What should be covered in an Animation workshop?
 

I'm in the process of creating some Free 1 day 3ds Max workshops and wanted to know what kind of workshops would be of the most benefit to students that are participating in the competition?

Go with the basics first, like creating and editing Objects. People may want to animate, but you have to create to animate ;) Then I would make one on basic animation... how to use Keys, Cameras, and Lighting. Then I'd move onto how to use rendering and video post. This is all pretty basic stuff that you could fit in a day or so.. That's what I would do :) Hope it helps ya out.

You want to think about modeling, lighting, texturing and sounds. teach people how to use videopost if you have time. Other than those listed, you want to teach kids, like freshmen how to brainstorm for ideas. The team needs good idea, but not wild, hard to workout ideas. KISS is the way to go, but don't let the last "s" lower your team's performance. The storyline is very darn important, I will say a monthly homework for them just to brainstorm a plausible animation theme based on last year's topic for practice.

Modeling is still easy to learn, but lighting and texturing requires a lot of experience. So team leaders must know your members' ability and teach them accordingly. Let me say something obvious, teach the unexperienced members how to model first. Texturing and lighting for intermediate and advanced users.

Sound is something that all animators have to keep in mind when working on animations. Brainstorm on theme and think of music and sound effects that fit the theme the most.


Good luck to you all, I'm looking forward to see some great impressive animations this year,

Brian