3D Production
About This Block
Students learn modern 3D production pipelines including character creation, scene building, animation, and rendering. They build detailed characters, environments, and cinematic sequences using professional tools. The mini-project has students produce a complete 3D scene with characters and animation.
Program Summary
Block 7 introduces students to the complete 3D production pipeline -- combining character creation, environment design, animation, and rendering into professional workflows used in game studios, film VFX, virtual production, and metaverse content creation. This block brings together the modeling, texturing, and animation skills from previous blocks into a cohesive production experience.
In Week 1, students learn the production pipeline and begin building characters from base models, adjusting body morphs, proportions, and builds. Week 2 focuses on facial sculpting -- shaping eyes, nose, mouth, jawline, and applying skin textures, hairstyles, and custom details like makeup or scars. Week 3 covers clothing and accessories: applying outfits, customizing fabric textures and colors, and adding glasses, hats, jewelry, and props to create fully dressed characters.
Week 4 introduces rigging and scene assembly -- preparing characters with proper bone structures and building complete 3D environments. Week 5 is all about animation and cinematics: applying motion clips, blending sequences, facial animation, lip sync, and cinematic camera setups. The mini-project challenges each student to produce a complete 3D scene with characters and animation -- building a portfolio-ready asset that can be imported into Unreal Engine in Block 8. This block directly prepares students for metaverse content creation and virtual production.
Mini-Project
Produce a complete 3D scene with characters and animation
Class Schedule
- Monday & Wednesday: 2 hours per day
- Saturday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Optional Overflow Days (If Needed): Tuesday & Thursday
Maximum of 20 students per class for quality instruction
At the end of each 6-week block, students receive a Certificate of Completion recognizing the skills they have learned.
6-Week Curriculum
A structured, hands-on program from fundamentals to final project.
Week 1
Introduction to Character Creator
- Overview of Character Creator interface and tools
- Understanding the character creation pipeline
- Starting with base models and body morphs
- Adjusting proportions, height, and build
- Saving and managing character projects
Week 2
Facial Features & Customization
- Sculpting facial features: eyes, nose, mouth, and jaw
- Working with skin textures and complexion
- Hair styles, eyebrows, and facial hair options
- Makeup, scars, tattoos, and custom details
- Practice: create a unique character face
Week 3
Clothing & Textures
- Applying clothing and outfit presets
- Customizing fabric textures, colors, and patterns
- Accessories: glasses, hats, jewelry, and props
- Understanding texture maps and material properties
- Project: dress and style a complete character
Week 4
Rigging & Setup
- Understanding character rigging basics
- Exporting characters with proper bone structure
- Introduction to iClone 3D interface
- Importing characters into iClone for animation
- Setting up scenes and environments in iClone
Week 5
Animation in iClone 3D
- Applying motion clips and animation presets
- Editing and blending animation sequences
- Facial animation and lip sync in iClone
- Camera setup and cinematic framing
- Practice: animate a character performing a scene
Week 6
Mini-Project: Custom Character Animation
- Finalizing the personalized 3D character design
- Creating a short animated sequence in iClone
- Adding lighting, camera work, and effects
- Rendering the final animation for portfolio
- Certificate of Completion presentation