This innovative, online Houdini program teaches students with no experience in CG how to develop complex VFX sequences. With a specific focus on Houdini software, graduates from this program step into the industry with an elevated insight into one of most in-demand tools.
Taught through Think Tank’s interactive platform, Portal, this program combines prerecorded tutorials, collaborative workshops, and one-on-one mentorship to prepare students for a career in Film, TV, or Games.
Harnessing the power of Houdini, you’ll master the software’s advanced procedural workflow to create elevated animations, VFX sequences, and 3D assets for games. Specializing in your field of interest, you will create a portfolio that is catered toward a particular career, and often, a specific studio.
As a true benchmark in 3D and VFX software, your ability to both comprehend and integrate Houdini into a pipeline for Film or Games immediately elevates not only your work, but your value to a project.
This program is for artists new to CG who seek a comprehensive education with a focus on Houdini. Students must be ready to dedicate at least 40-60 hours a week to their studies. Working while studying is not recommended.
While developing a broad skillset that enables you to pursue a variety of career paths, you’ll have the opportunity to focus on a unique specialization that’ll help define you as a CG Artist.
Focusing on an area that reflects your skills, interests and career goals, these specializations will help define you as a CG Artist:
Start with the basics. From texturing, lighting, compositing, rendering, asset creation and more…this term is designed to train you in the most essential facets of 3D modeling. In addition, you’ll be introduced to (and ultimately do a deep dive in) the software tools you’ll be using when working in the industry.
The courses you’ll take in CG Fundamentals will emphasize and enhance your organization, flexible thinking and problem solving skills. In just 16 weeks, you’ll become an extremely well-rounded artist, with a strong inkling towards a potential specialization should you choose to continue your education.
The foundational courses started in Term 1 continue, becoming more intense, complex, and demanding. You’ll be presented with more in-depth, creative techniques and tools which will allow you to produce more complex and detail-oriented work.
In addition to these more advanced lessons, you’ll be required to select your specialization path from one of four primary options: Environments & Props for Film or Games, and Characters & Creatures for Film or Games. These paths will inform what will eventually become your portfolio project during the following two terms.
Courses in this term focus on advanced tools, workflows and techniques that will prepare you for the final stages of your specialization. Upon being connected with your personal mentor, you’ll begin to develop a full-term final project that will serve as a high-quality asset preceding the portfolio production stage to come.
Workload and expectations increase during this term as pre-production on your portfolio and demo reel begin while advanced courses continue.
As the foundational piece of the portfolio production process, this mentorship-focused term has you making definitive creative decisions–such as finalizing shots, completing lighting, rendering, and compositing to produce what will become the final cut.
Alongside the advice of your supervisor and mentor, you’ll take lessons focusing on presentation skills, portfolio packaging, career preparation and job search which will provide invaluable direction on preparing resumés and cover letters, as well as industry practices and ethics.
Your virtual home base. Connect with classmates, your supervisor, take in live sessions, and explore the student gallery.
Utilize training materials, such as video, software screen capture, exercises, resources, and assignments.
Take part in live question-and-answer sessions with your classmates and supervisor to share your ideas.
Each class has a max of eight students. This means less theory, less waiting, more collaboration, and more feedback.
Throughout your program, you’ll get 24/7 access to all recorded live sessions and proprietary training materials.
Gain the skills, confidence, connections, and portfolio required to make a statement and land that first job.