George Ongere - partner of Center For Inquiry and Humanist Mutual Aid Network, and author of The Outcaste Atheist: A Novel - is offering a course in:
3D Animation and AI-Driven Storytelling for Humanists.
His Certificate of Registration and the course description is below.
George says, “The best about this course is that students will be able to get jobs online in sites like Fivver.com, Upwork.com, Freelancer.com, and as part of the lesson, they will also be taught how to open these sites and how to get high paying jobs. They will use their class assignments as portfolio for clients.”
To enroll in the class contact George at geongere@yahoo.com
Course Title: 3D Animation and AI-Driven Storytelling for Humanists
Course Overview
Level: Undergraduate (suitable for sophomores/juniors with no prior technical experience; assumes basic computer literacy)
Duration: One semester (15 weeks), 3 credits (e.g., 3 hours lecture/lab per week)
Prerequisites: None, but interest in humanities (e.g., literature, philosophy, ethics) is encouraged.
Instructor Role: Guide students in blending technical skills with humanistic inquiry, emphasizing how animation can amplify ideals like social justice, environmentalism, or cultural heritage.
Course Description: This course introduces humanist students to 3D animation as a medium for storytelling and idea dissemination. Students will learn core animation principles, integrate AI tools for efficient content creation, and use industry-standard software to produce short animation films. Emphasis is placed on ethical AI use, narrative development rooted in humanistic themes, and collaborative production. By course end, students will create a 1-3 minute animation film promoting a personal or societal ideal.
Learning Outcomes:
· Understand animation fundamentals and apply them to humanistic storytelling.
· Generate and integrate AI-assisted images and videos ethically.
· Proficiency in Blender, Substance Painter, After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Unreal Engine for 3D workflows.
· Develop narratives that convey ideals through animation, considering cultural and ethical implications.
· Collaborate on projects, critique peers' work, and reflect on technology's role in humanities.
Required Materials:
· Free/open-source software: Blender (download from blender.org), Unreal Engine (from epicgames.com).
· Subscription-based (school-provided or trial): Adobe Creative Cloud (for Premiere Pro and After Effects), Substance Painter.
· AI Tools: Free tiers of Stable Diffusion (via web interfaces like Automatic1111), Midjourney (Discord bot), or Runway ML for video; ethical guidelines provided.
· Hardware: Access to lab computers with GPU support; personal laptops optional.
· Readings: "The Animator's Survival Kit" by Richard Williams; excerpts from "AI and the Humanities" (open-access articles); film screenings (e.g., Pixar shorts on ideals).
Assessment Breakdown:
· Weekly Assignments/Labs: 30% (hands-on exercises).
· Midterm Project: 20% (AI-integrated storyboard).
· Final Project: 30% (animation film).
· Participation/Reflections: 10% (discussions on ethics and ideals).
· Peer Critiques: 10% (feedback sessions).
Weekly Curriculum Breakdown
The course is divided into modules, building from foundational concepts to advanced integration. Each week includes lectures (theory/storytelling), labs (software demos/hands-on), and homework (application to humanistic themes). Guest speakers (e.g., animators or AI ethicists) can be invited in Weeks 4, 8, and 12.
Module 1: Foundations of Animation and Humanistic Storytelling (Weeks 1-2)
Objective: Introduce animation principles and link them to humanistic expression.
· Week 1: Introduction to Animation as a Humanistic Tool
o Lecture: History of animation (e.g., from Disney to indie films promoting ideals like feminism in "Persepolis"). Principles of animation (squash/stretch, timing). Role of animation in spreading ideas (e.g., environmental messages in "Wall-E").
o Lab: Basic sketching/storyboarding exercises (no software yet). Discuss personal ideals (e.g., equality, sustainability) and brainstorm film concepts.
o Homework: Create a 5-panel storyboard for a short story conveying an ideal (e.g., empathy). Reading: Excerpts on narrative theory in humanities.
· Week 2: Storytelling and Ethics in Animation
o Lecture: Narrative structures (hero's journey adapted for ideals). Ethical considerations: Representation, bias in visuals, and AI's impact on creativity.
o Lab: Group brainstorming sessions for film ideas rooted in humanities (e.g., philosophy of identity). Intro to digital tools setup.
o Homework: Refine storyboard with ethical reflection (1-page journal on potential biases).
Module 2: 3D Basics with Blender (Weeks 3-4)
Objective: Build core 3D skills for modeling and animation.
· Week 3: Modeling in Blender
o Lecture: 3D concepts (meshes, vertices). Linking to humanities: Modeling symbolic objects (e.g., a "broken chain" for freedom).
o Lab: Blender interface tour; basic modeling (primitives, extrusions). Create a simple object representing an ideal.
o Homework: Model a scene element (e.g., a character or prop) tied to your storyboard.
· Week 4: Animation in Blender
o Lecture: Keyframing, rigging basics. Guest speaker: Animator discussing storytelling in 3D.
o Lab: Animate a simple walk cycle or object transformation (e.g., a seed growing into a tree for growth ideals).
o Homework: Animate a 10-second clip from your storyboard.
Module 3: Texturing and AI Image Generation (Weeks 5-6)
Objective: Enhance visuals with textures and introduce AI for creative efficiency.
· Week 5: Texturing with Substance Painter
o Lecture: Material properties, UV mapping. Humanistic angle: Textures as metaphors (e.g., weathered surfaces for resilience).
o Lab: Import Blender models; apply textures (procedural and hand-painted).
o Homework: Texture your modeled assets, reflecting on symbolic choices.
· Week 6: AI for Image Generation
o Lecture: AI basics (generative models like diffusion). Ethical use: Avoiding plagiarism, bias in prompts (e.g., diverse representations).
o Lab: Use Stable Diffusion/Midjourney to generate concept art or textures (prompt engineering: "A utopian city promoting equality, in watercolor style"). Integrate into Blender/Substance.
o Homework: Generate AI images for your storyboard; write a reflection on AI's role in humanistic creativity.
Module 4: Compositing, Editing, and AI Video Production (Weeks 7-9)
Objective: Post-production skills with AI integration for dynamic content.
· Week 7: Compositing with After Effects
o Lecture: Layers, effects, motion graphics. Using compositing to layer ideals (e.g., blending real footage with animated symbols).
o Lab: Import Blender renders; add effects (e.g., particle systems for "hope" visuals).
o Homework: Composite a scene from your animation.
· Week 8: Video Editing with Adobe Premiere Pro
o Lecture: Editing rhythms, pacing for emotional impact. Guest speaker: Filmmaker on humanistic documentaries.
o Lab: Timeline basics, cuts, transitions. Edit a rough cut of animated clips.
o Homework: Edit a 30-second teaser for your film.
· Week 9: AI for Video Production
o Lecture: AI tools for video (e.g., Runway ML for text-to-video or upscaling). Ethics: Deepfakes and misinformation in ideal-spreading.
o Lab: Generate AI video clips (e.g., "A crowd uniting for justice") and integrate into Premiere/After Effects.
o Homework: Incorporate AI video into your project; peer review on ethical integration.
Module 5: Advanced Real-Time Animation with Unreal Engine (Weeks 10-11)
Objective: Explore interactive/real-time elements for immersive storytelling.
· Week 10: Introduction to Unreal Engine
o Lecture: Real-time rendering vs. traditional. Humanistic potential: Interactive animations for empathy-building (e.g., VR experiences on cultural heritage).
o Lab: Unreal interface; import assets from Blender/Substance. Basic level setup.
o Homework: Build a simple interactive scene (e.g., explorable environment symbolizing an ideal).
· Week 11: Animation in Unreal Engine
o Lecture: Blueprints, sequencing. Integrating AI-generated assets.
o Lab: Animate characters/scenes in real-time; export for film use.
o Homework: Create a real-time element for your film (e.g., dynamic background).
Module 6: Project Integration and Final Production (Weeks 12-15)
Objective: Synthesize skills into a cohesive film; reflect on the process.
· Week 12: Full Workflow Integration
o Lecture: Pipeline overview (Blender → Substance → Unreal/AE → Premiere). Guest speaker: AI in arts ethicist.
o Lab: Troubleshoot integrations; AI enhancements (e.g., generating variations).
o Homework: Assemble rough film cut.
· Week 13: Refinement and Ethics Workshop
o Lecture: Polishing for impact; group discussions on ideals in films.
o Lab: Peer critiques; AI ethics audit (e.g., check for biases).
o Homework: Revise based on feedback.
· Week 14: Final Edits and Export
o Lecture: Export formats, distribution (e.g., YouTube for spreading ideals).
o Lab: Final renders/edits; add sound (basic audio in Premiere).
o Homework: Complete film; prepare presentation.
· Week 15: Presentations and Reflections
o Lecture: Course wrap-up; future of AI in humanities.
o Lab: Screen films; Q&A on ideals conveyed.
o Homework: Submit 2-page reflection on how animation/AI amplified your humanistic message.
Final Project Details: Students produce a 1-3 minute animation film using all tools, centered on a humanistic ideal (e.g., "A story of cultural reconciliation via AI-generated dream sequences"). Rubric: Technical proficiency (40%), Narrative depth/ideal conveyance (30%), AI/ethical integration (20%), Creativity (10%).