3D Animation & VFX Training | 3rd Year Professional Training

Duration and location

1 year, full-time, classroom-based

Bordeaux, Lyon, Montpellier, Nantes, Rennes, Toulouse
Prerequisite and access conditions

See Admission and fees
ECTS credits

60 credits (30 credits per semester)
assessment

Continuous assessment (interdisciplinary preparatory courses and panels)

Learning and Assessment Situations (SAE) validating the cross-disciplinary skills acquired at the end of each semester in situations similar to those encountered in a professional context.
Internship

A minimum 8-week internship recommended at the end of 3rd and/or 4th year
Fees

See Admission and fees

Year 3

3D Animation & Special Effects Professional Cycle

The program is structured into teaching units that award ECTS credits (30 ECTS credits per semester).

In Year 3 of the Professional Cycle in 3D Animation and Special Effects, students Dive into advanced techniques in modeling, texturing, and visual effects. This comprehensive program equips you with the expertise needed in the 3D animation and FX industries.

This is your chance to assert your creative uniqueness, express your tenacity and develop sharp soft skills. In short, an apprenticeship that aims to shape the beginnings of your future professional assets. There’s no doubt that these qualities will help you in your day-to-day projects.

What does the third year involve?

Project done with ESMA 3D Animation & Special Effects

Develop your artistic and personal identity

The third year of our 3D Animation & FX Professional Training is designed to teach you to develop cutting-edge expertise.

Throughout the year, you will perfect the fundamentals and your knowledge of the entire production chain, while deepening the technical and artistic language needed for the various 3D professions.

Work situations will help you to develop and refine your style.

Discover the associated professions

Student Project done with ESMA 3D Animation & Special Effects

Objectives

Identify and master narrative tools
Develop and visualize a script and graphic concept
Follow artistic direction

Identify the key stages of the 3D production pipeline and map out the roles and responsibilities of the main players in a 3D animation pipeline.
Create realistic and stylized environments
Design complex textures and develop intentional lighting
Master advanced animation principles (acting, lip sync, etc.) by integrating staging concepts.
Build generalist expertise and develop versatility to better target a future specialization.
Design presentation materials (portfolio, demo reel) to apply for an internship.

Our teachings

Drawing - Anatomy

Academic drawing with the study of anatomy, the characteristics of the human body (muscles, skeleton, etc.), for modelling, sculpting and rigging work.
Concept Art

Learn how to design characters and sets with a view to moving into 3D.
Storyboard

Learn how to frame and technically cut a film or scene into a time sequence by synthesising its main key images and shots
Film analysis

A deeper understanding of the fundamental principles of reading and analysing the moving image, with particular emphasis on short film formats
Scriptwriting

Starting with an idea, the teacher teaches students how to draw up a synopsis and how to construct a screenplay.
English

Deepen your knowledge of English through discussions with future non-French-speaking employees and practical examples of how to find work placements, CVs, interviews, etc.
Rigging

Creation of facial expressions, interaction with surrounding props or other control elements on a 3D animatable character or object.
Lighting / Rendu

Lighting techniques, creation of different maps to add textures to characters and sets.
3D animation

Study 3D animation techniques: mastery of the concepts of timing trajectories and spacing, analysis of human body mechanics, etc.
Compositing

Study of the process of combining the different layers that make up an image, using a variety of processes and tricks.

Year 3 - Teaching units

Semester 5 - 30 ECTS
UE1 – Pre-production techniques: Sequencing and contextualizing a narrative (10 ECTS)
- Narration and semiology
- Concept art
- Storyboarding
- Drawing
UE2 – Professional methodologies: Analyzing a professional production environment (4 ECTS)
- Production methodology
- English – PPE (Student Professional Project)
UE3 – 3D Design: Designing and producing complex 3D projects (12 ECTS)
- Compositing
- Rigging
- 3D Animation
- Lighting Rendering
UE4 – SAE (Learning and Assessment Situation) Technical review and Portfolio (4 ECTS)
Semester 6 - 30 ECTS
UE1 – Pre-production techniques: Creating meaningful narrative dynamics (7 ECTS)
- Narration and semiology
- Concept art
- Storyboarding
- Drawing
UE2 – Professional methodologies: Examining different production contexts (4 ECTS)
- Production methodology
- English – PPE (Student Professional Project)
UE3 – 3D Design: Following Production Workflows (11 ECTS)
- Compositing
- Rigging
- 3D Animation
- Lighting Rendering
UE4 – SAE (Learning and Assessment Situation) Pre-production and Design: Final Exams (8 ECTS)

Internship

Your future career is waiting for you!

Because there is no better way to learn a trade than to practise it, an internship is recommended at the end of 3rd and/or 4th year.

It's a great opportunity to put the knowledge you've gained into practice, get hands-on experience, build your network and position yourself on the job market.