Archive notice: This article was originally published on August 7, 2007. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Autodesk releases the new version of the well-known “Animation Academy” for 3ds Max and Maya software. Autodesk’s “Animation Academy” 2008 is a first-class visual communication programme for secondary schools that want to bring their mathematics, technology, science and art curricula to life. The team-oriented course teaches students sophisticated 3D visualization and animation techniques using the same technology that is also used by professionals in the media and entertainment industry.
The “Animation Academy” 2008 is available worldwide for the 3ds Max and Maya 3D Modeling, animation and Rendering software. The course for 3ds Max runs on the operating systems Windows; with Maya, schools are free to use the software on Macintosh or Windows platforms.
David Della-Rocca, Manager of Educational Products at Autodesk Media & Entertainment, says: “Demand for qualified employees who have a good understanding of visual communication and animation is growing both in the entertainment industry and in many other artistic and design-oriented industries. The “Animation Academy” helps prepare students for interesting careers by familiarizing them with the newest 3D software while at the same time promotes a critical way of thinking as well as design and communication skills in all subjects.”
The “Animation Academy” is already used at schools in North America, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. It is a team-oriented, cross-disciplinary course based on US educational guidelines that was developed by experienced educators and technical specialists specifically for secondary schools. It encourages students to explore certain subject areas in depth, including the physics of planetary motion, the archaeological reconstruction of the Parthenon and the digestive system. The students then use Autodesk’s 3ds Max and Maya 3D animation software to present their learning results.
Key features of Autodesk’s “Animation Academy” 2008
• Maya 2008 and 3ds Max 2008: the “Animation Academy” is based on the newest versions of Autodesk’s two 3D Modeling, animation and Rendering products.
• Capstone Project: this new section of the course is intended as its own teaching unit and simulates practice at a real 3D design workplace. The students begin with a “customer survey” to determine how the customer assignment can be simplified thanks to 3D visualization. The students then implement the customer’s ideas with the aid of 3D design technology.
• Lessons: Planetary motion, archaeological reconstruction of the Parthenon, digestive system, weather and hurricane systems, forensics and facial reconstruction.
Animation Academy 2008 meets the following US educational guidelines:
• Sciences: National Council for Science Education Standards Assessment (NCSESA)
• Mathematics: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
• Languages: National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
• Technology: the International Technology Education Association (ITEA) forms the basis; in addition, the psychomotor standards common in many federal sttes are met.
In addition, the course complies with the NSF-VISTE project principles (National Science Foundation’s Visualization in Science and Technology Education).
Further information about the “Animation Academy” is available at http://www.autodesk.com/animationacademy.
Further links:
- Autodesk Animation Academy
