 572: 3-D Motion Graphic Design (2.0 units)

A creative 3-D motion graphics course focusing on animation technique, design and skills in Cinema 4-D.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17999R	037	Lecture-Lab	4:00-6:50pm	Tuesday	14 of 16	Moses Journey	SCB102

CTAN 592: Master Class (2.0-6.0 units, max 12)

A special projects course in which students produce a major work through weekly meetings with a master artist/animator. Topics must be approved prior to enrollment. Recommended preparation: Previous advanced animation production experience. Recommended preparation: Previous advanced animation production experience.

Section	Session	Units	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17976R	037	2.0	Lecture	1:00-3:50pm	Friday	Canceled

CTAN 593: Directed Studies in Animation (2.0 units, max 4)

Individual exploration in the areas of contemporary technology, animation techniques or experimental film through internships, residencies or directed studies. Open only to Animation and Digital Arts master students.

• Restriction: Registration open to the following major(s): Animation and Digital Arts
• Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Master Student

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17982D	037	Lecture	TBA	TBA	1 of 18	Teresa Cheng	OFFICE

CTAN 594b: Master's Thesis (2.0 units)

Credit on acceptance of Thesis. Graded CR/NC.

• Prerequisite: CTAN 594a

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17983D	037	Lecture-Lab	10:00-11:50am	Monday	8 of 8	Jason Reisig	SCB205
17988D	037	Lecture-Lab	10:00-11:50am	Wednesday	6 of 6	Kathy Smith	SCB205

CTAN 599: Special Topics (2.0-4.0 units, max 8)

Detailed investigation of new or emerging aspects of cinema; special subjects offered by visiting faculty; experimental subjects.

Section	Session	Units	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
Demystifying the TV Animation Pipeline
17929R	037	2.0	Lecture	7:00-8:50pm	Wednesday	Canceled
Inside Story: Creative Development for Animation
17947D	037	2.0	Lecture	10:00-12:50pm	Thursday	8 of 12	Abram Makowka	SCB205