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MA in Digital Animation Self Financed at Sacred Heart College (Autonomous)
Ernakulam, Kerala
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About the Specialization
What is Digital Animation (Self Financed) at Sacred Heart College (Autonomous) Ernakulam?
This Digital Animation program at Sacred Heart College, Ernakulam focuses on nurturing creative talent for the burgeoning Indian animation and media industry. It emphasizes both artistic skill and technical proficiency in areas like 2D and 3D animation, visual effects, and game design principles. The program aims to equip students with industry-relevant skills, making them highly competitive in India''''s dynamic visual content market.
Who Should Apply?
This program is ideal for creative graduates with a passion for visual arts, storytelling, and digital media, seeking entry into the animation industry. It caters to fresh graduates from any discipline holding 45% marks, and also offers avenues for professionals looking to upskill in advanced animation techniques. Individuals with a background in fine arts, multimedia, or communication will find the curriculum particularly engaging and beneficial.
Why Choose This Course?
Graduates of this program can expect diverse career paths in India, including 2D/3D Animator, Modeler, Rigger, Compositor, Storyboard Artist, and Concept Artist. Entry-level salaries typically range from INR 2.5 - 4 LPA, growing significantly with experience up to INR 8-15 LPA in established studios. The program aligns with industry standards, preparing students for roles in Bollywood VFX, gaming studios, advertising agencies, and educational content creation.
Student Success Practices
Foundation Stage
Build a Strong Artistic Foundation- (Semester 1-2)
Focus intensively on foundational drawing skills, observation, anatomy, and color theory. Regularly practice traditional art techniques alongside digital tools to develop a keen eye for detail and aesthetics essential for animation. Participate in college art clubs or workshops.
Tools & Resources
Sketchbooks, charcoal, Wacom tablet, online tutorials on figure drawing (e.g., Proko), art museums/galleries visits
Career Connection
Strong drawing skills are the bedrock for character design, storyboarding, and concept art, making you versatile and appealing to studios seeking artists with fundamental visual literacy.
Master Digital Art Software Basics- (Semester 1-2)
Dedicate time beyond classes to become proficient in core software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and basic 3D modeling tools. Experiment with different features, follow official tutorials, and complete small personal projects to solidify understanding of digital image manipulation and graphic design principles.
Tools & Resources
Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, Autodesk Maya (student version), online courses (Coursera, Udemy, YouTube channels like Blender Guru)
Career Connection
Early software proficiency is crucial for entry-level roles. Demonstrating command over industry-standard tools makes you job-ready faster and opens doors to junior artist positions.
Develop Visual Storytelling Acumen- (Semester 1-2)
Actively consume diverse forms of animated content – films, series, shorts from various cultures. Analyze their storytelling techniques, camera angles, character arcs, and narrative structures. Practice creating short visual narratives through storyboarding or comic strips to hone your ability to convey emotion and plot effectively.
Tools & Resources
Animation festivals (Annecy, Mumbai International Film Festival), online animation archives, graphic novel platforms
Career Connection
Storyboarding and visual narrative skills are vital for pre-production roles, ensuring you can contribute effectively to conceptualizing and planning animated projects, a highly valued skill in Indian studios.
Intermediate Stage
Build a Diverse Digital Portfolio- (Semester 3-4)
Begin building a specialized portfolio showcasing your best work in 2D animation, 3D modeling, texturing, and basic animation sequences. Tailor projects towards specific roles you aspire to (e.g., character modeler, animator). Seek feedback from faculty and peers to refine your pieces.
Tools & Resources
ArtStation, Behance, personal website, portfolio review sessions
Career Connection
A strong, curated portfolio is your primary resume in the animation industry, directly influencing internship and job offers from Indian animation houses and studios.
Engage in Industry Workshops & Competitions- (Semester 3-4)
Actively participate in workshops, seminars, and masterclasses conducted by industry professionals (often hosted by colleges or industry bodies). Take part in national-level animation or short film competitions to gain exposure, test your skills, and network with peers and potential employers.
Tools & Resources
FICCI FRAMES, SIGGRAPH Asia (local chapters), college placement cell notifications, online competition platforms
Career Connection
Direct industry interaction and competition success enhance your visibility, provide networking opportunities, and make your profile stand out to recruiters in the competitive Indian animation market.
Collaborative Project Development- (Semester 3-4)
Initiate or join group projects with classmates focusing on creating a short animated film, game asset pack, or VFX sequence. Learn to work in a team, manage production pipelines, assign roles, and meet deadlines, simulating a real studio environment.
Tools & Resources
Trello/Asana for project management, Discord for communication, version control systems (e.g., Perforce for game dev)
Career Connection
Teamwork and project management skills are highly valued in animation studios. Demonstrating the ability to collaborate effectively is crucial for working in large production pipelines in India.
Advanced Stage
Specialization and Advanced Skill Refinement- (Semester 4 (leading up to Project Phase II))
Identify your niche (e.g., character animation, rigging, visual effects, environment art) and focus on refining advanced skills in that area. Work on complex personal projects or your final major project, pushing the boundaries of your technical and creative abilities to achieve professional-level output.
Tools & Resources
Advanced tutorials (ArtStation Learning, Gnomon Workshop), industry-specific forums, expert mentorship
Career Connection
Deep specialization makes you a highly valuable asset for specific roles in the Indian industry, commanding higher salaries and securing positions in top studios needing niche expertise.
Professional Networking & Mock Interviews- (Semester 4)
Actively network with industry professionals through LinkedIn, conferences, and college alumni events. Prepare for placements by undergoing mock interviews, focusing on both technical questions related to your specialization and soft skills like communication and problem-solving.
Tools & Resources
LinkedIn Premium, industry conferences (e.g., IndiaJoy, Mumbai Comic Con), college career services, alumni network
Career Connection
Networking opens doors to hidden job opportunities and mentorship, while strong interview skills are crucial for converting placement calls into job offers in India''''s competitive job market.
Master Self-Marketing & Presentation- (Semester 4 (especially during Project Phase II and placements))
Develop a professional online presence, including a polished portfolio website, updated LinkedIn profile, and active ArtStation/Behance accounts. Learn to articulate your creative process, project challenges, and solutions effectively during presentations to potential employers and evaluators.
Tools & Resources
Wix/Squarespace for portfolio sites, professional headshots, public speaking practice
Career Connection
Effective self-marketing is essential to showcase your talent and secure employment. Being able to present your work and thought process clearly is a key differentiator in placements.
Program Structure and Curriculum
Eligibility:
- Bachelors Degree in any discipline with not less than 45% marks in aggregate, or an equivalent grade. In the case of SC/ST students, minimum pass marks in the qualifying examination is sufficient. For OBC students, 5% relaxation in marks will be allowed.
Duration: 4 semesters / 2 years
Credits: 82 Credits
Assessment: Internal: 20%, External: 80%
Semester-wise Curriculum Table
Semester 1
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAD1CC01 | History of Animation | Core | 4 | Early Cinema and Animation, Pioneers of Animation, Golden Age of Animation, Rise of Television Animation, Asian Animation and Global Trends |
| MAD1CC02 | Graphics and Visual Communication | Core | 4 | Principles of Design, Typography, Color Theory, Layout and Composition, Visual Storytelling |
| MAD1CC03 | Drawing and Visual Development | Core | 4 | Observational Drawing, Perspective and Anatomy, Character Design, Storyboarding, Concept Art |
| MAD1CC04 | Digital Imaging | Core | 4 | Raster vs. Vector Graphics, Image Editing Principles, Digital Painting Techniques, Photo Manipulation, Output and File Formats |
| MAD1CC05 | Portfolio & Presentation | Practical | 4 | Portfolio Development, Resume Writing, Presentation Skills, Interview Preparation, Professional Communication |
Semester 2
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAD2CC06 | Principles of 2D Animation | Core | 4 | 12 Principles of Animation, Timing and Spacing, Squash and Stretch, Pose to Pose vs. Straight Ahead, Character Movement |
| MAD2CC07 | Digital 2D Animation | Core | 4 | Software Interface (e.g., Toon Boom/Flash), Character Rigging (2D), Walk Cycles, Lip Sync, Motion Graphics |
| MAD2CC08 | 3D Modelling | Core | 4 | Polygon Modeling, NURBS Modeling, Hard Surface Modeling, Organic Modeling, Sculpting Basics |
| MAD2CC09 | Texturing and Shading | Core | 4 | UV Mapping, Material Properties, Texture Painting, Procedural Texturing, Lighting Fundamentals |
| MAD2CC10 | Compositing for Animation | Practical | 4 | Layer Management, Green Screen Keying, Color Correction, Visual Effects Integration, Render Passes |
Semester 3
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAD3CC11 | Principles of 3D Animation | Core | 4 | Principles of Motion, Weight and Balance, Arcs, Anticipation and Follow Through, Advanced Timing |
| MAD3CC12 | 3D Character Animation | Core | 4 | Character Rigging (3D), Walk Cycles (3D), Facial Animation, Body Mechanics, Performance Animation |
| MAD3CC13 | Digital Sculpting and Advanced Modeling | Core | 4 | Advanced Sculpting Techniques, Topology and Retopology, Detail Projection, Character Refinement, Hard Surface Sculpting |
| MAD3CC14 | Lighting and Rendering | Core | 4 | Types of Lights, Global Illumination, Render Engines, Shading Networks, Render Optimisation |
| MAD3CV01 | Animation Production Pipeline | Elective | 3 | Pre-Production Stages, Production Workflow, Post-Production, Team Roles and Management, Project Planning |
| MAD3PS01 | Project Phase I | Project | 3 | Concept Development, Pre-visualization, Research and Storyboarding, Character/Asset Design, Proposal Writing |
Semester 4
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAD4CC15 | Advanced Compositing and Editing | Core | 4 | Multi-layer Compositing, Rotoscoping and Tracking, Advanced Color Grading, Editing Principles, Sound Design Basics |
| MAD4CV02 | Introduction to AR/VR | Elective | 3 | VR/AR Concepts, Hardware and Software, Content Creation for Immersive Media, User Experience, Applications of AR/VR |
| MAD4PS02 | Project Phase II | Project | 13 | Full Production of Animation, Asset Creation and Rigging, Animation Implementation, Lighting and Rendering, Final Output and Presentation |
