Class Catalog

Class Details

Summer 2026:

TERM DATES: Jul 5, 2026 - Sep 19, 2026
LEVEL: Advanced
COURSE PREREQUISITES:Body Mechanics

VFX Creature Animation

$1620

Get ready to learn how to animate feature level VFX monsters! Students will be exposed to real world background plates and learn how to incorporate the study of the known and unknown to make monsters move inside real-life environments.
This course will go over advanced techniques for quadrupeds and uniquely moving beasts with nontraditional proportions. Real VFX workflows will be used in this studio level course. This is an advanced level class that requires a proficient understanding of body mechanics. The class aims to provide students with a strong foundation and understanding of creature body mechanics so they are able to tackle shots in real-life environment.
This course will go over advanced techniques for quadrupeds and uniquely moving beasts with nontraditional proportions. Real VFX workflows will be used in this studio level course. This is an advanced level class that requires a proficient understanding of body mechanics. The class aims to provide students with a strong foundation and understanding of creature body mechanics so they are able to tackle shots in real-life environments.
Critique Time * Class Time Instructor Notes
Tuesday 9:00 PM - 10:30 PM Thursday 9:00 PM - 10:30 PM
Tony Mecca

ABOUT INSTRUCTORS

Tony Mecca

United States Flag United States

I've been a professional animator for over 20 years spanning major feature films, games, mixed reality, and most recently - theme park attraction ride and creative development. I have animated on everything from VFX heavy realistic style shows like Snow White and the Huntsman, RIPD, and X-Men Days of Future Past to fully animated cartoony blockbusters like Rio 2 and Hotel Transylvania 2. Before feature film I worked in video games animating everything from super realistic combat simulations to sci-fi fantasy adventures. I was a primary member of the team that developed the critically acclaimed and award winning Conduit first person animation system. After spending a few years working at Magic Leap developing the next generation of story telling for mixed reality, I am currently "at home" working as a creative lead with the amazing Universal Studios Creative producing the next generation of rides, lands and attractions for Universal studios theme parks world wide. I am also a muti-patent holder (some of which include character animation technology) and work with almost every single major animation and VFX studio directing next generation character performances for our theme parks around the world.
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