For semi-beginners
Prioritizes hands-on workflows and a finished 15-20 second cinematic
clip at the end)
By the end of the course learners will have:
1. A UE5 cinematic scene with a character-driven story moment
2. Rendered video clip (15-20 seconds) with lighting, animation, and basic VFX
1. Project Setup & Basics (1.5 hours)
Objective: Build a foundational scene and learn Sequencer
● Import Quixel environment assets (e.g., cliffs, foliage) and a MetaHuman character or any other types of assets to create a scene
● Build a simple environment (e.g., abandoned temple, alleyway) using Nanite meshes. Basics of level design for cinematics (framing, focal points)
● Sequencer crash course: add cameras, keyframe a basic pan shot
2. Character Animation (2.5 hours)
Objective: Animate a character and integrate into Sequencer
● Import MetaHuman + assign Animation Starter Pack (walk, idle). Add animation packs / assets and use them
● Keyframe a 5-second interaction (e.g., picking up a sword, looking around)
● Sync animations to Sequencer: blend camera cuts with character actions
3. Lighting & Mood (1 hours)
Objective: Enhance atmosphere to tell a story
● Lumen lighting: Add directional light + spotlights for drama. Adjust shadows and color temperature
● Post-processing: depth of field, vignette, and color grading
4. Final Polish & Rendering (2 hours)
Objective: Export a polished cinematic sequence
● Refine Sequencer timing: add camera shake, audio (SFX/music), and subtitle tracks (if needed)
● Render settings: 1080p or 4K, 24fps, Movie Render Queue for anti-aliasing
● Export review + troubleshooting (common issues: lighting flicker, animation pops)
Key Time-Saving Tips
● Use premade assets (MetaHumans, Quixel scans) to skip modeling.
● Focus on 1-2 animations (e.g., “walk to stop” + “look around”) to avoid complexity.
● Save Sequencer presets for cameras/lighting to reuse later.