Maya Course

[Cinematography]

"I have a question, I wanna become an Character-Animatior/ Digital Artist, what should I study???
Media arts and computer animation @ an art school.

You can also check out these free video tutorials:
http://sv3.3dbuzz.com/vbforum/uunr_tr.php

Do some research before you make a final choice.

[Christmas]

Hi Malygris,

I have just signed up to do the Maya Comprehensive course at Escape Studios. I have heard alot of good things about them.

Also that there were the first visal effects school in Europe and are a certified Alias training centre.

Hope this helps. Dont rule any other training facilities out though. One of the main reasons why I chose Escape Studios was because it was in the same country as me :)

Mark

[aydinu]

If you want to learn Maya fast. Go to the Renaissance center where you will be teached by Jason Busby. I just finished a 4 weeks Maya intense Course and I must say that we haven't seen any sunlight. And it was worth every penny. I've 4 years 3ds Max experience and I wanted to learn Maya as fast as possible and the most important where the teachers always are standby.
I must say that I've never learned so much stuff in those for weeks.
The facility was 24/7 open and there was always someone to help you out If you had problems.
If you have time take the 12 week intense course from them. Check here for more info:
http://sv1.3dbuzz.com/vbforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36429

http://sv1.3dbuzz.com/vbforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25518

You can't find a better and a cheaper course.

Aydin

[unxetas]

yup.. I was also a student at the Renaissance Center and you wouldn't believe how much you can learn in four weeks :D

What makes the course work so well is the motivation behind it. Any of you who know buzz from 3DBuzz already know how passionate he is about teaching: you simply won't get a better teacher anywhere. Forget about superstar industry pros who will tell you everything BUT what could make you get their jobs. Forget about those same superstars cancelling classes during crunch time.

Even the city where the course takes place is perfect: Dickson, TN :D

you won't have much to distract you from learning. They do have a nice theater and a bowling alley, which is kinda fun for.. whatever free friday nights you might get :P

classes are run monday through monday, from 9am everyday till whenever class is finished.. Never before 5pm, 99% of the days you'll be staying pretty much the whole evening.

I'm so enthusiast about this class because I've been there! You wouldn't believe the atmosphere in these classes, just wait until the mighty mighty stopwatch shows up and you'll see... :D

If anyone wants to ask some questions about the class or sthg like that feel free to email me at vegetablebmx@hotmail.com

(I'll go on vacation tomorrow so I'll answer back in a week lol..)

Tiago

[Malygris]

Hi thx guys... The Renaissance Center sounds very good and if it is so good I think I make a course there...do you need experience in any other 3d program?? I work with 3ds max for about 3 months now but I don't know if it is enough

[Malygris]

I have a problem...I visited the site with that free video tutorials but I can't download it...'Could not get login ID.'???
What can I do ?? Can anybody help me plz??

[CGmonkey]

Originally posted by Malygris
I have a problem...I visited the site with that free video tutorials but I can't download it...'Could not get login ID.'???
What can I do ?? Can anybody help me plz??

You need to sign up free at http://www.3dbuzz.com before you can download the videos.

[Sciatica]

If you want to be a charecter animator, my best sugestion would be to take a few classical animation courses... Learn techniques such as stretch and squash, C and S curves, walk/run cycles... Try creating a realistic walk cycle, or a convincing box lift in classical fashion first... It helps a lot when you finally get behind the computer.

Nowdays I see a lot of people with wicked knowledge of how to make there charecters move in all sorts of ways, but so few people seem to have a basic understanding of how charecters should move.. For example, in a walk cycle, the hips and shoulders should move in a rotating fashion (when one shoulder and hip is low, the other side is high) The head should bob slightly, and if you traced a pattern behind the hands and feet when they walk, it should make a pattern almost like a figure 8..

Learning the basics of animation is the most important step to becoming an animator ;)

Also, I highly recomend a book called "The Animators Survival Kit"... Its the most valuable tool you could ever own

[Elliotjnewman]

Well I am an Escape Studios graduate. Its a very good course and they teach u quite a bit in the 4 week course. However, you say you want to 'become' a 3d artsist or animator - and this wont happen after 4 weeks. Escape Studios primarily teach you how to use Maya, and yes, it is project based, but you wont learn how to be a good artist there. I would recommend doing some traditional art at a college and refine that skill set, and then, at a later date, go to Escape Studios and learn how to transfer your skills to the CGI environment.

Ell.

P.S. if you consider going to Gnomon school you will have to investigate whether you will be able to apply for student visas, and then you have to worry about finances - you can't get a loan out in this country and take it to the states, and neither will a bank in the states give you a loan. - very difficult unless u are loaded.

[splintah]

i did that course too

its not bad

they teach you quite a bit


and you get some really unorganized handouts
those handouts really suck
annoy me every time i have to look for something in there.
more than half of the stuff they teach isn´t even in there
sometimes just a 2 pages overviev for a whole day of lectures

and they don´t really make you feel good about having spent all that money in their course.


i think its a good course though

if i did it again i would try the one in Tuscany/italy i heard about
i think it would leave you with a better overall feeling
but for me beeing from vienna having done a course in london sounds way better on my cv

[Elliotjnewman]

handouts? what do you mean?

I have heard the same complaint from a few other graduates aswell... maybe they are just too busy to reply?

[splintah]

hand out: the sheets they give you

reply: i think they just don´t care
i mean if you sent an important mail 3 times and they still don´t reply . . .
if i had called they may have answered

they also promised 8 people max. and we were 10 and still the same price

nevertheless i learned a lot and i think its a good course
you can´t go wrong going there.

its just some of those little things that did annoy me.
but it may be an "austrian not understanding the british way" problem

[keny]

Around how much for the course fees in escape studio?
Cheers!

[splintah]

check their website

i think it was something like 5990 pounds
about 8000 euros

for the 8 weeks course

not too shure though

[Christmas]

Escape has now changed their course, it is £7500 GBP, but the course lasts for 10 weeks now instead of 8.

I really enjoyed my time there and can highly recommend it.

[djpauld]

Howdy,

I did the Escape Studios 8 week Maya Comprehensive course a year ago. I highly recommend it. Thanks to them, I have been working at The Mill for 6 months now doing various aspects of 3D animation for commercials.

Escape Studios is really tuned for those who are either very serious about getting into 3D animation as a career, or if you want to learn fast or if you have some background experience in other packages or animation....in short, it's ideal for self motivators. When I was there, there were a few that complained in the previous courses and in mine, but I quickly realised that they were the ones who expected to be hand held through the whole process and expected to be given a brilliant job at the end. If you want that, I recommend doing some more extensive study.

On that note, it's a dog eat dog industry, in which you work looong hours and compete with hundreds, ney thousands of other budding animators. Escape gives you EVERYTHING you need to give you a solid foundation in all aspects of Maya and 3D animation. It's up to you how much you absorb and read in addition. I discovered the main complainers also didn't really pay attention during the course. There's ALOT to take in so stay sharp my friends as it's a complex profession.

Now, in terms of notes, yes they used to be very minimal. That has been resolved. There has been a complete re-write of the notes so they are complete.

Why choose Escape? Well basically, as mentioned, you learn ALL the fundamentals you need. I haven't come across any embarassing things I should have known and did't at The Mill. They go into great depth in each area. It's in one of the coolest environments in London...very funky and inspirational. The team that work there are switched on and fun, so you'll actually have a bit of a laugh (heaven forbid). It's good for networking, as they have brilliant contacts in the industry. Again, it's up to you tho' to push yourself. They will help you try and find work if you are ready.

All in all, worth the money. Just remember, it's very different for each individual, as 3D animation requires many skills and disciplines and it depends on your background how much you pick up. Give them a call and have a chat...they are very helpful and friendly.

Hope this helps,

Cheers,

pd

[Shayder]

I attended New Media Campus in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is a 10 month course that cost $12,000.00 Canadian. It is located in a facility that houses several film production companies and a state of the art Sound Stage. They are currently filming the second season of "Corner Gas" there. It is the top rated sitcom in Canada.

The school is pretty good with a lot of teamwork going on. I guess that depends on the specfic class itself though. This year they are going to offer classical animation as well. I learned alot and had a great time. I now work as a fulltime animator for a production company.

You can check them out www.newmediacampus.com

good luck in choosing your school!!

[Okan]

I had the course Maya I-12 at Renassaince Center(3dbuzz).
It was a 3 months long course in Tennessee and it was just great. If you want to ask anything about the course just send a PM.

[R_K]

LA or london? very big distance between the two! never hear of escape but am going to gnomon now. out of all the schools i have gone to (7 in total) gnomon is the best in terms of how they approach the material.

check out the site or search this forum for more info as i have already laid out my thoughts on gnomon too many times and this question keeps coming up.

check out the student work and where the students are getting jobs. if i was english i would probably be more inclinded to school somewhere out there but as an oppressed american Gnomon is the only school for me.

so much of school is about meeting people and building friendships that will get you jobs and keep you learning into old age. keeping friendship across the atlantic is not easy so time spent learning in LA when you will be working in London may not be the best idea or visa versa.

be well.

r

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