SKILLS BOOTCAMP IN UNREAL ENGINE
Unlock advanced techniques in Lighting, Rendering, and VFX with Unreal Engine
Are you ready to elevate your career in 3D animation and visual effects? Our 16-week Unreal Engine is designed specifically for aspiring professionals in animation, VFX and visualisation, helping you gain the critical skills to excel in lighting, rendering, and visual effects (VFX).
With expert-led training, hands-on projects, and real-world industry insights, you’ll not only master Unreal Engine but also create portfolio-worthy projects to showcase to potential employers.
Industry-backed & expert-guided
This Skills Bootcamp isn’t just about mastering Unreal Engine; it’s about diving deep into the world of 3D animation, visual effects, and immersive environments with strong industry support. Created in collaboration with leading employers and supported by techSPARK, it features industry-approved content and guidance from seasoned Unreal Engine developers and professionals. Your learning experience will be enriched by an expert tutor, sessions with a careers coach, and masterclasses, ensuring you are well-prepared for a successful career in these exciting fields.
What You'll Learn
Our curriculum is designed to equip aspiring professionals in 3D animation, VFX, games, and visualisation with a comprehensive skill set in Unreal Engine. Over the course of 16 weeks, you'll explore foundational and advanced techniques in lighting, rendering, and visual effects (VFX) for immersive environments and entertainment.
From learning project setup and asset management to mastering real-time rendering and advanced VFX techniques, each week features hands-on assignments and projects that allow you to apply your knowledge in real-world scenarios. Case studies and industry applications are introduced early on to give you a clear view of how your new skills can be applied across various roles. Scroll down or click here for the full week-by-week schedule.
Participants will gain expertise in lighting, cinematic rendering, and VFX creation, crafting projects that demonstrate proficiency in Unreal Engine. By the end of the Skills Bootcamp, you’ll be ready to take on complex lighting, rendering, and VFX challenges in 3D animation and visualisation studios, setting you apart in this competitive field.
Who Should Apply?
This Skills Bootcamp in Unreal Engine is designed for ambitious digital creatives looking to take their careers to the next level. Whether you’re a recent graduate looking for work in animation or visualisation studios, or have a strong foundation in 3D design, this course will give you the specialised skills you need to master lighting, rendering, and VFX in Unreal Engine.
Is This Skills Bootcamp for you?
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Are you passionate about creating stunning visuals? This Skills Bootcamp will help you bring your creative visions to life using cutting-edge technology and industry-leading techniques.
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Do you have experience with 3D tools like Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max? Build on that knowledge by learning how to implement your skills in Unreal Engine for real-time rendering and cinematic results.
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Want to enhance your career with in-demand Unreal Engine skills? You’ll gain hands-on experience with lighting, advanced rendering, and VFX, making you stand out to top studios in animation, VFX, immersive, and games.
You'll be supported by an experienced instructor, careers coach, and a network of peers, allowing you to grow your skills in a supportive environment.
Eligible participants will already live in the West England Combined Authority region, or have serious intent to live and work here. Read more about eligibility and the West England Combined Authority region here.
This Skills Bootcamp is perfect for Unreal Engine developers who are ready to turn their passion into a professional career.
Read on for more information, or if you're ready to take the next step you can Apply here! (Applications close on Sunday 6th October 2024).
What are Skills Bootcamps?
Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and an offer of an interview with an employer upon completion.
This Skills Bootcamp in 3D Character Animation is part of the Skills Bootcamps Programme funded and managed by the West of England Combined Authority, led by Metro Mayor Dan Norris, and delivered by NextGen Skills Academy.
Skills Bootcamp Schedule
Indicative content
Week 1
Introduction to Unreal Engine
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Get an overview of Unreal Engine’s history and its role in animation and VFX
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Learn the interface, navigation, and how to set up your first project
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Overview of 3D animation including the 12 Principles of Animation
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How to apply these principles to 3D animation
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Introduction to the 3D animation pipeline and industry standards
Week 2
Week 2: Project Setup and Management
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Set up and manage projects effectively, organize assets, and implement version control.
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Import 3D models, textures, and animations following industry best practices.
Week 3
Case Studies and Industry Applications
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Analyse real-world Unreal Engine projects in animation, VFX, and visualization
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Gain insights from guest speakers on emerging trends and practical applications
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Overview of 3D animation including the 12 Principles of Animation
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How to apply these principles to 3D animation
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Introduction to the 3D animation pipeline and industry standards
Week 4
Week 4: Fundamentals of Lighting
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Explore different light types and their properties for various environments
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Master global illumination, light baking, and setting up mood-driven lighting scenarios
Week 5
Advanced Lighting Techniques
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Use dynamic lighting, volumetric lighting, and fog to create atmospheric effects
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Implement ray tracing for enhanced lighting and reflection realism
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Overview of 3D animation including the 12 Principles of Animation
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How to apply these principles to 3D animation
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Introduction to the 3D animation pipeline and industry standards
Week 6
Rendering in Unreal Engine
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Learn the rendering pipeline and set up cameras for cinematic sequences
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Apply post-processing effects and optimize rendering performance
Week 7
Introduction to Visual Effects (VFX)
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Dive into particle systems, materials, and shaders in Unreal Engine
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Create basic visual effects like fire, smoke, and explosions using the Niagara particle system
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Overview of 3D animation including the 12 Principles of Animation
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How to apply these principles to 3D animation
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Introduction to the 3D animation pipeline and industry standards
Week 8
Advanced VFX Techniques
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Build and manage complex particle systems and simulations
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Design advanced VFX materials and use Blueprint scripting to trigger effects in real time
Week 9
Integrating VFX with Animation
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Seamlessly sync VFX with animations for characters and objects
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Use the Sequencer tool to choreograph and fine-tune VFX alongside animations
Week 10
Real-Time Rendering and Optimisation
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Explore techniques for maintaining high-quality visuals in real-time environments
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Learn performance profiling and optimization to ensure efficient scene rendering
Weeks 11 to 14
Employer Project Brief
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Tackle a real-world employer-set brief focused on lighting, rendering, or VFX
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Develop, iterate, and refine your project with guidance and feedback from industry experts
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Overview of 3D animation including the 12 Principles of Animation
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How to apply these principles to 3D animation
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Introduction to the 3D animation pipeline and industry standards
Week 15
Final Project Review
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Finalise your employer brief project and present it to a panel of peers and professionals, showcasing your techniques and solutions
Week 16
Career Preparation
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Gain industry insights, tips on networking, and job search strategies
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Prepare your portfolio and demo reel, ready to impress potential employers
Skills Bootcamp Delivery
Your learning experience
The Skills Bootcamp spans 16 weeks, with three hours of guided learning each week. Additionally, participants are expected to dedicate three hours to independent work.
There will also be some in-person working days and events (dates TBC), ensuring that you get to connect with fellow participants.
Your guides
Dedicated tutor: Under the guidance of our experienced tutor, you'll master advanced techniques in Unreal Engine.
Career Coach: You’ll join a careers coach for essential employability lessons and one-to-one support. Helping you develop the skills to kickstart your career.
The Platform: NextGen RISE
You'll share work for feedback on the NextGen RISE platform. Created by Tom Box, Co-Founder of Blue Zoo Animation Studio, RISE simulates a creative studio pipeline, all within one platform.
Effective team communication will be facilitated through dedicated Discord servers.
Masterclasses and studio insights!
Get a behind-the-scenes look into the industry with studio insights and masterclasses hosted by experienced professionals.
ELIGIBILITY
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You must be 19 years or older
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You must have a basic to intermediate understanding of 3D animation or VFX workflows, a passion for creating stunning visuals, and a willingness to learn, regardless of prior experience with Unreal Engine.
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You need to live in, or intend to work in, the West of England Combined Authority area, which includes Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire. Scroll down for a map of the West England Combined Authority region, you can also find your local authority by entering your postcode here.
Inclusivity
We're committed to inclusivity. Our goal is to provide training opportunities for everyone, making our industries more representative of our society. We encourage applications from those underrepresented in the creative industries.
Right to Work
To join any NextGen Futures Skills Bootcamp, you must have the right to work and stay in the UK at the time of application.
Time Commitment
You should be able to dedicate 6 hours a week for the 16-week Skills Bootcamp. This includes 3 hours of remote tutor-led lessons and 3 hours of self-study. Group tutor sessions will take place in the evenings to help you fit learning around other commitments.
There will also be some in-person events that will take place over the duration of the Skills Bootcamp. Exact dates will be confirmed after the course starts - these will be informed by participants as we want as many people as possible to attend.
The Skills Bootcamp in Unity Programming runs from the week commencing Monday 11th November 2024 for 16 weeks (exact lesson dates to be confirmed) with a break for Christmas. The Skills Bootcamp will finish in March 2025.
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OUR PARTNERS
