3D VISUAL FX & ANIMATION PROGRAMME CONTENT

«Hollywood? Netflix? Or maybe the gaming industry?»

This vocational programme in 3D Visual Effects & Animation is your gateway to an industry that blends art, technology, and storytelling in the most exciting ways. At htk academy, you’ll master cutting-edge tools while collaborating with your talented peers. By the end of this programme, you’ll be ready to create stunning visuals that captivate audiences. This field is constantly evolving – there’s always something new to learn, fresh techniques to explore, and endless opportunities to make your mark. Whether it’s blockbuster films, thrilling video games, jaw-dropping advertisements, your skills will be in demand across a world of industries.
Is this exactly what you want to do? Then let’s make it happen together!

FIRST STEPS

In the first semester, you’ll dive right in – but of course, you’ll need to learn the basics first! At the beginning, it can be a bit tricky to switch between 2D and 3D programs in your head, but don’t worry – you’ve got this! We start from scratch and gradually build up your skills, task by task.

With Adobe After Effects, you’ll step into the world of Motion Design, learning the fundamentals of 2D animation step by step. Then there’s Cinema 4D, one of the industry-standard tools for professional 3D modeling. Besides the classic “building” of 3D objects, textures and lighting also play a major role. And of course, designing wouldn’t be complete without mastering essential graphic software like Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator.

CONTENT (Preview)

• 3D Modeling
• VFX & Motion Design
• Adobe After Effects
• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe Photoshop

Learning from the Pros – Your Lecturers

Bright Eyes and Sweating Computers…

After mastering the basics, it’s time to dive deeper into each program. Now, you’ll tackle increasingly complex tasks. This semester, you’ll (SPOILER ALERT) start combining live-action footage with 3D & Motion Design – the key term here is Compositing.

Get ready to explore the core of After Effects! Every discipline of Motion Design – 2D animation, greenscreen, tracking, character rigging, and typography animation – is on the agenda. This is where you’ll make your audience’s eyes light up and your computer sweat.

3D characters, cameras, scripting, and more – there’s no stopping now! From this point on, you’ll be thinking in three dimensions. No joke: You’ll have the tools to build complex scenes with dynamic elements and physics.

When 2D and 3D animations merge with live-action footage and still images to tell a story – that’s Compositing! Right from the start, it’s crucial to learn the correct workflow to stay flexible when changes come up (hint: file management matters!).

CONTENT (Preview)

• 3D Modeling Advanced
• VFX & Motion Design Advanced
• Compositing
• 2D/3D Post Production

We’re Heading Towards Halftime…

You can really feel it now – time is flying by at full speed! The 3rd semester is here, and as always, there’s plenty of new things to discover and learn!

You’ll dive deep into video and audio editing, focusing on cutting and color grading to give your videos the perfect aesthetic and atmosphere. Plus, you’ll learn how to enhance your footage with the right music and sound effects, using Adobe Audition and Adobe Premiere.

VFX & Motion Design Pro is all about creating realistic special effects commonly used in the film industry. You’ll learn how to integrate elements like snow, rain, and ice into your scenes and calculate complex effects to build believable environments.

Concept is all about developing ideas, concepts, and visualizations for visual effects, including character and environment design. Directing involves overseeing both the creative and technical aspects of a project, making sure the VFX team brings everything to life as envisioned. Production is about budgeting, scheduling, and resource management, ensuring the project is completed successfully.

CONTENT (Preview)

• Video Editing
• Audio Editing
• Adobe Premiere
• Adobe Audition
• VFX & Motion Design Pro
• Concept, Producing & Regie

Group & Demo Project (Preview) 

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work! This isn’t a new concept – but in this industry, teamwork and coordination are absolutely essential.

A real-world briefing serves as the foundation for your project. The goal? To equip you with the necessary tools to create effective designs and animations that meet client expectations.

A key focus of this course is to build and deepen your knowledge in the digital design environment while introducing you to a Motion Design pipeline.

This includes storyboarding and concept development to ensure that your ideas align with client requirements – just like in the real world!

Unreal Game Engine Basics (Preview) 

Step into Real-Time with the Unreal Engine. The Unreal Engine opens up a real-time environment for 3D & Visual FX, an essential tool in today’s film and gaming industry (yes, even The Mandalorian makes use of it!).

In this course, you’ll get hands-on with Unreal Engine, the go-to tool for many of the world’s leading game developers. You’ll learn how to build environments and animations using its powerful tools and features.

A major focus will be on creating realistic environments, ranging from natural landscapes to urban cityscapes and architectural settings. You’ll explore how to work with materials and textures to achieve lifelike surfaces, and how to use lighting and shadows effectively to create immersive experiences.

VFX Special (Preview) 

Now, it’s all about VFX for specific genres like sci-fi, fantasy, and horror films – and how to seamlessly integrate these effects into their unique storytelling contexts. You’ll also create VFX for complex scenes that require advanced techniques, such as intricate camera movements or challenging lighting setups.

There are plenty of opportunities to specialise based on your interests and skills – whether it’s mastering advanced techniques, crafting highly detailed scenes, or refining your technical expertise.

3D Modeling Pro (Preview) 

Pushing 3D to the Limit! Now it’s time to squeeze the last bit of potential out of 3D! Final rendering is a complex process that requires practice and experimentation—but in the end, your final product will look exactly as it should!

You’ll also dive into Cinema 4D programming using XPresso & Thinking Particles. While it comes with its own challenges, it unlocks entirely new creative possibilities!

Video & Audio Advanced (Preview) 

This course focuses on mixing audio tracks for different formats, including Dolby Surround. You’ll dive into the technical aspects of audio editing, explore various audio formats, and learn mixing and optimisation techniques to ensure professional sound quality.

Another key aspect of this module is adapting video content for different devices. You’ll learn how to optimise videos for cinema, television, and mobile devices, adjusting resolution, aspect ratio, and file formats to guarantee the best playback experience on every platform.

Unreal Game Engine ADVANCED (Preview) 

Unreal Engine – Round 2! The Unreal Engine is back for a second round! Now, you’ll deepen your knowledge and learn how to create even more complex digital worlds.

The focus is on advanced techniques, including AI-driven characters, physics simulations, and Virtual Reality integration. You’ll also explore how to use Unreal Engine beyond gaming—for applications like architectural visualisations and interactive exhibitions.

The Grand Finale

You’ve made it through five semesters, and now it all comes down to this – your final project!

Over the next six months, you’ll bring your entire graduation project to life. First comes the concept phase, followed by a concept review. Then, during the production phase, you’ll receive expert coaching from your lecturers. Finally, you’ll present your final project and portfolio to a panel of internal and external industry experts.

And then… what’s next? Well, based on our experience: First comes a legendary graduation party (you’ve earned it!), and then… the world is yours.

Showreel & Portfolio Check

Ready for the job? We sure hope so! Together with your course, you’ll work intensively on your showreel & portfolio.

This includes selecting your best work, compiling various media formats (video, audio, graphics), designing an engaging layout, and choosing the right platform to showcase your portfolio.

Coaching

Personal coaching sessions with our lecturers will support you on your journey towards graduation.