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CG Animation & FX course

Develop your artistic and technical skills with a complete 5-year state course. Combining theoretical and practical learning, by the end of the course you'll be an expert in the design and production of 3D animated films.

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  • Period

    1 year, full-time, classroom-based

  • HOURS OF LESSONS/YEAR

    900 hours of teaching

  • assessment

    Continuous assessment, evaluation of projects and knowledge
    End-of-year assessment with work placement

  • Stage

    minimum 8 weeks compulsory between 2nd and/or 3rd year

Year 4

3D Animation & Special Effects Professional Cycle

From idea to implementation, put your skills and know-how to the test.

In this third year, which is all about specialisation, you'll have a choice of modules to help you become more professional at one or more stages of the production chain.

With the support of our teaching team, you'll be able to measure your progress on a daily basis as you take on ever more challenging projects.

At ESMA we take
success seriously.

  • 100% Success rate (2023)

  • 92% Overall employment integration rate at 6 months (2021)

  • 97% Overall training satisfaction rate (2022)

What does the third year involve?

Don't just apply what you learn.
Reinvent it.

This year, more than ever, you’ll have the opportunity to put your technical, artistic and organisational skills into practice.

While our teaching, which alternates theory and practice, will involve you in a progressive pedagogical approach, you will also have the opportunity to create a work group where you can reveal the full extent of your talent.

A real team project to give life to your first production and to the pre-production of your final film.

Discover the associated professions

Our teachings

  • Scriptwriting

    In-depth study of storytelling techniques and showrunning. Development of a synopsis and script for the end-of-year film.

  • Storyboard

    Setting up an animation with software support. Understanding how a camera works. Integrating music and sound into a storyboard sequence

  • Concept Art

    Deepening and experimenting with techniques for creating characters and graphic universes in preparation for the final film in the course.

  • 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.

  • Workshop expert Animation 3D

    Master the concepts of trajectories, timing, spacing, analyse the movements of human body mechanics; create reference videos, work on acting, etc.

  • Workshop expert Rigging

    Developing a complete facial rigging. Creature and quadruped rigging. Creating simplification and automation scripts and tools.

  • Workshop expert Lighting

    Produce intentional lighting based on cinematographic references. Produce and standardise 3D animated film shots using lighting.

  • Workshop expert Compositing

    Mastering the assembly of composite images applied to a camera movement. Match and adapt a style based on graphic development.

  • Workshop expert Rendu

    Mastering complex organic and non-organic materials in complex volumes. Mastering a complete production pipeline to bring together the different stages of creation.

  • Special effects (FX) expert workshop

    Students learn about the different principles of physics simulation systems, particle dynamics (smoke, fire, explosion, water, etc.) and simulation (clothing, hair) in order to enrich the image.

  • Sculpt / Modelling expert workshop

    Mastering sculpting tools. Apply anatomical and mechanical knowledge of a biped in volume.

  • Master class

    Master classes and workshops dedicated to softskills and professional integration, meetings with former students and studio professionals, etc.

  • Completion projects

    Group project to produce an animated sequence and pre-production of the final film.

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Your objectives

  • Achieve a high level of expertise in your specialities
  • Experiment with the production pipeline for an animated sequence
  • Develop your art direction and production skills
  • Develop your soft skills
  • Refine your project by specialising in the production of your final film
  • Enhance your demo reel

Internship

Your future career is waiting for you!

Because there is no better way to learn a trade than to practise it, an 8-week work placement is compulsory at the end of the 2nd and/or 3rd year.

This is an opportunity to put the knowledge you have acquired into practice, gain practical experience, build up your network and position yourself in the job market.

The achievements
of students

Creative excellence is their leitmotiv

Any other questions?

For further information, please contact the campus education officers.

The curriculum

3D Animation & Special Effects

A preparatory year for the RNCP Level 7 qualification (equivalent to Bac+5)