18-Month Master’s Program
CGI & VFX
An intensive 18-month master’s program to learn and master the complete CGI pipeline.
A program that combines artistic, technical, and technological skills, integrating the use of artificial intelligence to optimize workflows and enhance creativity.
From modeling to final rendering, this master’s program prepares 3D artists to work in film, advertising, and animation, offering the same rigorous training as three-year degree programs but in a shorter timeframe and with an intensive approach.
Course Description
Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) is at the heart of today’s visual entertainment industry: movies, TV series, commercials, cutscenes, and video games are created using increasingly sophisticated digital pipelines.
The Master’s in CGI + AI trains artists to manage every stage of this process, from modeling to compositing, combining technical precision, visual sensitivity, and knowledge of professional workflows.
The course is divided into two modules:
Foundations: We start from SCRATCH, focusing on building the fundamentals of CGI: modeling, texturing, shading, lighting, and rendering.
Advanced: Focused on specialization, advanced courses, and the creation of complex projects in teams, covering FX simulations, look development, and the integration of AI into rendering and compositing pipelines.
Thanks to a full-immersion approach—with 8-hour daily classes and instructors always present in the classroom—students work as if in a real production studio, collaborating with the Compositing, Animation, Directing, and Video Games to develop group thesis projects intended for international festivals and awards such as Annecy, The Rookies, and La Notte dei Draghi d’Oro.
Key Competencies
Comprehensive CGI pipeline: knowledge of all stages of digital production, from modeling to final rendering.
3D modeling and sculpting: creation of organic and hard-surface assets for films, commercials, and video games.
Advanced Texturing and Shading: Developing Realistic Materials Using PBR Approaches and AI-Assisted Tools.
Look development: visual definition of assets and environments, management of lighting, colors, and stylistic rendering.
Lighting and Cinematic Rendering: Using Professional Rendering Engines and Optimizing Scenes.
FX and dynamic simulations: generating physical and natural effects that can be integrated into production pipelines.
Compositing and CGI-live-action integration: merging multi-pass renders and footage to finalize the image.
AI in the production pipeline: automation of texturing, lighting, simulation, and compositing processes using AI tools.
Technical and creative supervision: understanding the studio workflow and cross-departmental communication.
Riccardo Meneghello
COURSE DIRECTOR
He embodies his profession to the fullest with the enthusiasm of someone who has gone on to work for top production companies like WETA FX (the creators of “The Lord of the Rings” and “Avatar”). This is the essence of Riccardo, who guides the Academy’s students through the most complex aspects of CGI, achieving incredible results.
He is now an Asset Supervisor at Side Animation Studio and the head of the CGI course at Side Academy.
How to participate: In-person or hybrid? Choose the option that's right for you!
In-person
The traditional format involves daily attendance in the classroom: the instructor is always present, and each class takes place in one of the academy’s classrooms, featuring theoretical sessions, labs, and real-time practical reviews.
This format fosters direct collaboration with classmates and faculty, provides immediate access to equipment, and offers an immersive experience in professional study environments.
Hybrid
To offer greater flexibility, a hybrid track is also available that combines online learning with in-person participation: There will be workshops with guest speakers or specialized labs that can be attended in person. This model allows participants to take part in some of the activities remotely while still attending in-person classroom and lab sessions on-site.
ALL LESSONS AND WORKSHOPS ARE RECORDED AND MADE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS.
Student Gallery
Laboratories and Technologies
- Motion capture studio for character and creature animation, integrated with the Unreal and Maya pipelines
Photogrammetry and 3D scanning studio for digitizing actors, objects, and scale models
Traditional sculpture workshops using life models and plasticine models to study anatomy and volume
FX and Simulation Department for Fluids, Cloth, Particles, and Advanced Dynamics
AI Lab workstation for testing visual generation tools and optimizing production workflows
The course takes place in labs that replicate the workflow of a real digital film production.
Students alternate between hands-on and digital activities, exploring every stage of the creative process—from anatomical and sculptural studies to photorealistic CGI reconstructions of characters and creatures, photography and film directing on green/blue screen sets, and final compositing.
Experience and Awards
The Rookies – Film of the Year & Rookie of the Year for 3D Animation/VFX
Every year, Side Academy participates in the Rookie Awards, the most prestigious international competition for students of CGI, VFX, and digital animation.
The projects developed over the three-year program are submitted in the Film of the Year and Rookie of the Year categories , gaining global visibility and feedback from professionals at leading film production studios.
The Night of the Golden Dragons
An exclusive event organized in conjunction with the Venice Film Festival, celebrating the best graduation projects and student productions.
An evening dedicated to creativity and technical excellence, featuring screenings, awards ceremonies, and opportunities to engage with guests from the VFX industry.
International Collaborations and Workshops
The course includes workshops and reviews with artists from companies such as Weta FX, Framestore, MPC, Axis Studios, and other leading production companies.
Through these experiences, students compare their work to professional standards and gain an understanding of how major studios operate.
JUDGES OF THE ROOKIES
Each year, the projects developed by Side Academy students are evaluated by an international jury from The Rookies, composed of high-profile professionals from leading animation, VFX, and motion graphics studios.
The judges include supervisors, lead artists, and senior artists from companies such as Weta FX, Framestore, Industrial Light & Magic, DreamWorks, and DNEG, who draw on their expertise to evaluate entries in the 3D Animation, VFX, and Film of the Year categories.
This direct exposure to industry standards allows students to measure themselves against real professional criteria and gain international visibility.
Short stories published in *The Rookies*
Green/Blue Screen Set
Art Workshop: Sculpture and Life Drawing
Course Structure
FORM
FIELD OF STUDY
OBJECTIVES AND RESULTS
Foundations
Fundamentals of CGI and Digital Production
Introduction to the Computer-Generated Imagery Pipeline. Students learn the basics of 3D modeling, texturing, shading, and lighting by working on practical exercises and simple scenes. The course covers the principles of digital photography, color theory, and visual composition, as well as an introduction to artificial intelligence applied to the generation of assets and textures. The program aims to build a solid technical and creative foundation to enable students to approach the subsequent stages with confidence.
Advanced
Advanced Manufacturing and Specialization
In-depth technical and artistic training and work on comprehensive professional pipelines. Students develop complex projects involving look development, cinematic lighting, visual effects, and multi-pass rendering. They experiment with real-time integrations using Unreal Engine, the use of AI tools to optimize simulations and rendering, and collaborative workflows with the Animation, Compositing, and Directing departments. The master’s program culminates in a group thesis project, supervised by Side Academy faculty and Side Animation studio, which is eligible for submission to the Rookie Awards, the Notte dei Draghi d’Oro, and the Venice Film Festival.
COURSE SYLLABUS
Introduction to the CGI Pipeline: A Comprehensive Overview of the Digital Production Phases.
Basic 3D Modeling: Creating organic and hard-surface assets in Maya and Blender.
Texturing and Shading: Creating Realistic Materials with Substance Painter and PBR Principles.
Lighting and Digital Photography: Using Light as a Narrative and Technical Tool.
Multipass rendering: basic setup with Renderman and AOV layer management.
Color and Visual Composition: Principles of Color Theory and Aesthetic Coherence.
Introduction to AI in CGI: Texture Generation and Optimization, Reference Art, and Concept Art.
Design and Basic Elements: Individual exercises to create simple scenes.
Supervised mini-project: creation of a first shot or still using the complete pipeline.
Objective: To develop a solid technical and artistic foundation for understanding and independently managing the CGI pipeline, in preparation for advanced-level work.
Advanced modeling: creating complex characters, creatures, and environments.
Look development and advanced shading: visual definition of materials and surfaces for films and advertising.
Cinematographic lighting: the use of physically accurate lighting and scene composition for visual storytelling.
FX and dynamic simulations: fire, smoke, fluids, cloth, and particle effects integrated into the production pipeline.
High-performance rendering: using Renderman, Arnold, and real-time engines such as Unreal Engine.
AI tools applied to CGI: automation of lighting, rendering, and simulation processes.
Compositing and color integration: combining multi-pass renders and color grading to create the final image.
Production workflow: teamwork, version control, and review using ShotGrid.
Interdisciplinary collaboration: joint projects with the Animation, Compositing, and Directing courses.
Group project: production of a short film, an animation, or an FX sequence supervised by Side Animation.
Objective: To master the entire CGI pipeline, manage complex projects, and create collaborative productions at professional levels in the film and visual effects industry.
THESIS PROJECTS
The final project serves as a culmination of the educational program and the students’ first real experience with a complete production.
Students develop an original project that integrates all the skills they have acquired—from modeling to simulation, and from rendering to compositing—while working in roles and using methodologies similar to those in the industry.
Divided into groups, each person takes on specific artistic and technical roles.
The final project serves as a concrete demonstration of artistic autonomy and professional maturity.
Software & Tools
Autodesk Maya – Modeling, Rigging, Animation, and Lighting
ZBrush – Digital Sculpting and 3D Concept Art
Substance 3D Painter / Designer – Texturing and PBR Materials
Houdini – Procedural FX, Simulations, and Environment Generation
RenderMan / Arnold / Unreal Engine – Photorealistic Rendering and Look Development
Mari – procedural texturing, micro-detailing for characters and creatures
Nuke – Compositing and Integration of 3D and Live-Action Elements
DaVinci Resolve – Color Grading, Editing, and Finishing
RealityCapture – Photogrammetry and 3D Capture
MetaHuman Creator – Digital Humans and Facial Animation
AI Tools – Visual Generation and Workflow Optimization
Pixar's rendering engine
Side Academy is one of the few schools in the world authorized to use and teach RenderMan, the rendering engine developed by Pixar Animation Studios.
RenderMan is an industry standard in film production, used in Oscar-winning productions for its ability to combine visual fidelity and high performance.
Through dedicated exercises and pipelines integrated with Maya and Houdini, students learn advanced techniques in shading, lighting, and physically accurate rendering, exploring the same methodologies used in world-class animation and VFX studios.
Career Opportunities
The three-year CGI + AI program trains professionals in innovative arts who can work in the artistic and technical departments of animation, VFX, and post-production studios, both in the film and advertising industries.
The multidisciplinary curriculum enables students to develop a well-rounded skill set, allowing them to contribute effectively to all stages of digital production.
3D Generalist
Character Artist / Creature Artist
Lighting Artist
Lookdev / Texturing Artist
3D Animator
FX Artist / Houdini Artist
Compositing Artist (Nuke)
Rendering TD / Shading Artist
Layout and Previs Artist
Digital Sculptor / Modeler
AI Technical Artist
TD Pipeline / Production Assistant
FAQ:
Absolutely! All courses start with the basics, so no artistic or programming skills are required. We want to train new artists regardless of their educational background.
With the HYBRID format, we allow those who need to take the course ONLINE to also have the option of attending certain in-person labs, workshops, or events.
We recommend having a PC or Mac at home that can run professional software, so that students can continue working on their projects from home. For those taking the online course, you’ll also need: an internet connection, a graphics tablet, a microphone to communicate with instructors, and headphones. The webcam, on the other hand, is optional.