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If you grew up watching iconic animated films and television programs produced by Disney and DreamWorks, such as The Lion King or Toy Story, you might feel inspired to create your own animations. This article provides a curated list of both free and paid online Animation courses, distilled from a vast catalog of over 4,000 options.
For convenience, you can navigate through the shortcuts provided below for more detailed information.
Top Picks for Animation Courses
Understanding Animation
Animation is a captivating art form that animates still images by arranging a series of frames into rapid succession, creating the illusion of motion. This technique can be traced back to the 1830s with the invention of the zoetrope by William George Horner, which effectively demonstrated these principles by spinning an image sequence. The discipline encompasses various methods, such as traditional hand-drawn techniques, stop-motion, and computer-generated imagery.
Animation serves as a fundamental medium in a multitude of platforms, including film, television, gaming, and advertising, offering infinite stylistic possibilities ranging from lifelike representations to imaginative abstractions.
Career Opportunities and Salary Insights in Animation
Professionals in animation include a range of roles such as animators, storyboarding artists, concept developers, character designers, riggers, compositors, and technical directors, among others.
As reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor, the median annual salary for animators in the United States stands at approximately $99,000 in 2023, though figures can vary significantly based on factors such as geographical location, level of experience, and the respective employer. Other countries may exhibit a much wider range in salaries influenced by local economic conditions and demand for animation specialists.
Overview of Courses Available
In total, these selected courses boast over 128,000 enrollments. Among them, two are free or available for free auditing, while seven are paid options. The platform with the most offerings in this space is Udemy, with a total of four courses featured. Additionally, the Animation subject has more than 19,000 followers on Class Central.
1. How to Animate | COMPLETE FREE COURSE
Instructor: Matthew Fryer
In this free course, you’ll explore the complete process of animation, from script development to audio recording, alongside essential animation techniques. This instructional series aims to give you a holistic understanding of the animation journey.
You will learn:
- Script and storyboard creation
- Character design fundamentals
- Creation of animatics
- Background and title card design
- Insights into animation best practices
- Exhibition of your finished work
2. Learn to Animate: Animation Principles
Instructor: Siobhan Twomey
This course serves as an introduction to classic 2D animation techniques using Adobe Animate. By engaging with concepts such as keyframes and timing charts, you will gain skills necessary to create captivating 2D animations.
You will learn:
- Core principles of animation for realistic motion
- Techniques to animate basic shapes
- More advanced tips for enhancing animations
- A strong foundation for further studies in storyboarding
3. Hand-Drawn Digital Animation: Bring Illustrations to Life
Instructor: Yukai Du
This course focuses on turning your unique illustrations into vibrant animations using tools such as Photoshop, After Effects, and Animate. You’ll combine illustration techniques with 2D animation, allowing for striking visual storytelling.
You will learn:
- Transforming hand-drawn illustrations into animations
- Project planning techniques, from storyboards to color palettes
- Basic and advanced skills in animation software
- Creating visual narratives that communicate complex ideas
4. Mixed Media Animation in Procreate
Instructor: Caroline Kjellberg
This course delves into frame-by-frame animation using Procreate, guiding you through the creative process from start to finish. You will design your own mixed media looping animation, utilizing both photography and traditional animation methods.
You will learn:
- The end-to-end animation process
- Integrating photography with animation
- Creating dynamic animations with sound effects
- Best practices for sharing animated content
5. Storyboarding for Animation: How to Illustrate and Design for Successful Motion
Instructor: Sarah Beth Morgan
This course is designed to enhance your creative planning skills for freelance work, providing a structured progression from initial concept to finalized storyboard.
You will learn:
- Project planning essentials
- Developing mood boards to define style
- Creating storyboards to sketch narrative actions
- Incorporating color and detail into scene designs
6. Complete Animation Workflow (Adobe Character Animator Tutorial)
Instructor: Dave Werner
This free course offers a comprehensive overview of the animation workflow, covering scriptwriting to keyframe animation using Adobe Character Animator.
You will learn:
- Process of developing an animated project
- Utilizing various Adobe tools effectively
- Enhancing animations with dynamic performances
7. Maya for Beginners: Complete Guide to 3D Animation in Maya
Instructor: Lucas Ridley
This extensive course will help you navigate the world of 3D animation in Autodesk Maya, covering essential skills for aspiring animators in the film, music, and gaming sectors.
You will learn:
- Character rigging and animation techniques
- Editing and enhancing animated performances
- Keyframe animation and rendering processes
8. Ultimate Blender 3D Character Creation & Animation Course
Instructor: Alex Cordebard
This course provides an in-depth look at 3D character creation using Blender 2.8, encompassing modeling, texturing, and animation principles.
You will learn:
- Complete character creation techniques
- Animating characters for realistic motion
- Using Blender’s tools for effective animation
9. LEARN 3D ANIMATION: Create Credible & Unique Animations
Instructor: David Omair Fuertes Martin
This course offers foundational and advanced principles for creating believable 3D animations that resonate with viewers.
You will learn:
- Accurate animation techniques
- Stages of professional animation creation
- Character development with distinct personalities
Why Trust This Guide
Class Central serves as an established resource for online education, boasting a user base of 100 million learners. Over the past decade, we have curated a comprehensive catalog featuring 250,000 online courses alongside countless user reviews. Our team comprises seasoned online learners who have collectively completed over 400 courses across various subjects.
As an instructor and beta tester at Coursera, I have firsthand experience with numerous online courses, which informs my recommendations. Each choice in this guide is based on careful evaluation and consideration of quality indicators.
Methodology Behind Course Selection
Finding top-rated courses can be overwhelming. Here’s how I approached the process:
Initially, I explored Class Central’s catalog and other online repositories for a variety of free and paid options, some of which come with certificates. I focused on a diverse selection of animation topics and teaching styles.
When making selections, I considered the following criteria:
- Reputation of Institutions: Preference was given to well-known organizations in the animation field.
- Instructor Expertise: Instructors with substantial animation experience and engaging teaching methods were prioritized.
- Popularity Metrics: I reviewed enrollment numbers and course views to identify widely embraced courses.
- Comprehensive Content: Courses covering both foundational and advanced topics were examined.
- User Feedback: Learner reviews provided insights into the quality of the courses, utilizing resources from Class Central for a balanced perspective.
Following this assessment process, I delineated the scope of the recommended courses, ensuring coverage across various animation niches. The final selections emerged from a blend of analytical data and personal insights, ensuring reliability in these course recommendations.
Additional contributions to this article come from my colleagues, Fabio and Pat, who provided valuable feedback during revisions.
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