Best Ways to Learn Animation

by Michael Sahno

Animation is a field that can encompass a variety of skills, in addition to natural artistic ability. While Animators have historically been artists with a strong talent for sketching and drawing, today’s professionals use tools from the Adobe Creative Cloud or other software suites to create engaging animations.

If you’re interested in learning animation skills, it’s best to have a plan for how and where you’ll use them. The following are a few of the most common positions for animation pros:

  • 2D Animator
  • 3D Animator
  • Special Effects Artist
  • Motion Graphics Designer
  • Animation Software Engineer
  • Video Editor
  • Video Manager

Although animation is often considered part of motion graphics, you may choose to specialize in a particular skill or sector. How you approach training will depend on the specific tools and disciplines you’ll need for your choice.

How Much Do Animators Earn?

Base salaries in the animation field can vary widely, especially if you’re working in advertising or film. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics combines Animators and Special Effects Artists into a single category, with median pay around $78,000 per year. Growing demand for more realistic video games, increasingly better visual effects, and the rise of 3D feature films can all be factors, along with geographic location.

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For more information, consider researching specific positions in your area through online platforms like LinkedIn and ZipRecruiter, or specialized sites for animation professionals like animatedjobs.com.

Multiple Ways to Learn

If you’re new to animation, your approach may be broad-based, unless you already have a particular position in mind. Plenty of professionals begin by mastering tools in the field, but consider these options for learning animation:

Free Online Videos and Articles

There are a host of online resources that can give you an introduction to animation tools and tips. Adobe software is essential for many animation positions, and beginners often start there. Check out Noble Desktop’s free Intro to Adobe After Effects tutorial, for example.

Whatever you absorb from independent research, learning by doing is essential in the animation field. Online articles and free tutorials can provide a baseline, but you’ll want to move on quickly to one of the following approaches.

Individual Courses

One of the best aspects of learning animation is that many course providers offer short workshops for beginners. While you won’t necessarily gain deep knowledge of soft skills like storytelling or artistic ability through a six-hour seminar, you can gain practical understanding of popular programs like Adobe After Effects and Animate.

College or University Degrees

A degree for animators typically involves a lengthy commitment of time and resources. Many animation programs include a Master’s level as well as a Bachelor’s level, with an eye toward careers in areas like film or video games. While that might be your preferred path, animators in fields like aerospace, aviation, or public relations may take an entirely different approach. A formal degree isn’t necessarily part of that plan.

Bootcamps

Among the most popular training alternatives, bootcamps and certificate programs are much more in-depth than single classes, but without the high price and time commitment of a degree. For animation students, the following Noble Desktop programs offer immersive options appropriate for a variety of careers:

  • Motion Graphics Certificate—This certificate program is great for Motion Graphics Designers, but also provides a major portion of the skills required to work in animation. The curriculum includes bootcamps in Adobe After Effects, the use of Cinema 4D in After Effects, and video editing software Premiere Pro.
  • Video Editing & Motion Graphics Certificate—A combination of video editing and motion graphics training includes topics like audio editing with Adobe Audition, plus the After Effects and Cinema 4D bootcamps. Graduates create both a video editing portfolio and motion graphics portfolio in this comprehensive certificate.
  • After Effects Bootcamp—The 18-hour After Effects Bootcamp can also be taken separately, though students save by taking it as part of the Motion Graphics or Video Editing & Motion Graphics Certificate programs. Topics in the After Effects bootcamp include Mocha AE and Keylight, among others.
  • Cinema 4D in After Effects Bootcamp—Like the After Effects Bootcamp, this course is also available as a separate unit. Animations, C4D integration, and 3D modeling are the main focus. Knowledge of After Effects comparable to that gained in the After Effects Bootcamp is a prerequisite for the course.

Students who are not yet ready to commit to a bootcamp can still find animation training through classes like After Effects in a Day. However, it’s best to have at least some knowledge of other Adobe programs, like Photoshop and Illustrator, prior to enrollment.

More About Animation Tools

In addition to industry-standard software like After Effects and Cinema 4D, it’s important that animation pros have some knowledge and training of other tools for video editing and/or motion graphics. Check out the following:

  • Animate—An essential part of Adobe Creative Cloud for many Animators, Adobe offers the tool on a free trial basis. The affordable paid package includes up to 100GB of cloud storage.
  • Blender—Blender is a popular, free, open-source animation program. Beginners can use it to draw in 2D and 3D, and it also has modeling and other features.
  • Mocha AE—The Mocha AE After Effects plugin is for tracking and masking. It offers Adobe Multi-Frame Rendering Support, plus numerous advanced features. You can stream Mocha AE free of charge or purchase it from their website.
  • Autodesk 3ds Max—For modeling and rendering in 3D, check out this program from Autodesk. Works well with Houdini (see below).
  • Maya—Also from Autodesk, Maya is an industry-standard software for 3D animation and visual effects which has been used for major feature films.
  • Houdini—Houdini is a procedural workflow system that gives animation pros the ability to create digital assets without writing code. It works with Cinema 4D, Autodesk 3ds Max, and Maya.

Certifications for Animators

One of the best ways to advance in digitally-centered careers is to add certifications to a resume or CV. While more commonly known among IT and other technical professionals, there are some certifications that can be advantageous for Animators and other pros who use animation.

  1. Autodesk Certified User: Depending on the field where you apply your animation skills, Autodesk may have the perfect certification for you. Sectors include architecture, design, and manufacturing, to name a few.
  2. Apple Certified Pro Applications: Final Cut Pro X: Final Cut Pro X is Apple’s top-flight tool for motion graphics and color grading, among other functions. If your animation career requires Final Cut skills, certification can be an excellent investment.
  3. Adobe Certified Professional in Multiplatform Animation Using Adobe Animate: By now you already know Adobe has a dominant position in the animation software market. Depending on your position, an Animate certification can be the perfect way to shine.

Animation, special effects, and motion graphics careers offer a multitude of opportunities for those with talent and a strong work ethic. If you thrive on creativity, you can succeed in this growing field—whether you become a 3D Modeler, a Motion Graphics Designer, or an Animation Art Director.