VFX Academy of Design

2025 | WINTER REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Storytelling Through Look Dev

THIS COURSE IS IN DEVELOPMENT

Look development for animated characters is usually a technical artist’s job. However, as much as software and technical expertise helps, advanced technical expertise is not required to make appealing, feature film quality animated characters. This course is designed to reinforce the design principles for creating textures and shaders for animated characters. We’ll discuss how to tell the story in every detail of the character, learn to approach a character from broad to fine details, and make a plan to execute the look. Throughout the course, students will learn how to receive feedback and prepare to work in a professional environment, and should have a solid piece for their portfolio by the end.

Registration Now Open

Registration Period

Course Start

Course Format

Standard (recorded lectures, individual recorded feedback)

Skills Level

Intermediate to Advanced

Duration

8 weeks

Q&A

Once a week

Feedback

Individual recordings

Lecture Type

Pre-recorded

Assignment

Due each week. Expect to spend 10-15 hrs/wk viewing lectures, Q&A, and time on assignments.

PREREQUISITES

Shading and texturing experience in a film or gaming environment. Recommended courses: Substance Basics, Texturing and Surfacing for Films/Cinematics, Stylized Characters in 3D

MATERIALS

These are recommended, but each is not required. One of each, or an equivalent software package would work. Painting/Texturing Software: Substance Painter/Designer, Mari, Houdini, Photoshop. Shading/Rendering software of choice: Arnold, Renderman, Redshift; Unity or Unreal

The more you know, the better.

Week #1

Designing Your Character's Shading

Class introductions | Telling the story through character design and look development | How does look development fit into the animated film pipeline? | What tools are used? | How do you put together a shading packet?

Week #2

Setting Up Your Character For Shading

Review shading packet | Setting up your character: UVs, three point lighting set up, basic shaders, model refinements | Common shaders used on characters (skin, hair, cloth, eyes, mouth) | Using an art packet, and planning your work ahead

Week #3

Shader Development

Techniques and methods to develop textures and shaders | Identifying your characters main shaders | Setting up eye and mouth shaders

Week #4

Working Week

Finding the “look” | Iterating on your shaders | Cloth shading

Week #5

Midpoint Review

Receiving feedback from art directors and production designers | Evaluating your character | Preparing your work for reviews

Week #6

Improving Your Shaders Through Iteration

Plussing your shaders | Shading for an animated performance | Improving the quality of your shader’s through storytelling | Preparing your character for professional reviews and your demo reel

Week #7

Thinking About Illumination

Working with lighting (final client), and shading for a lighting “look” | LUT’s and IBL’s

Week #8

How Does Your Character Fit Into A Feature Film?

How does your character fit into a feature film pipeline? | Developing shaders for a cast of characters | Working clean and staying organized | Creating variants