degree in animation and vfx la salle campus barcelona

Bachelor in Animation and VFX

Become a professional in 3D computer generated imagery, including special effects and 3D artwork. The Degree in Animation at La Salle Campus Barcelona is the first official undergraduate degree program in Catalonia.

Virtual production

Back to Syllabus

Description: 

Virtual Production is a practical subject that introduces students to the tools and workflows used in contemporary digital production environments. Through Unreal Engine 5, students explore real-time rendering, shading, VFX, procedural generation, animation, and virtual production techniques including green screen integration. The course emphasises hands-on project work, culminating in a collaborative short film that integrates all acquired skills.

Type Subject
Tercer - Obligatoria
Semester
Second
Course
3
Credits
5.00

Titular Professors

Eduardo Jose Reyes Perez
Professor
Previous Knowledge: 

Students are recommended to have basic familiarity with 3D software and real-time engines. Previous experience with any DCC tool (Blender, Maya, Cinema 4D) is an advantage, as is a basic understanding of digital image composition and colour theory.

Objectives: 

  • Acquire practical proficiency in Unreal Engine 5 for real-time scene creation and rendering.
  • Understand and apply shading, lighting, and post-processing techniques.
  • Create visual effects using Niagara particle systems.
  • Use Procedural Content Generation (PCG) tools to build complex environments efficiently.
  • Integrate animation, sequencer, and camera workflows into a coherent production pipeline.
  • Produce a short virtual production piece combining green screen footage with a fully designed digital environment.

Contents: 

Block 1 — Environment & Scene Building Introduction to Unreal Engine 5 editor navigation, Fab asset library and Megascans, landscape and foliage tools, lighting and HDRI backdrops, fog systems, camera setup and scene configuration.

Block 2 — Shading Basic surface materials (plastic, metallic, semi-transparent), texture control, distortion shaders, projection-based materials (mossy rocks), layer/vertex painting, decals, light functions, contact blending, water materials, and post-processing effects (toon shader, cel shading, outline, multi-coloured fog).

Block 3 — Animation, Cameras & Sequencer FBX and ABC animation files, free animation packs, Mixamo integration, sequencer basics, blending animations, camera and post-process settings, rendering output, and an introduction to Motion Design.

Block 4 — Visual Effects (VFX) Introduction to Niagara: GPU sprite, mesh renderer, ribbon renderer, impact hit effects, and flame thrower systems.

Block 5 — Procedural Content Generation (PCG) Point distribution, forest and road generation, spline-based fences, object stacking, simple interiors, landscape material integration with PCG, backrooms generation, and single building creation.

Block 6 — Audio Introduction to MetaSounds: sound management and implementation within Unreal Engine.

Block 7 — Virtual Production Traditional green screen workflows, introduction to the VP lab, compositing digital environments with live-action footage. Final collaborative short film project integrating all previous skills.

Methodology: 

The course is structured around practical studio sessions in which each class introduces a new tool or technique through direct demonstration followed by guided hands-on exercises. Students are expected to replicate and expand on in-class examples autonomously. The final project is developed collaboratively in groups of 3–4, simulating a real production environment. Materials and reference exercises are made available via Google Drive after each session. Feedback is provided individually and collectively throughout the process.

Evaluation: 

ActivityWeightType
Class 1 — Landscape scene (PNG)10%Moderately significant
Class 3 — Shading corridor scene (PNG)25%Highly significant
Class 4 — Animation shot (MP4)10%Moderately significant
Class 5 — Niagara VFX (MP4 + PNG)10%Moderately significant
Class 7 — PCG forest (MP4 OBS)10%Moderately significant
Final project — Virtual Production short film (MP4 + Showcase MP4)35%Highly significant

Evaluation Criteria: 

  • RA.01: Evaluated through the Landscape exercise. Assessed on correct use of terrain tools, asset placement, lighting coherence, and overall compositional quality.
  • RA.02: Evaluated through the Shading/Corridor exercise. Assessed on material variety, technical correctness of shader nodes, and visual integration within the scene.
  • RA.03: Evaluated through the Animation exercise. Assessed on sequencer structure, animation blending quality, camera work, and rendering output.
  • RA.04: Evaluated through the Niagara VFX exercise. Assessed on the use of at least two distinct emitters, visual cohesion of the effect, and technical documentation via screenshots.
  • RA.05: Evaluated through the PCG exercise. Assessed on system complexity, correct use of PCG nodes, and clarity of explanation in the OBS recording.
  • RA.06 & RA.07: Evaluated through the final Virtual Production project. Assessed across all six compulsory categories, group coordination, technical execution, and quality of the showcase recording.

Basic Bibliography: 

  • Epic Games. (2024). Unreal Engine 5 Documentation. https://docs.unrealengine.com
    • ">https://docs.unrealengine.com">https://docs.unrealengine.com
  • Landreneau, E. (2022). Unreal Engine 5: The Complete Beginner's Course. Packt Publishing.

Additional Material: