Algorithms for Computer Animation
A graduate MIT course on the computational methods behind character and effects animation. Topics include keyframing, inverse kinematics, physical simulation, optimization, optimal control, motion capture, and data-driven animation techniques, along with a critical look at where these tools fall short. Coursework centers on a semester-long research project in which students propose new methods or improvements to existing algorithms, drawing on connections to machine learning, robotics, biomechanics, and applied mathematics. Materials are published through MIT OpenCourseWare and include lecture notes and project guidelines, free to access with no certificate offered. The course suits students with a background in computer graphics who want to understand the mathematics driving film, game, and simulation animation rather than just the artistic side of the craft.