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

Start the Week of
June 24, 2024

Apply By
April 28, 2024

Sold Out? Sign Up for Our Waiting List

Sign up for our waiting list and we’ll notify you when more seats are available or when the next registration opens.

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 - mentor game animation instructor

Olivier Zurcher

Senior Animator
Activision/Blizzard

Olivier Zurcher is a seasoned animator with over a decade of experience in real-time game animation and virtual reality. Currently a Senior Animator at Activision Blizzard, he’s contributing his expertise to the renowned Call of Duty series. Previously at Meta, Olivier played a pivotal role in animating for the AAA VR game Asgard’s Wrath 2.

Read Full Bio

On-Going Rig Access

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Studios that Hire Our Animation Students

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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.

$333
Per Month

$500 to save your seat and
6 monthly installments of $333.

$500
Per Month

$500 to save your seat and
4 monthly installments of $500.

$625
Per Month

$624 to save your seat and
3 monthly installments of $625.

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.

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.

Maya Workshop: Animation Basics

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Master this key software before diving into the art of animation.

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Animation
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Begin your character animation journey and master the basics.

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Body
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Learn to animate realistic bipedal movement.

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Advanced Body
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Game Animation:
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Game Animation:
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Enhance your storytelling skills in games.

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