Learn computer science through Pixar and the Khan Academy

Finding Dory represents nearly thirty years of innovation and computer science.

Finding Dory represents nearly thirty years of innovation and computer science.

In 1995 Pixar reinvented animation as we know it when they released Toy Story.  Nowadays it is hard to find an animated film that is not built upon a digital animation process.

What many of us fail to understand is the marriage of art, science and technology required to bring these films to life.  There are some incredibly complex technical and artistic challenges which have spawned an industry to deal with making magic come to life through the use of computers in animation.

Pixar have partnered up with the Khan academy to produce a course that aims to introduce secondary students to the world of digital animation and let them use interactive online tools to deal with the challenges and solutions involved in this process of film making.

Whilst Pixar films are generally aimed at a younger audience I can guarantee you that most of the concepts dealt within this course are way beyond that of any elementary student.  This is really aimed at the tween audience with skills in the area of maths and computer science.

It is a shame there is not a simplified course for juniors but I will continue to live in hope...

Take a look at the course for yourself here,