Professional Program in 3D Animation

Professional Program in 3D Animation – Full Course Overview

ZICA Kalyani – Zee Institute of Creative Art
Program: Professional Program in 3D Animation
Duration: 12–18 Months (3–4 Modules)
Location: Kalyani, Nadia (serving students from Kalyani, Chakdaha, Ranaghat, Krishnanagar, Naihati, Kanchrapara)

About the Program

The Professional Program in 3D Animation at ZICA Kalyani is a comprehensive, industry‑oriented course designed to transform creative beginners, graduates, and working professionals into skilled 3D animators, modelers, riggers, lighting artists, and generalists. This program covers the complete 3D pipeline — from concept and modeling to rigging, animation, lighting, and rendering — using tools like Maya, Blender, ZBrush, Substance Painter, and Arnold.

Ideal for students after 10th, 12th, graduates, and working professionals from Kalyani, Nadia, Chakdaha, Ranaghat, Krishnanagar, Naihati, Kanchrapara, this program focuses on live projects, character reels, short films, and portfolio building so that every learner can confidently apply for roles in animation studios, VFX houses, gaming companies, OTT platforms, and freelance practice.

What You Will Learn

1. 3D Fundamentals & Modeling

• Introduction to 3D space, navigation, and workflow

• Polygon modeling: hard‑surface and organic props

• Character modeling basics: head, body, hands, and facial topology

• Sculpting in ZBrush: high‑poly details and retopology

• UV unwrapping and texture painting (Substance Painter / Photoshop)

• PBR materials, shaders, and look development

2. Rigging & Character Setup

• Joint setup, skinning, and weight painting

• Character rigging: FK/IK, controls, and constraints

• Facial rigging and blend shapes for expression

• Custom rigs for props, creatures, and mechanical objects

• Rig testing and animation‑ready setups

3. Animation Principles & Character Performance

• Animation fundamentals: timing, spacing, arcs, and weight

• Body mechanics: walk cycles, run cycles, jumps, and lifts

• Acting and performance: gestures, expressions, and lip‑sync

• Camera animation and shot composition in 3D

• Animation polish: refinement, graph editor, and final output

4. Lighting, Rendering & Look Development

• Lighting fundamentals: key, fill, rim, three‑point, and mood lighting

• HDRI, area lights, volumetrics, and light rigs for scenes

• Render engines: Arnold, Cycles, or Redshift basics

• Render passes, AOVs, and optimization for compositing

• Look development and shading for realism/stylization

5. Real Projects, Portfolio & Industry Prep

• Character animation reel: walk, run, acting shot, and lip‑sync

• Short film or sequence: modeling → rig → animate → light → render

• Product visualization or environment animation project

• Portfolio curation: selecting, refining, and presenting best work

• Resume, LinkedIn, ArtStation setup for 3D artists

• Internship guidance, freelance basics, and studio workflow awareness

Program Highlights

• Industry‑aligned curriculum covering modeling, rigging, animation, lighting, and rendering

• Hands‑on projects: character reels, short films, product viz, and environment shots

• Mastery of key tools: Maya, Blender, ZBrush, Substance Painter, Arnold

• Mentorship from experienced 3D artists and animators

• Modern 3D labs with latest software at ZICA Kalyani

• Step‑by‑step portfolio and demo reel creation for job applications

• Guidance for internships, placements, and freelance opportunities

• Ideal for learners from Kalyani, Nadia, Chakdaha, Ranaghat, Krishnanagar, Naihati, Kanchrapara who want local, structured training

Tools & Technologies Covered

• Autodesk Maya – industry‑standard for 3D animation, rigging, and rendering

• Blender – modeling, sculpting, animation, and rendering (open‑source alternative)

• ZBrush – high‑poly sculpting and character detailing

• Substance Painter / Designer – texture painting and material creation

• Arnold / Cycles / Redshift – photorealistic rendering for 3D

• Adobe Photoshop – texture editing and look development