School of Visual Communication Global Immersion @ Asia Pacific University
The School of Visual Communication team arrived at Kuala Lumpur. The visit started off with a dinner hosted by APU before the official program began. The students were all excited and especially enthusiastic about participating in this cross-cultural learning!
Day 1:
In the morning, Ms. Vivienne introduced us to the basics of the software, guiding us through the tools and helping us create our first animations. The afternoon took it up a notch with Mr. Aie Ibrahim, who shared some of his work and taught us about animatics and storyboarding with motion.
It was a great learning experience, blending creativity with practical skills. Looking forward to applying what we have learned!
Day 2:
Effects and Simulation workshop with Mr. Jodie
It was an incredible day diving into the world of Autodesk Maya workshop led by the Mr. Jodie.
In the morning, Students explored the powerful tools within Autodesk Maya, mastering the basics of the software. By the end of the session, they were confidently creating objects from basic geometric shapes, setting a strong foundation for future projects.
In the Afternoon Session, the focus shifted to animation, where students learned to bring their shapes to life. They were introduced to key animation techniques, and by the end of the day, everyone had created their own simple animations!
Day 3 Session 1:
Industry Visit to Anima Studio:
Today’s session started with a visit to Anima Studio, a renowned Finnish animation company, where we were guided by Mr. Elvis, a senior animator with extensive experience in the industry. The visit provided us with valuable insights into the workflow and operations of a professional animation studio.
Mr. Elvis shared his journey in the animation industry, highlighting some of the most interesting projects he has worked on with Anima. He discussed the challenges and creative processes involved in bringing animated characters and stories to life.
During the visit, Mr. Elvis walked us through the studio’s workflow, which is structured to ensure efficiency and creativity. The workflow typically begins with concept development, where ideas are brainstormed and initial sketches are created. This is followed by modelling, storyboarding, and animatics, which are rough animations used to visualize the flow and timing of the scenes.
The final stages of the workflow include special effects department that detailed the animation, where the characters and scenes are fully developed, and post-production, where final touches such as sound design, color correction, and visual effects are added. Mr. Elvis emphasized the importance of collaboration and communication between departments to ensure the smooth progression of projects.
The visit concluded with a tour of the various departments within Anima Studio. The visit to Anima Studio provided us with a comprehensive understanding of how an animation studio operates, from the initial concept to the final product.
Day 3 Session 2:
Digital Cut-Out Animation:
The session focused on digital cut-out animation, specifically on facial animation and lip sync techniques using Toon Boom Harmony. Mr. Jack guided the students through the essential processes of rigging, lip sync, and applying facial expressions to characters.
Character Rigging:
- Students learned to rig various body parts of a character, ensuring smooth and realistic movements.
- Techniques for setting up pivot points and creating flexible rigs for different body parts were covered.
Facial Animation:
- The session emphasized the importance of facial expressions in bringing characters to life.
- Students practiced animating different expressions, focusing on the movement of eyebrows, eyes, and mouth.
Lip Sync:
- Students were introduced to the basics of lip sync, matching mouth shapes to specific phonetic sounds.
- They practiced syncing character mouth movements with dialogue, ensuring timing and expression matched the audio.
By the end of the session, students successfully rigged a character, applied facial animations, and performed a lip sync exercise. They gained a deeper understanding of how to enhance the emotional depth of animated characters through precise facial movements and accurate lip sync.
This session provided a solid foundation in digital cut-out animation, setting the stage for more advanced character animation work in future classes.
Day 4:
Design Thinking with Prof. Murali Raman, DVC of APU
Students had the privilege of attending an insightful and engaging workshop on Design Thinking, led by the esteemed Prof. Murali Raman. The session was packed with fascinating activities that delved deep into the fundamental concepts of design thinking. Students were actively involved throughout, demonstrating high levels of enthusiasm and energy. Prof. Raman’s lively approach made complex ideas easy to grasp, ensuring the session was both educational and enjoyable. It was a memorable experience for all, as they explored innovative problem-solving techniques in a fun and collaborative environment.