Strengthen your creative storytelling skills with animation courses focused on timing, rhythm, and digital illustration. You’ll learn how motion and design combine to express ideas visually.
Learn to create compelling video content with Adobe After Effects. This course covers the basics of animation, text effects, and file integration needed to start creating impressive visual content from scratch. Get hands-on experience with real-world projects taught by an experienced instructor.
Learn motion graphics and visual effects with Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro. Develop your skills in animation, video editing, and special effects, and create a motion graphics demo reel to showcase your work to potential clients or employers.
Learn how to use Adobe Premiere Pro to create professionally edited videos in this comprehensive class. From importing and organizing footage to advanced editing techniques like multi-cam editing and green screen removal, this course will equip you with the skills to create compelling video content.
Dive into the dynamic world of Adobe After Effects with this advanced course, designed to elevate your animation and motion graphics skills. From mastering 3D layers and custom shapes to optimizing animations with expressions, you'll create captivating visuals that stand out in any project.
This course unlocks the power of Adobe After Effects, teaching you to create stunning visual effects and professional-grade motion graphics. Master techniques like motion tracking, compositing, and time remapping to take your video projects to new heights of creativity and impact.
Become a skilled Video Editor and Motion Graphics Designer by learning Adobe Premiere Pro, and After Effects. Develop creative techniques and concepts for editing videos, and showcase your skills by creating a professional demo reel.
Animation is the process of bringing still images to life through rapid picture-taking. Animations often have intricate designs and mimic movement to portray a scene and tell a story. It is an incredibly inventive concept that dates back to ancient Greece with depictions on pottery, but traditional, hand-drawn animation was created in the early 1900s. Today, most animations are created digitally using different software and digital tools.
Most animation professionals consider this an enjoyable career path because it blends creative skills, storytelling, and technical abilities. It can be used in media ranging from commercials and social media posts to film and video game design. Overall, animation is a diverse and extensive field that shows no signs of slowing as the world becomes more modern and digitized.
A world of opportunity opens once you master animation. Experts have many job positions to choose from across virtually any industry where marketing, entertainment media, or electronic screens are used. Plus, most animation jobs require the employee to have a blend of technical and creative skills, which makes the job rewarding. Not to mention, many of these jobs are relatively profitable.
Although most learn animation for professional reasons, there are personal benefits as well. For instance, students could learn animation for a creative project or add flair to their blogs, social media posts, and webpages. They could also land a part-time animation specialist role or use their animation skills to spread the word about their side hustles.
Additionally, learning animation can open new doors for related creative endeavors. Students may find interest in motion graphics, video creation, and photo editing as a result of their animation studies. This means there is a wide variety of software, technologies, and tools that students could learn such as Adobe Creative Cloud applications and even coding languages.
Generally speaking, most animation classes will teach certain Adobe applications, like After Effects and Animate. They will also focus on the importance of storytelling, as many animation professionals help communicate a specific message through their designs. In connection, design theory may also be discussed, particularly in beginner-level courses. Additionally, motion graphics are often taught in tandem with animation since they are closely related skills. Students may often learn Cinema 4D for more complex, advanced-level designs.
It can be challenging to learn animation, but it is possible with the right training. Some may find it difficult to learn the wide range of software and digital tools required in animation. Others may hit a mental wall during the design process or have trouble conveying the message to their intended audience. However, it is easier to learn the basics. Starting with a beginner-level course is necessary as becoming an expert in animation is more challenging.
Most agree that the most challenging skills to master while learning animation are patience and precision. Animation is a lengthy process that requires strong attention to detail, so Animators must take their time and focus their energies entirely on the project to produce a professional-level animation. There are some learning curves with the software, but with practice, these difficulties subside.
It may take students time to feel comfortable with basic and intermediate-level animation concepts and tools. It will take more time to master animation and its related skills, so students should set aside more time to feel entirely confident in their animation abilities. However, proper training and portfolio-building projects can help students master animation much more quickly.
Asynchronous courses are self-paced and allow students to complete their coursework within a determined amount of time. This is a realistic course option for those with ample previous experience or who have strict schedules, but less so for beginners. Asynchronous classes are hands-off and lack interaction from instructors and classmates, which can make the learning process more difficult. The student often sets aside time to research answers to their questions and troubleshoot errors.
Live online courses bridge the gap between convenience and effective learning by offering students thorough instruction from the comfort of their homes. Students often provide their course materials, but the lack of commute makes up for this. Additionally, the instructor can answer questions and help students through the troubleshooting process if an issue should arise. There are ample course options so those who live in rural areas can still learn new skills.
In-person learning is a traditional learning method often touted as the most effective due to the hands-on, interactive learning process. Students will need reliable transportation and time to commute but will benefit greatly from learning alongside like-minded peers. In addition, the instructor will provide ample feedback on design projects and can clarify any confusion in real-time.
Aspiring animators can find free online resources to help with their learning process. There are video collections, social media pages, blogs, and websites dedicated to animation concepts and education. For instance, Noble Desktop’s free seminar page provides pre-recorded lectures on varying topics, including animation and related software. There are chat rooms as well where troubleshooting ideas can be shared. However, these are simply supplemental to the learning process. To become an expert, enrolling in professional training is the best course of action.
Having a wide variety of skills can lead to more job opportunities and professional advancements. Video and photo editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro, Illustrator, and Photoshop will be useful to learn as an animation specialist as they are often used in the beginning stages of a design project. These applications can often be useful in combination with animation software like Adobe Animate.
It will also benefit students to learn additional skills relevant to their intended field. For example, professionals in architecture and interior design will need to learn computer-aided design software like AutoCAD. Graphic Designers will learn animation software but need skills in a variety of other tools like Figma or Sketch. Regardless, to become a well-developed Animator, it is useful to have a wide range of capabilities.
Many industries hire animation experts for varying reasons. The most obvious is the entertainment industry, which requires animators for film and video game projects. Additionally, the marketing industry uses animation tools for various digital marketing campaigns. Those who work in the education industry may use animation techniques while teaching new topics or as a way to entice students to apply. Lastly, the architecture industry uses 3D animation to offer realistic outcomes for their upcoming projects.
Animation specialists can find jobs all across the country for numerous companies. Below are a few job roles and corresponding salaries for those with animation expertise.
Graphic Designers create digital and physical media typically for marketing and messaging purposes. In particular, they use animations, graphics, text, images, and color to convey information to consumers. They use various design and animation software and work with other design professionals. A Graphic Designer in the United States earns an average salary of $50,000 but can expect a salary ranging anywhere from $39,000 to $60,000. However, with experience and ample education, some salaries can reach six digits.
A Digital Designer also makes animations, graphics, and digital effects for varying projects like websites, advertisements, publications, and applications. Digital Designers must have keen design skills, strong attention to detail, and various technical skills. They frequently work with other designers and can often find freelance opportunities. They earn an average salary of nearly $95,000 but can range anywhere from $70,000 to upwards of $150,000 depending on factors like education level or the specific company.
3D Animators have strong animation skills to mimic realistic movement, add depth to the designs, and tell a compelling story. They frequently work in the entertainment industry such as for amusement parks and video game companies. They are incredibly creative and have strong drawing, technical, and communication skills. 3D Animators commonly earn a yearly salary ranging from $50,000 to $70,000, but this can differ depending on time spent in the field and level of education.
A Motion Graphic Designer mocks up and creates animations and visual effects for film, software, video games, applications, and other digital spaces. They can find work in many industries and often work alongside animators and other design professionals and typically spend their workday creating graphics, sketching, drafting designs, and applying computer-generated imagery (CGI) to characters. Their annual salary is around $78,000 but can range from $42,000 to over $100,000.
At Noble Desktop, students can enroll in the Motion Graphics Certificate course. Through hands-on projects, students will learn to use Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro, and Cinema 4D to create animations, edit videos, create special effects, and develop a motion graphics reel. They will practice various techniques to make the most advanced, visually pleasing media. Students can choose from different payment plans and have five private mentoring sessions outside of class. They can also retake the course for free within a year of their original enrollment. Plus, students receive a verified digital certificate of completion at the end of the training.
Students can also take the After Effects Bootcamp at Noble Desktop, which provides a thorough overview of motion graphics and animation techniques. Students will create animations, 3D objects, and other professional designs. They will work with their virtual peers and a motion graphics instructor on different projects and have access to setup assistance, a private bonus training session, and a free retake within one year. They will also receive their verified digital certificate of completion once the course ends.
The Adobe After Effects 101: Essentials course from Ledet Training is three days of in-depth training in After Effects for film, presentations, web-based projects, and e-learning designs. Students will also use Photoshop and Illustrator to enhance designs before adding more advanced animation and visual effects through After Effects. Before enrolling in the class, students should have some knowledge of Photoshop but can be novice users of After Effects.
Certstaffix Training offers a three-day Adobe Animate (2020) class. Students will learn how to create animations, use animation controls, collaborate with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications, and add realistic movements to animations. Students will have access to a software lab and a free repeat of the course within six months. They will also receive a digital badge and a certificate of completion to include on resumes or LinkedIn pages. This course also prepares students for the Adobe Animate Certification Exam.
In addition, The Knowledge Academy has an Animation and Design Training course where students gain hands-on experience creating graphics in Adobe Animate and building content with UI components. They will also learn the most useful design tools such as the pencil, paintbrush, eraser, and pen tools. Students in this course will have access to full IT support, free WiFi on-site, and video equipment.
The School of Motion provides a 12-week Animation Bootcamp that provides students with an all-encompassing animation education. Students will jump right in by learning how keyframes affect animation, working with curved motion, and mastering realistic movements. In addition, students will complete a final project designed to challenge the student's skills and display their newly acquired skills. Students should have some experience with Adobe After Effects before this class, equal to that of School of Motion’s eight-week introductory After Effects course. They will also receive a certificate of completion with adequate scoring and assignment completion.
Corporate training is beneficial for companies that want to improve their skills and teamwork. There are plenty of animation offerings to suit your group’s needs. Noble Desktop, for example, provides in-person and online training across the country that is thorough, effective, and informational.
Noble Desktop also lets organizations purchase bulk vouchers for attendance in regular classes at a discounted rate. This is an advantageous opportunity as it gives your employees the chance to learn new skills that can transfer into the workplace. For more information, please contact Noble Desktop at corporate@nobledesktop.com to learn more about training options, scheduling, and pricing.