Classes Offered - USC Schedule of Classes

Animation (CTAN)

http://cinema.usc.edu/animation
D class assignments available; URL: https://cinema.usc.edu/studentaffairs/animation.cfm.
Fall and Spring only: Animation CTAN class d-clearance request info: cinema.usc.edu/studentaffairs/animation.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	14 of 14	Luis Grane	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	14 of 14	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	65 of 96	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	9 of 9		SCB102

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	9 of 9	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	1:00-3:50pm	Tuesday	14 of 14	Josh Staub	SCB102

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 16	Jordan Halsey	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
17858R	001	Lecture	1:00-2:50pm	Monday	10 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	19 of 40	Craig Barron	SCB104

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	16 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
17891R	001	Lecture-Lab	7:00-9:50pm	Thursday	16 of 16	Dariush Derakhshani	RZC117
17892D	001	Lecture-Lab	7:00-9:50pm	Tuesday	14 of 14	Dariush Derakhshani	SCA356
			9:00-11:50am	Friday			RZC117
17894R	001	Lecture-Lab	4:00-6:50pm	Monday	16 of 16	Marcel Valcarce	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	16 of 16	Jordan Halsey	RZC117

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	15 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	16 of 16	Maurice Bastian	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	10 of 15	Domin Lee	RZC117	PDF (473425 KB)

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	6:00-7:50pm	Mon, Thu	23 of 24	Cristian Thompson	SCIL105

CTAN 495: Visual Music (2.0 units)

Creating visual music animation in a variety of forms and styles. Exploring the relationship between music, movement, and visual expression. Freshmen and sophomores not eligible.

Restriction: Registration closed to the following class level(s): Freshmen, Sophomore

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17906D	001	Lecture	1:00-3:50pm	Friday	15 of 15	Michael Patterson	SCB102

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
17908D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	1 of 1	Jason Reisig	OFFICE
17913D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 2		OFFICE
17914D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 2		OFFICE
17915D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 3		OFFICE
17916D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 2		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	14 of 16	Jordan Halsey	RZC117

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	16 of 16	Tom Sito	SCB205

CTAN 508L: Live Action Integration with Visual Effects (2.0 units)

Survey of the digital techniques required to successfully marry live action shooting with CGI elements and green screen footage.

Prerequisite: CTAN 462

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17925R	037	Lecture-Lab	7:00-9:50pm	Wednesday	13 of 16	Alessandro Jacomini	RZC117

CTAN 509: Environment Modeling (2.0 units)

Create 3D models for environments for urban and natural settings and props including vehicles, rocks, trees and furniture.

Prerequisite: CTAN 452

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17991R	037	Lecture	7:00-9:50pm	Thursday	10 of 15	Jaewon Lee	SCA356	PDF (635008 KB)

CTAN 510: Inside Story: Creative Development for Animation (2.0 units)

A creative development workshop for animated pitch storytelling, supported by an introduction to character development and story structure fundamentals.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17947R	037	Lecture	10:00-12:50pm	Thursday	8 of 14	Abram Makowka	SCB205

CTAN 511: Demystifying the TV Animation Pipeline (2.0 units)

The practical aspects of producing a 2-D animation series. Identifying and understanding the 2-D pipeline.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
17929R	037	Lecture	7:00-8:50pm	Wednesday	11 of 15	Monica Mitchell	SCB207

CTAN 535: Fundamentals of 3-D Character Animation (2.0 units)

Applying traditional principles to 3-D character animation in Maya, with a focus on character performance and acting.

Prerequisite: CTAN 530 and CTAN 533
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
17958D	037	Lecture-Lab	1:00-3:50pm	Wednesday	10 of 10	Jason Reisig	SCB102

CTAN 547: Animation Production I (3.0 units)

Production of an animation project from creative concept and design through completion.

Prerequisite: CTAN 519
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
17946D	037	Lecture-Lab	10:00-12:50pm	Tuesday	9 of 9	Michael Patterson	SCB102

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	7:00-9:50pm	Tuesday	14 of 14	Charles Ghislandi	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	7:00-9:50pm	Monday	16 of 16	Moses Journey	SCB102

CTAN 588: Cinematic Storytelling for Animators (2.0 units)

Techniques and cinematic language employed in both live action and animation by cinematographers and layout artists to tell visual stories.

Prerequisite: CTAN 586
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
17923D	037	Lecture	7:00-9:50pm	Thursday	11 of 11	Michael Comfort	SCB102

CTAN 591: Animation Pre-Thesis Seminar (2.0 units)

Research, development, and preparation of the concept, script, storyboards and preliminary designs for thesis projects to be executed in CTAN 594abz.

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
17972D	037	Lecture	1:00-3:50pm	Tuesday	11 of 11	Candace Reckinger	SCB205

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	Location
17953D	037	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 2	OFFICE
17984D	037	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 2	OFFICE
17985D	037	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 2	OFFICE
17987D	037	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 3	OFFICE
17989D	037	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 2	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	13 of 14	Jason Reisig	SCB205

Information accurate as of December 22, 2024 5:52 pm.
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