Lecturer	Stephen Cameron
Degrees	Schedule C1 — Computer Science Schedule C1 — Mathematics and Computer Science Schedule C — MSc in Advanced Computer Science
Term	Michaelmas Term 2015  (20 lectures)

Overview

There will be three practicals.

Assessment will be by a take-home assignment, which will include a significant practical element.

The animation system used for the practicals will be Maya 2012.

Learning outcomes

• Basics of key-frame animation.
• Use of a modern software package for animation.
• Use of animation and simulation in other domains.
• Principles of collision detection and response.
• Skill extension through mini-project.

Prerequisites

No specific pre-requisites, other than familiarity with basic operations on matrices and vectors. Basic knowledge of 3D transformations is useful (e.g., from the Computer Graphics course), but not essential. Rigid-body dynamics will be covered, for which some earlier experience would be useful.

Synopsis

1. Introduction. Traditional animation. Use of computer animation. [1]
2. Scene Composition. Revision of rigid-body transformations (notes provided for those who haven't seen this before in, e.g., computer graphics). Information required to render rigid objects. Transformation chains. Scene graphs. Scene description languages. [3]
3. Basic animation. Time-varying transformations. Interpolation and interpolation functions. Use of quarternions for smooth rotation interpolation. [3]
4. Frame-based animation. Use of the animation program. [4]
5. Moving the camera. Animation tricks. [2]
6. Collision detection and response. Dealing with simple geometries. The GJK algorithm. Dealing with large scenes. Physical response models. [5]
7. Challenges and the future of computer animation. [2]

Syllabus

Basic ideas of scene composition in 3D. Time-varying scenes; animation; animation frames and interpolation. Use of cameras. Animation tricks. Other uses of animation and simulation. Collision detection and response. Advanced topics. Challenges and the future.

Reading list

Course text

• Computer Animation: Algorithms and Techniques, 2nd Edition ISBN: 0125320000 Rick Parent 47 GBP

Supplemental Reading

• Introducing Autodesk Maya 2012, ISBN: 978-0470900215, Dariush Derakhshani, 34 GBP
• How to Cheat in Maya 2012, ISBN:  978-0240816982, Eric Luhta and Kenny Roy, 28 GBP
• Character Animation: 2D Skills for Better 3D, ISBN: 0240520548 Steve Roberts 24 GBP (More basic (non-computer) animation)
• Ideas for the Animated Short: Finding and Building Stories, ISBN: 978-0240808604 Karen Sullivan, Gary Schumer and Kate Alexander, 18 GBP
• Collision Detection in Interactive 3D Environments ISBN: 155860801X Gino van den Bergen 47 GBP

Feedback

Students are formally asked for feedback at the end of the course. Students can also submit feedback at any point here. Feedback received here will go to the Head of Academic Administration, and will be dealt with confidentially when being passed on further. All feedback is welcome.

Taking our courses

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Other matriculated University of Oxford students who are interested in taking this, or other, courses in the Department of Computer Science, must complete this online form by 17.00 on Friday of 0th week of term in which the course is taught. Late requests, and requests sent by email, will not be considered. All requests must be approved by the relevant Computer Science departmental committee and can only be submitted using this form.