Animation
9 courses · Rio Hondo College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Summer 2026 · Fall 2026 · Spring 2027
ANIM 101 Introduction to Digital 3D Animation
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 54 Lecture, 54 Lab
- Advisory
- It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at a college level and be able to read college-level texts.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course offers an introduction to the production pipeline used in games, film, and television to create 3D animation. Students explore key concepts such as digital sculpting, lighting, texturing, rendering, rigging, and animating 3D objects. This course is a valuable asset for students pursuing studies in graphic arts such as illustration, web and game design, and film production.
ANIM 105 Principles of 3-D Digital Animation
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 54 Lecture, 54 Lab
- Advisory
- ART 130, ART 230
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course offers students an introduction to the essential principles of 3D digital animation, serving as a foundation for aspiring animators. Students will explore key concepts such as squash and stretch, timing, weight, drag, and follow-through, applying solid drawing techniques and working with 3D software like Maya and Blender. By mastering these core principles, students will develop and refine the fundamental skills necessary to excel as digital animators or character artists for both games and film/TV.
ANIM 110 Digital Character Animation
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 54 Lecture, 54 Lab
- Advisory
- ANIM 105
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course offers students a chance to advance their skills in 3D digital character animation. Through creating short animation sequences and loops with digital characters, students will enhance their proficiency in this growing field of game and film and TV production. Students are introduced to essential tools and techniques, including storyboarding, body mechanics, acting for animators, pose-to-pose and straight-ahead animation, and control rigging. The course is ideal for students interested in getting into fields such as animation and character creation for game development and film and TV production.
ANIM 130 Modeling for Games
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 54 Lecture, 54 Lab
- Advisory
- ANIM 101
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of 3D modeling, unwrapping, and texturing for game development. Designed for beginning 3D Animation students, it covers the essential tools and techniques for creating 3D game assets. This course is also valuable for students in graphic arts such as illustration, web and game design, and film production— as well as industrial design, including architectural, automotive, furniture, clothing, and product design.
ANIM 133 Character Design
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 54 Lecture, 54 Lab
- Advisory
- It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at a college level and be able to read college-level texts.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course introduces the fundamentals of character design, guiding students through the process of developing and refining visually engaging characters. Students will strengthen their skills in gesture, construction, and anatomy while revising and polishing innovative designs. They will also explore digital tools for sketching and painting, ultimately building a visually compelling character design portfolio.
ANIM 134 Mech and Vehicle Design
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 54 Lecture, 54 Lab
- Advisory
- ANIM 101, ART 170, NART 175
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course is geared towards designing mechs and vehicles of all types for the entertainment industry. Centered on digital drawing and rendering with Adobe Photoshop, students create and present finished portfolio pages. The course takes students through a clear and efficient design process emphasizing storytelling, gesture, shape, and color.
ANIM 135 Environment Design
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 54 Lecture, 54 Lab
- Advisory
- It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at the early college level and read college-level texts.; ANIM 101, ART 170, NART 175
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course introduces students to the artistic and technical requirements needed to work in the entertainment industry as environment artists. Through class projects students learn the latest techniques in the construction of game levels using Maya 3D modeling software and the Unity game engine. In addition to level design and the practical aspects of modeling and lighting, emphasis is placed on the artistic merit of students' work through value, color, design, and composition.
ANIM 140 Entertainment Art Portfolio
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 54 Lecture, 54 Lab
- Prerequisite
- ANIM 101, ANIM 105
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course provides an invaluable opportunity for students who satisfy the prerequisites to build and showcase a body of work that will propel their professional careers forward. Students select a focus area within entertainment art, such as game animation, hard surface modeling, or character design, and create a portfolio project using industry-standard tools like Adobe Photoshop CC, Premiere CC, Maxon's ZBrush, Autodesk's Maya, and Epic's Unreal Engine. This course provides an invaluable opportunity for students to build and showcase a body of work that will propel their professional careers forward.
ANIM 290 Work Experience Education/Internship for Animation-Related Fields
- Units
- 1-4
- Hours
- 3 Lecture, 54-216 Lab
- Advisory
- It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at a college level and be able to read college-level texts.
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course supports and reinforces on-the-job training in business and industrial establishments under the supervision of a college instructor. Training is informed by learning objectives. Students work in a skilled or professional-level assignment in their area of vocational interest, and meet performance objectives related to instruction that are above and beyond the conditions of regular employment. This course is intended for students whose job is related to the field of animation and have completed or enrolled in the appropriate coursework. The course may be taken once and repeated for a maximum of 16 units. Contact the Work Experience Education Office regarding re-enrollment procedures.