CS 15-497/15-861
Computer Animation

Spring 2002
TuTh 10:30-12:00


Description
This course introduces techniques for computer animation such as keyframing, procedural methods, motion capture, and simulation. The course will also explore current research topics in computer animation such as dynamic simulation of flexible and rigid objects, automatically generated control systems, and evolution of behaviors.

Instructor
Jessica Hodgins
jkh@cs.cmu.edu
4228b NSH (inside the Graphics Lab, 4228)
(412)268-6795
Office Hours: Drop by or send email to schedule an appointment.
Teaching Assistants
Kiran Bhat
kiranb@cs.cmu.edu
4228 NSH (Graphics Lab)
(412)268-7895
Office Hours: Thursday 4:45-5:45 or send email to schedule an appointment.
Alla Safanova
alla@cs.cmu.edu
4228 NSH (Graphics Lab)
(412)268-7895
Office Hours: Wednesday 4:45-5:45 or send email to schedule an appointment.

Announcements:

General Information

This course will teach you about current techniques in computer animation. By the end of the course you should be able to

Texts: Required text (should be in the bookstore):

Other Optional Texts (not in the bookstore):

Syllabus

An accurate syllabus for the past and an approximate syllabus for the future:

Week of Tue Thu
January 15

Topic:


Supplemental Reading:


Videos:

January 22

Topic:


Supplemental Reading:


Videos:

Topic:


Supplemental Reading:


Videos:

Assignment 1:

January 29

Topic:


Supplemental Reading:

Videos:

Topic:

Supplemental Reading:

Videos:

February 05


Topic:

Topic:

February 12

Guest Lecturer: Alla Safonova
Topic:

Assignment 1 due
Assignment 2 out: Motion Textures

Supplemental Reading:

Topic:


Supplemental Reading:

Videos:

February 19

Topic:


Supplemental Reading:

Videos:

Guest Lecturer: Kiran Bhat
Topic:

Supplemental Reading
Videos:

February 26

Guest Lecturer: Kiran Bhat
Topic:


Videos:

Software:

March 5

Topic:

Assignment 2 due--deadline extended until Wednesday midnight

Mid-semester break--no classes

March 12 Topic: Control: Legged Locomotion

Supplemental Reading:

Videos:

  • On the Run
  • Biped, quadruped, juggling
  • Gait Transitions
  • Rough Terrain
Assignment 3 out Topic:
  • Midterm

March 19 Topic: Project Proposal requirements out
Topic:
  • Brainstorming for final projects
March 26 Topic:
  • More on Control
Supplemental Reading: Videos
  • Animating Athletics
  • van de Panne tapes
  • Pande
  • Hase
Topic:
  • More on Control Systems:
Supplemental Reading:
Videos:
April 2 Spring Break Spring Break
April 9 Topic:
  • More Brainstorming on Final Projects
  • Cinematography 0.01
Videos:
  • Beat Dedication, Issue 39, Siggraph '88
  • Grinning Evil Death
  • Leonardo's Deluge, Issue 52, Siggraph '89
  • Panspermia, Issue 62, Siggraph '90 [missing]
  • Primordial Dance, Issue 71, Siggraph '91
  • Liquid Selves, Issue 81, Siggraph '92
Assignment 3 due
Topic:
  • Higher-Level Behaviors
    • crowds
    • control of animated characters
Videos:
  • Batman Returns
  • Stanley and Stella: Breaking the Ice
  • Walking Motion, Takeuchi
  • Lion King
  • Mulan
  • Hunchback of Notre Dame
Final Project Proposals due
April 16

Topic:

  • Guest Lecturer: Steve Sullivan, ILM

Topic:

  • Fluids and Gases
  • Hair and Fur and other passive stuff
Videos
  • Leaf Magic - Norton, IBM T.J. Watson Research Center
April 23 Topic:
  • AI and Crowds
Videos:
  • Reynolds
  • Stanley and Stella
  • Lion King
  • Mulan
  • Antz
  • Hunchback of Notre Dame
  • Funge, Tu, Terzpolous, SIGGRAPH 99
  • Blumberg et al., SIGGRAPH 2002
Topic:
  • Facial Animation
Videos:
  • Waters, Essa, Final Fantasy
  • Leonardo's Deluge - Sims
  • Primordial Dance - Sims
  • Liquid Selves - Sims
April 30 Guest Lecturer: Wayne Wooten, Pixar
Topic:
  • Making "Monster's Inc.": A Presentation of Techniques and Technologies Used to Create Pixar's Animated Films.
Topic:
  • Help session for final projects
May 9 1:30-8:30 Final exam slot--May 9th 1:30-8:30
Final Project Presentations
Dinner provided, WeH 7500

Programs and Grading

Collaboration and team projects are encouraged but must be coordinated through the instructor.

There will be three assignments (2-3 weeks each) one project (approximately 6 weeks), as well as a midterm after 2/3 of the semester. The three assignments will be

  • keyframing programming assignment (10%)
  • motion capture programming assignment (15%)
  • simulation programming assignment (15%)

You have 5 late days that you may use for any of the programs during the quarter but further extensions require an excellent excuse. Grading will be based on exams (25% midterm), programs (40%), projects (25%), and class participation (10%).

A few advanced students may elect to do only some of the assignments and complete a larger project of their own design. Consult with me if you want to explore this option.

All projects and programs will be turned in as movie files. Extra disk space will be provided for the class.


Possible Topics for Final Project (to be expanded)

  • Simulation:
    • flexible objects -- cube of jello in an interesting world
    • interface to claymation in the computer
    • natural phenomen:
      • erosion
      • growth of algorithmic plants
    • bungee jumper
    • octopus or jellyfish
    • spring-mass fish
  • Control:
    • Evolving control systems
    • Bridging between mocap and simulation
  • Motion Capture:
    • IK for constraints on the ground
    • automatically detecting constraints
  • Higher-level Behaviors:
    • herds of bipeds
    • path planning
    • traffic simulations
    • interacting with simulations
  • Non-realistic animation:
    • non-photorealistic rendering of animation
    • non-realistic motion: cartoon laws of physics [with hopper/biped]
  • Applications for animation:
    • education, engineering, program visualization


Other Animation Classes


Free software:

  • From their web page: Blender Creator is the first and only fully integrated 3D creation suite allowing modeling, animation, rendering, post-production, interactive creation and playback with cross-platform compatibility - all in one tidy, easily downloadable package!
  • Maya will have a special Learning Edition available for students to download in February.

Contact Information:

Jessica Hodgins
jkh@cs.cmu.edu
Robotics Institute
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

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