#ILM
It sounds like you're on the right track with your search for
information on animation. There are a number of good books around on
animation technique. You usually have to go to a BIG art supply
store to find them. My favorite is Tony Wolfe's Animation Handbook,
but I don't know if it's in print any more. There are lots of others
though.
For studies to get good at computer animation, I would recommend a
traditional animation course (where you draw and record your work)
supplemented by a few computer courses. For 3DS, for example, I'd
recommend a basic PC course, supplemented by a few other courses in
DOS, memory management, and a technical course on how to install your
own boards and hook up equipment (you'll need it!)
There are a few "pure" animation courses around, but as you mentioned,
I think there are maybe three in the US and a few sprinkled around
the world.
The animation course is essential if you ever want to get REEEAL good.
Glenn Melenhorst, one of the premier 3DS animators down here in
Australia (his stuff is all over the Siggraph tapes) started out as a
traditional animator and it really shows.
I come from a Comp Sci background and am planning to do a three-year
university course in animation here in Brisbane, Australia starting
in February. (THE animation course in Australia) I can't see any
way around it; although I know 3DS pretty well, you can only go far
with a linear approach. There are some beautifully elegant things
that Glenn seems to figure out with ease while I'm still
brute-forcing ahead with "logical" approaches, if you know what I
mean.
I did some art studies off and on but I'm really looking forward to
this course, because the whole point of it is to DRAW. And draw and
draw and draw… it will make me think more artistically. You can
only get so far by knowing every tool on the menu!
I've also started working with clay, forming 3D figures before I start
to model, which has squished my brain in all the right places. <g>
Hopefully this animation course will continue the process.
Good luck with your studies.
Michele