Introduction to Computer Animation

CLICK HERE FOR SYLLABUS PDF

WEEK ONE	Description of course (Syllabus) History of Animation
WEEK TWO	Timeline of Animation and Early Animation Devices Conventional Animation Techniques (Project 1)
WEEK THREE	Technical Background Matrices, Coordinates and Display pipeline
WEEK FOUR	Reflecting and Rotating Matrices Understanding Polygons and B-Splines CODE for the week
WEEK FIVE	Interpolation and Basic Techniques Programming Animation (Java, C++) Test 1
WEEK SIX	Creating 2D objects and scenes Introduction to App Development Fundamentals of gaming (Project 2)
WEEK SEVEN	Advanced Algorithms Random generators and Artificial Intelligence Transformations and controlling object movement CODE for the week
WEEK EIGHT	Introduction to 3D Modeling Understanding the User Interface and different tools Creating different Primitives Shapes (Test 2)
WEEK NINE	Polygonal and NURBS modeling Modeling Trick and Tips Shading and Texture Mapping CODE for the week
WEEK TEN	Hierarchy and the joint system Creating a skeleton for animation
WEEK ELEVEN	Motion Paths for Animation Key frame animation (Project 4)
WEEK TWELVE	How to Create a Walk/Run Cycle Camera control and creating a movie clip
WEEK THIRTEEN	Modeling an Environment Lighting, shaders and rendering techniques 3D Files
WEEK FOURTEEN	3D Gaming Engines Exporting files and animation into an engine

Uzoma James Chikwem

Biography

I was born and raised in Maiduguri, Nigeria, where I learned a lot about Africa, brotherhood and about life in general. My parents, Dr. John Chikwem and Susan Chikwem, were well respected in my hometown, almost everyone knew our family due to the generocity and kindness of my parents. I consider myself very lucky to have them as parents because they have taught me so much but most importantly the reason why we are here, which I believe is to help out others whenever we can, especially the earth, or cell, we live on.
In Nigeria, as a young kid, I always knew what my career or true calling would be. I was very spiritual at the time and believed, well still believe, that the source of all creation, or God, was an artist and wanted nothing more but to follow in his footsteps and be able to create aesthetics that would be able to change, or alter, spirits for the better. As I grew up, I started noticing how precise, or mathematical, the world was and wanted to learn more about the formulas or life. Also found it neccesary to know the sciences of life, the rules which make existence, or creation, possible and studied hard in these fields to evolve into a better being and artist.
In 1995, when I was 11 years old, we moved from Nigeria to totally new world, America. My father had gotten a job at Lincoln University and I was fortunate to be able to visit the University frequently to learn to play tennis, football, and so much more educationally in mathematics and the sciences. I learned a lot more about art at High School due to one of the coolest and best teachers, Mrs. Caudell, whom pushed me more into pursueing my dreams of creating as I graduated to college to get my degree in Computer Science.