I’m not much of a writer – thus becoming an artist, but I wanted to share my experience in the Humber College Multimedia 3D animation program, so here I am. In high school I had barely touched on anything 3D related. I actually had to go out of my way to convince my tech teacher to let me learn 3D in the last year, just so that I could try it. I was basically learning with my teacher. In that year, I had the opportunity to go to an animation camp at Loyalist for a week. I learned more in that week than I had all semester in high school.
While I was there, I learned the kind of 3D stuff I had always wanted to and that helped a lot on deciding which school to attend. I knew I didn’t want to specifically be an animator. I wanted to do the artsy stuff like model and texture. At the time, Loyalist’s 3D program was still relatively young, but I knew them well. Sheridan had a 3D option as part of their traditional animation program but it wasn’t specific enough. I then I read about Humber’s 3D program, and how they would start with a bit of everything in the beginning and then you could specialize towards the end.
Classes
Each class was made up of at most 30 people. Get to know them well because they’ll help you just as much as the teachers will. Our shortest class was about 3 hours and our longest about 5. The shorter classes consisted of mostly teaching, while the longer classes involved a lot of in-class time to work on projects.
I assumed I would do it all, but soon realized that it would better to be the best at one thing, rather than mediocre at many.
1st semester was quite general, consisting of classes on modeling and texturing (both organic and hard surface), rigging, animation, compositing, Photoshop and life drawing. The following semesters would provide the same options, but as a student you would gradually choose to put more effort into a specific field. Eventually by the last semester, you would spend most of your time working on a demo reel focusing on that specific choice. Going into the course, I assumed I would do it all, but soon realized that it would better to be the best at one thing, rather than mediocre at many.
Teachers
Just like in high school, in college and university there are teachers you like and teachers you don’t. There were very few that I felt were unlikable in the Humber 3D program. Most of the teachers are currently working in their specific fields or have worked in that field in the past. They know that 3D animation is constantly changing and they make sure to keep up with the technologies. Paul Neale is what we call the 3D God. I don’t believe he has preformed life changing miracles but close enough. He’s self taught but knows his stuff. And if he doesn’t know something, he’ll go learn it, come back, and teach you the very next week. He’s easy to talk with and will be the first person you want to get to know when learning anything 3D.
After the first semester, each teacher will become like an employer. They’ll give you deadlines and provide feedback as if you were in the industry. We were taught how much our time was worth and how to be considered valuable to the employer.
If you plan to be an animator, make your models move and talk, then Humber College is not the place for you.
Advice
If you plan to be an animator, make your models move and talk, then Humber College is not the place for you. I’d advise you check out animationmentor.com. They’re specifically focused on animation and they know their stuff.
Don’t hum and haw on which area to specialize in. The earlier you choose, the better you’ll be at it in the end.
Try residence once. It’s a great way to meet new friends. However, I’d advise against staying twice… you might die from eating the same thing over and over again for two years!
3D is so vast and there is so much to learn. My advice is to go beyond the classroom and learn from online tutorials. Take them to class and talk to the teachers about them. I wish I had done more on my own. You only get so much time with a teacher looking over your shoulder, so use it to your advantage.
I loved being at Humber and I love what I do!
In The End
I loved being at Humber and I love what I do! I met so many people that I know will help me in the future. I was even encouraged when I choose to try something completely different. And I was able to get help with pretty much everything.
After graduating from the Multimedia 3D Animation program you are free to go off into the world and share your skills, or horde them just a little longer in the 3D post graduate program. I choose to go back to Humber only because I was still young and felt one more year would be a good idea. About 50% of the class moved on, went off to get jobs or whatever else they chose to do, while the other half came back to Humber with me.
See my stuff at JulieFranklin3D.com.
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