Effects Essentials
Learn Houdini from top FX artists
Take your first step towards a career as a film & game FX artist
Ever wondered how those mindblowing effects in your favorite films and games are made? Find out how in this Houdini for beginners course. Guided by a your industry mentor, you'll learn Houdini fundamentals and begin creating your own VFX shots from scratch, even without prior experience.
Why study Houdini FX at CG Spectrum:
- Learn from FX artists who have worked on big films & games
- Train on industry software at a Houdini certified school
- Create your own FX shots from scratch
- Choose 1-on-1 or small group classes (max 4 students)
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Start your journey into the film and game industry with CG Spectrum online visual effects school! Be personally mentored by FX artists who have worked at some of the best VFX studios, get plenty of hands-on experience, and graduate with original work for your demo reel.
Enjoy a personalized education experience like no other with unrivalled support and feedback from a mentor who is invested in your success. What a great way to start your career as an FX artist!
*This short course is a prerequisite to the advanced Houdini FX Course and will give you the foundational skills you need to continue on your educational pathway.
Add the Foundations of Effects and save up to 20%
We understand the unique needs of students pursuing careers in creative industries. That's why we offer curated course bundles that align with specific career paths or skill development goals. These bundles are designed to provide comprehensive training while offering cost savings compared to enrolling in individual courses.
Daniel Hourigan
Daniel is a senior Houdini FX artist with 15 years of experience working on blockbusters such as Terminator: Dark Fate, John Wick 3, Aquaman, The Wolverine, and Game of Thrones.
Manager of VFX
Known for John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
Gyuri Kiss
Originally from Hungary, Gyuri's work has taken him all over the world: from Weta in Wellington, to Animal Logic in Sydney, Method in Melbourne, and now Mainframe in Vancouver.
Mentor of Houdini FX
Known for Mad Max: Fury Road
Ben Fox
Ben's worked on high-profile commercials and Unreal Engine VR experiences for projects like Game of Thrones, Interstellar and Ready Player One.
Mentor of Houdini FX
Known for Interstellar VR
Claire Pegorier
Claire has more than 25 years' experience as an FX artist for films and games on projects like Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, X-Men First Class, and Clash of the Titans.
Mentor of Houdini FX
Known for Passengers
The mentors are extremely helpful and knowledgeable.
Prior to enrolling at CG Spectrum's VFX course, I had no experience in creating VFX or using Houdini at all. By the end of the 3rd semester, I was quite comfortable in using Houdini for most simulations, using VEX in place of regular nodes and creating procedural assets.
I went from knowing nothing about FX, to receiving job offers within 6 months of study with CG Spectrum!
I was blown away by the level of personal interaction the 1-on-1 mentorship provides. Having a direct line to an industry veteran as my mentor has been an invaluable resource and has taken my rate of learning to the next level.
I am very excited about how much I have achieved!
Self-teaching is cool if you don't mind getting no interaction or help, and learning older versions of the software. Thankfully, CG Spectrum has given me the total opposite and an opportunity to push myself every step closer to the industry. With great resources at CG Spectrum, I learned not only my craft, but also how to prepare myself to be industry-ready.
