Houdini | FX Track
Learn how to harness fire, water, smoke, and more in a track that unravels the mysteries of the industry-standard tools and techniques for control of simulation-based animation
Courses start on January 21st, 2023
Understand the role of the VFX Artist
Imagine the power to control the elements: directing the flow of water, shaping smoke, or conjuring flames. What about the ability to micromanage the movement of a million tiny particles? Or orchestrate the destruction of vehicles, buildings, and entire worlds? Better still, how about performing all these feats at the same time? That, in a nutshell, is what it means to work as an FX artist (aka effects technical director). The role of VFX artist is one of the more demanding in entertainment design, requiring strong coding chops, mathematical smarts, an appreciation of physics, plus a solid art foundation on which to build everything. This is where our VFX/Houdini Track comes in. With a comprehensive suite of classes based around the use of film industry-standard tool Houdini, students, from beginners to advanced, will learn how to master pyro and fluid effects, cloth, crowds, destruction, and more. The track also includes training for those looking at an FX-based role at a games development studio, with the unique demands of controlling particle, environmental, and other simulation-based animation within a real-time pipeline all covered in-depth.
As you complete each VFX online course, you will receive a certificate of completion for that course. In order to qualify for a course certificate of completion, students must complete at least 80% of the class assignment during the duration of the course.
Should you have any questions regarding these courses please contact [email protected]. Additionally, you only pay for the course(s) you take in a given term.
CGMA is proud to be a Houdini Certified partner for the 2022/2023 academic year. SideFX has an annual renewal process for certification, and certification status is not guaranteed from year to year. (Please note that Houdini licenses for students are not available to programs that are exclusively offered online.) For questions about student benefits, please contact SideFX.
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Role of the FX Artist
While the part of the pipeline dubbed “animation” focuses on character and other rigged asset work, effects animation relates to anything that requires simulations to get results. These solutions usually fall into one of three categories: particle animation, fluids, and rigid body dynamics–though sometimes a solution might require several inter-connected simulations across two even three of the categories. These simulations are also often required to work in conjunction with any hand-crafted elements created by the main animation team.
Get a better sense
of our courses.
22nd 2022
14th 2023
7th 2023
30th 2023
As you complete each course, you will receive a certificate of completion for that course. In order to qualify for a course certificate of completion, students must complete at least 80% of the class assignment during the duration of the course.
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2023 | Winter Registration is now Open!
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