Game Animation:
Mechanics & Interactive Gameplay
Use Unreal Engine and animate a full character moveset
GAME ON!
Power-Up Your Game Animation Skills: Dive into Unreal Engine and Maya! In our dynamic course, Game Animation: Mechanics & Interactive Gameplay, you’ll gain hands-on experience using industry-standard tools. Learn to seamlessly integrate animations into Unreal Engine, crafting immersive gaming experiences. From mastering character movements—idle, walk, run, strafe, and jumps—to bringing them to life within Unreal Engine’s virtual world, you’ll acquire the skills to animate a full character moveset with confidence and finesse. Join us and unleash your creativity to shape the future of interactive gaming. Level up your animation game today!
12-WEEK COURSE
$2,499 USD
Pro Animators Mentor You to Be Successful
Our mentors are the heart and soul of Animation Mentor. They are professional, working animators from studios like Blizzard, Epic Games, and iD Software, who will teach you the ins and outs of studio-level game animation. Get your game on in the Game Animation: Mechanics & Interactive Gameplay course, the fourth course in our Game Animation Program.
Olivier Zurcher
Senior Animator
Activision/Blizzard
Olivier Zurcher has been a professional animator for the past decade. He has held senior roles at companies like Activision Blizzard, Xbox, and Meta. He is also the creator of Animation Mentor’s Games Program. As a character animator, he has worked on games such as Asgard’s Wrath, Spyro, and the Call of Duty series.
Kristina Alfonsi
Animation Lead
Electronic Arts
Kristina Alfonsi has been a professional animator since 2015 and is currently an Animation Lead at EA working on the next generation of products in The Sims franchise. Kristina also worked as an Art Director and Animation Lead at Amazon, where she created an innovative mixed reality gaming experience and led global teams in creating a portfolio of products for Prime Gaming.Â
Chris Fish
Associate Animator
Blizzard Entertainment
Chris Fish started in the game industry in 2019 at Avalanche Software, where he worked as a gameplay animator on Hogwarts Legacy. He now works for Blizzard Entertainment on World of Warcraft, and has helped launch several expansions such as Dragonflight and The War Within.
Choose Your Mentor
Once you've applied and been accepted into Animation Mentor, you can choose your mentor and register for class.
On-Going Rig Access
CHARACTER OPTION 01
SKIN A
CHARACTER OPTION 01
SKIN B
CHARACTER OPTION 01
SKIN C
CHARACTER OPTION 01
SKIN D
CHARACTER OPTION 01
SKIN E
CHARACTER OPTION 02
SKIN A
CHARACTER OPTION 02
SKIN B
CHARACTER OPTION 02
SKIN C
CHARACTER OPTION 02
SKIN D
CHARACTER OPTION 02
SKIN E
CHARACTER OPTION 02
SKIN F
Studios that Hire Our Animation Students
Personalized Mentorship
Our mentors are working professionals with years of experience under their belts, and they’re passionate about training the next generation of animators. In this course, you will learn from your mentor in live sessions as they share insights about what studios are working on and what qualities they look for in an animator. Your mentor will work directly with you to grow your skills, sharing weekly 1:1 feedback and reviews to help you improve your animation.
Studio-Level Animation Training
Our program immerses you in a studio-like environment, ensuring you’re job-ready upon graduation. You’ll learn with the same tools and workflows as industry professionals, mastering Unreal Engine to gain skills that set you apart in the competitive game animation industry. Our campus mimics a studio environment, fostering collaboration and creativity as students interact with each other, learning from both the material and your peers. This mirrors the teamwork and communication needed in a game studio, enhancing your employability and industry readiness beyond technical proficiency.
Course Requirements for Mechanics & Interactive Gameplay
Course Details
LIVE Q&As | Weekly 1-Hour Q&As
LECTURES | 12 Pre-recorded Lectures
ASSIGNMENTS | 5-7 Animation Exercises
ACCESS |Over 150 hours of additional content
SOFTWARE | Autodesk Maya, Unreal Engine
HARDWARE | Meet Minimum Requirements
AGE | 18 Years or Older
LANGUAGE | Taught in English
Skills You Need Before You Start
This game animation course requires you to have a working understanding of, and experience with, Autodesk Maya software. If you don’t you can take our Maya Basics Workshop.
You must also have completed the prerequisite course, Advanced Body Mechanics. However, if you’re new to Animation Mentor, you can potentially skip the prerequisite by submitting a demo reel for review during the application process. Learn more about advanced placement.
What You’ll Learn
Now that your advanced body mechanics are solid, let’s focus on integrating more seamlessly into game animators workflows. In this course you will:
- Explore the evolution and significance of Unreal Engine throughout gaming history
- Master state machines and animator workflows to optimize character animation
- Utilize production briefs to animate a comprehensive character moveset, encompassing idle, walk, run, strafe, and jump animations
- Harness the potential of motion capture technology for immersive game animation
- Enhance animation quality through advanced cleanup techniques and personality layering, maximizing appeal and realism
Animation Mentor Interest-Free Payment Plans
Animation Mentor offers interest-free payment plans. Payment Plans allow students to distribute the $2,499 USD tuition into flexible payments throughout the school term.
FAQ for Mechanics & Interactive Gameplay
What is Unreal Engine?
Unreal Engine is a cutting-edge, industry-leading game development platform created by Epic Games. Renowned for its powerful capabilities and user-friendly interface, Unreal Engine empowers developers to create immersive, high-quality games for various platforms, including PC, console, mobile, and virtual reality. With advanced rendering technology, robust toolsets, and a vast library of assets, Unreal Engine provides developers with the tools they need to bring their creative visions to life. As one of the most popular game engines in the industry, mastering Unreal Engine is essential for aspiring game developers looking to create stunning and engaging gaming experiences.
What is a cutscene?
A cutscene is a cinematic sequence in a video game that occurs between gameplay segments to advance the storyline, provide context, or showcase key events. These pre-rendered or in-game rendered sequences often feature character dialogue, dramatic action, or important narrative elements. Cutscenes can vary in length and style, ranging from fully animated scenes to scripted sequences using in-game graphics. They play a crucial role in enhancing the immersive experience of a game and are commonly used in storytelling-driven games across various genres. Understanding how to effectively implement cutscenes is essential for game animators aiming to create compelling and memorable gaming experiences.
What is a character moveset?
In gaming, a character moveset refers to a predefined set of actions or animations that a character can perform within the game. These actions typically include basic movements such as walking, running, jumping, crouching, and attacking, among others, depending on the game’s mechanics and genre. Character movesets are essential for defining the capabilities and agility of a character, influencing gameplay dynamics and player interactions. Game developers carefully design and animate character movesets to ensure smooth and responsive controls, immersing players in the gaming experience. Mastering the creation and implementation of character movesets is crucial for game animators and developers aiming to deliver engaging and fluid gameplay experiences in their games.
What ANIMATION MENTOR Students are Saying
On My Way Towards My Dream
Learned So Much in 12 Weeks
My Best Work So Far
A Rich Learning Experience
A Huge Level Up for Me
Wealth of Information
On My Way Towards My Dream
Learned So Much in 12 Weeks
My Best Work So Far
A Rich Learning Experience
A Huge Level Up for Me
Wealth of Information
Related Courses
If you’re interested in 3D animation, we think you’ll love these courses! Our Character Animation and Game Animation Courses provide a great foundation in animation and will help prepare you for a career in the industry.
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