Q: What is Rigging Dojo?
A: Rigging Dojo is the online training center for personal customized training in character rigging and technical arts. See our About page to learn more.
We are asked quite often if we are like another online mentor school or a video learning tutor site and the answer is yes and no, keep reading to find out what sets us apart.
Q: How does the Apprenticeship work?
A: During the registration process the student submits their detailed learning goals for that session with our registration form.
- We review the registration and match you with a mentor with experience in those areas is assigned.
- During your time with your Mentor, you will post work for critique ask questions and work hard.
- The session is asynchronous with out set times or live lectures to attend. All our mentors are working professionals and availability during the week varies.
- Emphasis is on setting expectations based on the goals and timeline of the class and assessment based on the students learning goals.
- Our mentor uses his/her expertise to work with you on your goal with production needs in mind. Therefore, goal can be adjusted by the mentor to better align with production requirements.
Q:What kind of training can I take? Autodesk Maya? MotionBuilder? Python?
A: We personalize our training to each student in our Apprenticeship program, based on desired learning goals approved by the Mentor and Rigging Dojo.
The topics we can teach include but are not limited to …
- Scripting (python, pymel, mel)
- Deformations
- Rigging – foundation
- Rigging- Face
- Rigging- Mechanical
- Motion Capture editing
- MotionBuilder basics
- MotionBuilder rigging
- Math for Visual FX
- Creature and quadruped rigging
Q: How long is a course?
A: Courses are 8 weeks and the Apprenticeship program is 4 weeks. This usually allows enough time to learn important material while limiting the demands on the the students work/life schedule.
Q: When can I start?
A: We’ve recently changed to rolling start dates. We’ll have info on availability shortly. Space is limited since Alumni and existing preregistered applicants get priority seating.
Q: What if the current session is full?
A: As long as you preregistered you will be placed on our waiting list for the next available session. The wait list is priority based where existing students wanting to continue with another session get first choice and then students on the waiting list are added based on registration order and session date selected.
Q: What makes Rigging Dojo different?
A: Every aspect of our service is built on the relationships between student and Mentor as well as student to student. We designed our personal learning site around a customized social networking software. Students and mentors can network and share with each other including following updates like Twitter or Facebook, while still receiving private training and share their latest work, insiprations or ask for help in our Campus Lounge discussion area.
After the course is finished, students are allowed continued access to their training session for review and can continue using the open areas of the school site. If a student enrolls for another personal course they will then be assigned a mentor and training will continue in their “virtual private classroom” keeping all material in one easy to find location.
Q: Will I have homework and be graded?
A: Mentors do assign work to be completed for review and critique in order to help the student improve. Assignments can include but are not limited to a mix of production-like problem solving and tutorials to complete and then uploaded for review. You are responsible for creating work and asking questions in order to have feedback from your Mentor.
Q: How much time per week will I have to work?
A: Depending on what your trying to learn and how fast you are, expect around 10 to 20+ hours per week.
Students have been spending an average of 20 to 80 hours a week working on their topics of choice. Rigging takes dedication, hard work and time to practice. We’ve found the best way for people to learn is to do and review their efforts. It takes focused practice to learn scripting, painting weights and building rigs. No school or training exists that can skip that process. We show you how to work faster and be effective with your techniques, thereby speeding up your learning curve, but we can’t do the work for you.
Q: What are the software and hardware requirements?
A: A computer capable of running Autodesk Maya and MotionBuilder or equivalent software.
- We use Autodesk Maya and Autodesk MotionBuilder software for our courses.
- Our students get free education licenses of the latest Autodesk software with an Autodesk education account.
- A high-speed internet connection for watching video feedback and other video content.
- Firefox or chrome web browser is preferred.
- Additional helpful tools for you to effectively communicate with your instructor would include screen capture software (something like Jing Capture software , CamStudio or Screener), and a microphone or webcam for narrating screen captures and web meetings as needed.
Q: Who are the founders of Rigging Dojo?
A: Josh Carey, Brad Clark and Chad Moore are the founders of Rigging Dojo and directors of the education program and mentors.
The three founders are actively working in production and as educators. We do what we teach and teach what we do. We all have worked together and with clients both on-site and remotely from all over the world. With years of teaching and training experience, including college level courses, short form masterclasses and in-house production training, our experiences make us a uniquely valuable source of knowledge for both amateurs as well as industry professionals. Learn more about the founders.
Q: Tuition cost and pricing and fees ?
A: The Apprenticeship program is $1226 USD with a 10% discounted rate for returning students. Courses are $589.00 and the Air program is 3.99
Currently we waive the Application or Registration fee and include free education software from Autodesk and *Alumni access.
Contact us for special pricing and details on corporate group studio training and educational institution train the trainers programs.
*Alumni access to your course materials, to review as much as needed, and the private community site full of great tips, tricks and special mini-training sessions are included free.
Pricing subject to change.
Q: What is your Refund policy?
The student may cancel the session within the first 5 days and receive a two-thirds refund or the student may request a one time reschedule for the next available session at no cost. If a student cancels during their first session they are not eligible for alumni status and will not have access to the eCampus.
Q: Do I get a certificate of completion?
A: Students receive a certificate of completion at the end of the session that can be turned in to HR if your company offers education reimbursement.
Q: Do you have a newsletter?
A:Yes! Sign up to receive some great content, sent out quarterly
Sign up for our newsletter:
Q: I just want to learn for free, give me tutorials.
A: We offer many ways to find great free training and reference that we share on Rigging Dojo is via our RSS feed, Facebook, and Twitter pages.
You can also check out some student work, free tutorials and other great videos that we like our Vimeo and Youtube channels and on our Rigging Dojo Live Broadcast Archive page.
Q: What if I have more questions?
A: First re-read this FAQ then ask us with our Contact page.
Q: What if I have more questions?
A: Ask us, its easy on our Contact page.
