Enter the dynamic world of FX for film, TV, and video games. Learn how to navigate SideFX Houdini - software used in studios worldwide - and harness the power of procedural, node-based workflow techniques to create destruction, explosions, and water simulations.
Why study Houdini FX at CG Spectrum:
Guided by a professional FX artist, you'll practice simulations for cloth, hair, and grains. You will also gain insights into how to optimize your render times to create more impressive and complex scenes that you can use in your portfolio.
Industry Certificate
9 months
20 hrs weekly
Beginner to
Intermediate
December 2nd, 2024
January 6th, 2025
February 3rd, 2025
Weekly live online classes
Video lectures
Mentor feedback
Access to vibrant community
Whether you’re straight out of high school, changing careers, or upgrading skills, our expert-led FX courses help you build practical job skills that prepare you for the industry.
Plan your studies around your work and family commitments
Learn from industry experts who have worked on major films and games
Build practical and relevant job skills that studios are looking for
Pursue your passion and start working sooner with flexible payments
Start with the fundamentals of FX and simulations with Houdini software. Learn scripting with VEX and see how scripts can help create more complex VFX shots. Learn all about particles in Houdini and the concepts behind what drives them. Dive into advanced geometry concepts which will help you build assets for your VFX shots and ultimately destroy them! Apply rendering techniques used in VFX production and start building your first fully rendered shots.
Explore procedural modeling and create a believable destruction shot using Rigid Body Dynamics (RBD). You’ll play with geometry fracturing and a range of FX solvers and constraints (Pin, String, and Glue Constraints) to dictate your simulation’s physical behavior. No FX artist’s skill set is complete without knowing how to blow stuff up! During this semester you’ll also discover how to create feature film quality smoke, fire, and explosions using the Pyro Solver and create impressive destruction shots.
In this term of Houdini training, you’ll get your feet wet with liquid simulations. Practice creating everything from a splash in a pond to a raging ocean, and efficient ways to speed up your render times. You’ll learn how to create simulations for cloth, hair, and grains using the new Vellum solver. By the end of this term, you will have a deep understanding and hands-on experience creating realistic simulations for feature film and TV, along with impressive VFX shots for your portfolio.
The 9-month Foundations Course is the first half of our Career Track, helping you pave your pathway into the creative industries. Gain foundational skills and knowledge that will prepare you for advanced industry training.
Did you know that the subjects you complete in the career track courses can be used to apply for credit toward our accredited degrees and diplomas in the same discipline?
The skills and knowledge you build in any industry-certificate course can be transferred into academic credits through our Advanced Standing and Credit Transfer process. So, if you decide to take your studies to the next level, know that your prior learning will be recognized.
Compare your options and find out which course is right for you.
All Houdini FX classes are taught by industry mentors with years of experience working on films and video games.
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
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
Kate is a VFX artist in the motion picture industry. She primarily works with Houdini, and in her spare time runs a blog based on incorporating scientific ideas in VFX, and general Houdini tips.
Mentor of Houdini FXhoudini
Known for The Boys
With a focus on industry tools and techniques, we help students build their competitive edge with high-quality work they can add to their portfolios. See what they are creating.
Age Minimum
The general minimum age to be able to enroll in our career track courses is 16. We require parent or guardian consent during the enrollment process for applicants under 18.
Students under 16 will require a further assessment before they can officially enrol. This may include an interview with a course advisor and the creation of a study plan to ensure they have considered how they will manage a college-level workload.
English Proficiency
We expect our students to have a good understanding of written and spoken English. There’s no specific ’level'; however, you must be able to understand video tutorials in English (no subtitles) and speak with your mentor in English during your live Q&A session.
Computer Literacy
To be successful in this program, you will need basic computer skills and a computer that meets the minimum specifications (see next question). Some previous knowledge of 3D software would also be beneficial.
This course gives you an excellent understanding of FX fundamentals. Depending on your level of commitment, skills, and portfolio pieces, you may be ready to start applying for entry-level artist positions.
To further hone your skills and increase your hiring potential, the FX Artist Specialization course (available early 2025) is recommended. It covers more complex techniques and includes an entire term dedicated to career development and building your portfolio to prepare you for junior FX jobs such as:
Students also get access to additional career services to support them in their job hunt. The CG Spectrum community is another great resource—you can network and find out about game development job vacancies through graduates and mentors already working in the industry.
Discover more VFX jobs, tips, and salary expectations on our careers page:
To skip any terms in this course, you must show that you have a fundamental understanding of how Houdini works. Your portfolio must demonstrate an understanding of the topics taught in the course. These include:
It’s important that you understand how Houdini works because in this course, the pace is faster, the lessons more complex, and we don’t want you to be confused or fall behind.
A large component of our course is about how to present your effects in the best way possible, so if you have a portfolio but your presentation skills need work then we may still encourage you to start from the beginning to make sure you become the best artist you can be!
I'm so glad I've chosen CG Spectrum's FX course.
I can honestly say that the amount I've learned in a year studying here is more than I could've ever learned in a traditional school or by myself. The mentors are incredibly knowledgeable about their field, and they're very helpful and patient. You get to be a part of an incredible community of talented students and mentors, I think that's one of the biggest advantages that this school offers.
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’m not only learning the essentials of VFX but also key networking tips from my mentor.
I started CG Spectrum with no experience in visual effects. In my opinion, the education with CG Spectrum is the closest to giving me actual industry experience since I’m working alongside an industry vet whilst being taught the fundamentals of my trade. I can comfortably say I have more of a "peer to peer" relationship rather than "teacher to student", making it really easy to share my work and expect solid criticism.
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.
Study options for all skill levels, from short introduction courses to industry career tracks and accredited degrees and diplomas.