Animation at LucasArts Game Company

By Sarah Clark
Animation School Directory Columnist

At the SIGGRAPH 2005 interactive entertainment expo, George Lucas expressed his desire to improve artificial intelligence in game animation “to a point where you can talk to the game and it will talk back,” reported Games Industry on August 4, 2005.

George Lucas is known for more than creating the exceedingly popular Star Wars movies. His company also includes a games division known as LucasArts. During the expo, he said that his vision for games was that they become more dramatic, evolving into “intelligent and challenging first-person shooter-type dramas.”

LucasArts Animation and Games

LucasArts is a game designer, developer, and publisher that was founded by George Lucas in 1982. Many of the company's most well-known games are based on Star Wars films and are designed for PC, Playstation 2, Xbox, Nintendo, Gamecube, and other game consoles.

Game Animation

Animators working for LucasArts create 3D character animation. They may be called on to create various types of characters, from cartoonish to realistic. Game animators work with a team of artists in these endeavors, applying both creative and technical skills to create games with strong characters and interesting effects. Skills that animators at LucasArts might possess include mastery of cel animation, acting, dance, figure drawing, 3D character set-up, and character rigging.

Animation School

Animation school is designed to equip you with skills such as those mastered by animators at LucasArts. You'll learn how to design sets, create characters, and use animation technology, in addition to other skills. Animation programs are located all over the country. Find one in your area and begin an education that could lead to an exciting career in animation.

Sources:

• LucasArts Animation

About the Author

Sarah Clark is a freelance writer based in Arlington, Virginia.