MCIS 625: Computer Graphics
Winter 2004

WEEK 8

Instructor: Dr. Michael Laszlo

Assignment

  1. Please review my slide set on specialized modeling techniques.
  2. Optional reading assignment: Chapter 10 of Foley, vanDam, et al.
  3. The essay described below, due March 17 through our course forum. (This will be the last assignment for the course. See the assignments page for the list of all assignments.)
Written Assignment
This midway point in the course is a good occasion to view a film featuring computer graphics animations, and to think about some of the techniques used in its creation. Please obtain and view such a film. The Mind's Eye series of tapes (Beyond the Mind's Eye, Into the Mind's Eye, Transcending the Mind's Eye, you get the idea) are good. Such tapes can be usually be found at Blockbuster and other videotape rental outlets. The annual Siggraph convention tapes are also very good and reflect state-of-the-art techniques, but these are generally available only through the ACM and are fairly expensive. You can also search the computer animation category at amazon.com (and probably also at other online retailers) and find numerous animations in both VHS and DVD formats in the $10–$15 range. There are also numerous "pure" computer generated films in wide distribution such Toy Story, Bugs Life, Antz, and Shrek, and many other films that make significant use of computer generated effects. Indeed, most films that have been released in recent years rely on computer graphics to some degree. A movie I recommend very highly is Cyber World, a 3D computer graphics film showing only at IMAX theaters. While viewing your chosen film or film segment, look for the use of some of the techniques we have studied and that are treated in our textbook.

Please write about one of the tape's segments that captures your interest. Indicate the name of the tape or film that the segment is from, and the segment's name and producer (if any). Then briefly describe the segment: What does it portray? What happens in it? Finally, very briefly describe one or two techniques used to achieve the effects in the segment. Your essay should be no more than a few paragraphs. To determine the technique that was used, it is not necessary to send the producer e-mail. Rather, try to infer the technique based on your viewing and readings. Also note that many films have web sites on which can be found information on methods used to make the film.

Do not submit your essay to me through ESET. Rather, post it under the Films thread that I have created in our class forum. Please post your essay to this thread by March 17at midnight.

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