Weeks 1–8 -
Foundations of Character Modeling
Objective
Introduce students to the basics of character modeling, including tools, workflows, and foundational anatomy knowledge. This module lays the groundwork for creating realistic and stylized characters. You'll learn how to navigate 3D modeling software, understand human proportions, and start building simple models.
What You Will Learn
Week 1: Overview of Character Modeling in Games, Animation, and Film
- Understanding the character modeling pipeline
Week 2: Human Proportions: Head-to-body ratios, male vs. female anatomy
Week 3: Skeleton structure: Major bones and their influence on shape
Week 4: Muscles: Key muscle groups and their impact on surface forms
Week 5: Introduction to ZBrush, Maya, and Blender Interface
Week 6: Creating Simple Shapes and Forms
Week 7: Blocking Out Basic Character Models
Week 8: Refining Proportions and Fixing Common Mistakes
Key Activities
- Practice exercises: Create basic shapes in ZBrush and Maya
- Assignment: Block out a humanoid character model
- Peer review: Share your work and critique others' models
- Live Q&A session with instructor