FLMC 2331 · Advanced MotionGraphics in After Effects — Spring
A project-driven follow-on to the foundational course. Ten advanced skills built on the first ten, tuned to After Effects 2026 — across four portfolio projects and one capstone. 16 weeks · 16 class meetings · 10 new skills · 4 projects.
Spring calendar: all 16 classes meet, with a Spring Break week off between Week 8 and Week 9. The extra week (vs. the Fall version) is a Week 1 refresher of motion-graphics fundamentals before the advanced track begins.
How this course works
One new skill per class, then a whole week to build with it.
- Week 1 re-anchors the foundational ten with a short diagnostic — no new skill, no exercise.
- In class (Weeks 2–16): one skill — concept plus a live demo — then a short in-class exercise (the exercise booklet), then start applying it to the current project.
- Homework (~6–10 hrs): push the project forward using that skill.
- Wrap-up classes: every project ends in a dedicated critique-and-finish class before it's submitted.
Semester schedule
| Week | Class | Project | Homework focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Refresher & Diagnostic | — | Skills-audit animation; set up a reusable project template |
| 2 | Project Architecture (+ course setup) | P1 kickoff | Modular precomp rig with Essential Properties |
| 3 | Vector Pipelines | Project 1 | Convert brand art to shape layers |
| 4 | Advanced Shape Animation | Project 1 | Animate an icon set + two transitions |
| 5 | Kinetic Typography 2.0 | Project 1 | Variable-font kinetic type; assemble |
| 6 | Project 1 Wrap-Up | P1 due — Branded Vector Explainer | Submit Project 1 |
| 7 | Native 3D Meshes | P2 kickoff | Model / extrude the logo in 3D |
| 8 | 3D Look Development | Project 2 | Substance materials + HDRI lighting |
| — | Spring Break — no class | — | No class — optional catch-up on Project 2 |
| 9 | Project 2 Wrap-Up | P2 due — 3D Product / Logo Reveal | Submit Project 2 |
| 10 | Cinematic Cameras & DOF | P3 kickoff | Camera rig + rack-focus pull test |
| 11 | Designing & Animating the Title System | Project 3 | Design & animate the title-card system |
| 12 | Project 3 Wrap-Up | P3 due — Cinematic Title Sequence | Submit Project 3 |
| 13 | AI-Assisted Compositing | P4 kickoff (capstone) | Isolate the subject (AI Object Matte / roto) |
| 14 | Match-Moving & Mixed Media | Project 4 | Track a shot; lock 3D/graphics into the plate |
| 15 | Expressions, Rigging & MOGRTs | Project 4 | Rig the project; export a MOGRT |
| 16 | Final Class — Capstone Showcase | P4 due — Mixed-Media VFX Spot + Template | Deliver the capstone |
Project spans: P1 Weeks 2–6 · P2 Weeks 7–9 (the Spring Break falls inside this span, as catch-up time) · P3 Weeks 10–12 · P4 Weeks 13–16.
Grades
A 100-point semester (unchanged from the Fall structure). Exercises are graded on completion + hitting each drill's “Done when”; projects are scored on the rubric (0–100) × their point value.
| Component | How it's counted | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly attendance | 16 meetings, 15 pts (one drop) | 15 |
| Exercises (drills) | 10 × 2 pts — one per new skill (the refresher has no drill) | 20 |
| Project 1 · Branded Vector Explainer | Rubric score × 15 | 15 |
| Project 2 · 3D Product / Logo Reveal | Rubric score × 15 | 15 |
| Project 3 · Cinematic Title Sequence | Rubric score × 15 | 15 |
| Project 4 · Mixed-Media Capstone | Rubric score × 20 — the portfolio centrepiece | 20 |
| Total | 100 |
Grade scale: A 90–100 · B 80–89 · C 70–79 · D 60–69 · F below 60.
Project & capstone rubric
Each project is scored 1 (Beginner) to 4 (Portfolio-Ready) per criterion; weighted score = Σ (level ÷ 4 × weight), max 100. Portfolio-ready at 80+.
| Criterion (weight) | 1 · Beginner | 2 · Developing | 3 · Proficient | 4 · Portfolio-Ready |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animation Craft & Timing (15%) | Mechanical, evenly-spaced motion with no weight. | Some easing; timing uneven or generic. | Confident spacing and weight throughout. | Polished, purposeful timing with anticipation & follow-through. |
| Technical Execution & Cleanup (15%) | Jitter, chatter, broken rigs or messy mattes. | Mostly clean with a few unstable moments. | Clean keys, tidy mattes/roto, stable tracks and rigs. | Flawless — no chatter, slip or stray keyframes anywhere. |
| 3D & Compositing Integration (15%) | Elements look pasted on; wrong scale or light. | Readable, but edges or lighting give it away. | Believable integration; matched light and grounding. | Seamless — 3D, graphics and footage read as one shot. |
| Color, Look & Finishing (15%) | Flat or clashing color; no deliberate look. | A grade exists but is inconsistent. | Cohesive, intentional grade; scopes legal. | Distinctive, controlled look that elevates the piece. |
| Concept, Design & Art Direction (15%) | No clear idea; random effects strung together. | An idea exists but design choices are generic. | Clear concept with coherent type, layout and palette. | Original, memorable, with strong art-directed taste. |
| Systems & Reusability (10%) | No structure; flat timeline, nothing reusable. | Some pre-comps, but fragile and ad hoc. | Clean architecture; Essential Properties or rigs used. | Robust, documented rig/template another editor could drive. |
| Technical Breadth (10%) | Fewer than 4 of the 10 advanced skills used. | 4–5 skills used, some only superficially. | 6–7 skills used meaningfully in service of the idea. | 8+ skills woven in naturally, each earning its place. |
| Delivery & Craft (5%) | Wrong settings, render errors, audio out of sync. | Plays back, but codec/runtime/sync need work. | Correct export, resolution, frame rate; audio in sync. | Spec-perfect master + clean template, ready to hand off. |
Breadth check: the capstone should put at least 6 of the 10 advanced skills to meaningful use.
See the Tutorial Links page for free videos and official guides per skill, and the Vocabulary page for key terms. Each new-skill week has its own Exercise page.