Chapman University

At Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, Houdini is taught across several courses within the Animation and Visual Effects (AVE) program, with a strong emphasis on simulation, procedural workflows, and professional production pipelines. These courses are designed to progressively develop student skills from foundational knowledge to advanced FX production: 

AVE 269: Simulations for 3D Effects 
Introductory Course 

This course introduces students to Houdini as a powerful tool for procedural 3D animation and visual effects. It focuses on core concepts such as the node-based workflow, basic modeling, lighting, and rendering, along with entry-level simulations including particles, fluids, and rigid body dynamics. Students complete small projects designed to build familiarity with Houdini’s unique procedural environment. 

AVE 369: Visual Effects: Fundamental Techniques and Technologies  
Advanced Simulation Course 

Building upon AVE 269, this intermediate course dives deeper into complex particle systems, fluid dynamics, rigid body simulations, volumetrics, and advanced procedural modeling. Students learn to optimize simulations for performance and quality while developing portfolio-ready projects. Shader and lighting design using Redshift are also covered to enhance rendered output. 

AVE 379: Advanced Techniques and Technologies for VFX  
Project-Based Course 

In this advanced, project-driven course, students select a single VFX shot and develop it throughout the semester using Houdini. The focus is on planning, executing, and troubleshooting complex FX such as destruction, fire, smoke, or magic simulations. Emphasis is placed on matching live-action plates (when applicable), managing large-scale simulations, and integrating FX with production-level rendering and compositing workflows. 


Houdini is also supported through faculty mentorship, thesis guidance, and integration in compositing courses such as AVE 242: Compositing for Visual Effects, where Houdini-generated passes are brought into Nuke for final output. Students regularly use Houdini across multiple semesters to contribute to thesis films, competition entries, and portfolio development. 

In total, Houdini is used across more than 30 hours of instruction and project work per semester, spanning beginner to advanced levels, making it a core component of Chapman’s VFX curriculum.