ok more stuff

 http://usa.autodesk.com/maya/features/

Enjoy :D

The complexity of 3D animation using maya

Tutorials - definately needed through their website :P . Time needed to learn (months) .

Animation history

Computer animation

Main article: Computer animation

A short gif animation of Earth

Computer animation encompasses a variety of techniques, the unifying factor being that the animation is created digitally on a computer.

[edit] 2D animation

2D animation figures are created and/or edited on the computer using 2D bitmap graphics or created and edited using 2D vector graphics. This includes automated computerized versions of traditional animation techniques such as of, interpolated morphing, onion skinning and interpolated rotoscoping.
2D animation has many applications, including analog computer animation, Flash animation and PowerPoint animation. Cinemagraphs are still photographs in the form of an animated GIF file of which part is animated.

[edit] 3D animation

3D animation is digitally modeled and manipulated by an animator. In order to manipulate a mesh, it is given a digital skeletal structure that can be used to control the mesh. This process is called rigging. Various other techniques can be applied, such as mathematical functions (ex. gravity, particle simulations), simulated fur or hair, effects such as fire and water and the use of motion capture to name but a few, these techniques fall under the category of 3D dynamics. Well-made 3D animations can be difficult to distinguish from live action and are commonly used as visual effects for recent movies. Toy Story (1995, USA) is the first feature-length film to be created and rendered entirely using 3D graphics.


Choice : 2D animation - 3D would require Maya 2011 (which I have ) ... however is very complicated to use . ( The Avatar movie was done purely through using that programme )

Ideas for coursework - stage 1

I have looked into animation for quite a while now , and seem to have a rough idea of what I am going to do . However it will contain 500 frames hand drawn by using a graphics tablet and animated using software supplied .
Idea - Advert animation - animal based .
Graphics tablet : 500fps = 5 minutes .
Animation make :wacom bamboo graphics tablet . (for beginners -_-) .