Animation Classes Chicago, IL

Animated films have been around for over a century. Adults may still remember waking up early as children to watch Saturday morning cartoons or renting animated Disney films from the local Blockbuster. However, animation has grown beyond TV shows and movies. Today, animation is commonly found on websites and in advertisements. Most animation is primarily entertaining, but it can also persuade or inform.

All animation goes through a multi-step process before being presented to the public. Animators must start with a concept before they can draft a sequence. Then they elicit feedback and revise many times before finishing a segment.

Contrary to popular belief, animators don’t have to be skilled at drawing. At one time, animators drew sequences by hand. Yet, today’s animators use software to design and create their characters on a screen—software like Adobe After Effects, Adobe Animate, Autodesk Maya, and Blender. Therefore, animators must have familiarity with the basic principles of design as they add color and movement to their animations. Though software adds those elements, it’s still up to the animator to suggest it to the computer.

Animation Careers in Chicago

Chicago has a vast film industry, second only in the U.S. to Hollywood. Cinespace Chicago Film Studios, Chicago Studio City, and the Old North Film Company all call the Windy City their home.

The film industry is just one area in Chicago that employs animators. Animators have many different career options in Chicago. They can work with technology like video games or mobile devices; they may be hired as 2D animators, background artists, character animators, or keyframe animators.

Animators can also branch out, working as motion graphics designers, video editors, or video managers. Designers can make $67,000 on average, and motion graphics designers make roughly $60,000. 2D animators average $73,000. 3D animators can make even more. The upward potential is high for animators in the hot Chicago labor market.

In-Person Animation Classes in Chicago

If joining this fast-paced career seems intriguing, an in-person animation class in Chicago can help you achieve your career goals.

Many schools offer in-person animation courses in the area. The most highly ranked in-person school belongs to Training Connection. They have two courses instructing students to use After Effects 2020: a three-day beginner course and a two-day advanced course. Ascend Training, also relatively highly rated, provides similar courses. Students start with Adobe After Effects Part 1 and may progress to Adobe After Effects Part 2.

Ledet Training and Future Media Concepts also provide instruction in-person in Chicago. With Future Media Concepts, students with prior Photoshop experience can build on their knowledge with three courses in After Effects: beginner, intermediate, or advanced. Ledet Training has one course, Adobe After Effects 101 – After Effects Essentials, providing an overview of the software.

Certstaffix Training, a national company specializing in tech courses, has a location in Chicago. Their classes run a bit differently; students take the course from a computer lab but are taught via a remote instructor. Their single course in Adobe After Effects is for beginners.

Virtual Animation Classes

Fighting the Chicago traffic during rush hour can be frustrating to the most patient adults and a giant waste of time. With Chicago rush hour extending until 7:00 pm or beyond, commuting to an evening course places you right in the middle of the congestion. Virtual courses have all the benefits of in-person courses without the drawback of traffic. Instructors teach these courses live; they’re interactive and hands-on. Attend from the comfort of your home, office, or favorite coffee shop around the corner.

Noble Desktop, the developer of the Classes Near Me tool, provides a site that reviews some of the more popular live online animation courses. Students can learn the skills to become motion graphics designers in Noble’s Motion Graphics Certificate course. It covers software professionals use: Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro, and Cinema 4D Lite. Students walk away with several videos to add to their portfolios.

If students want to specialize in just one animation software, they might find a shorter course more to their liking. The After Effects Bootcamp delves into the details of Adobe’s program, such as creating animations and dynamic transitions. This course is suitable for beginners. Another option for future animators is to specialize in 3D models. The Cinema 4D in After Effects Bootcamp propels students to model 3D assets for animations, transform, then animate them, and create the models using essential tools.

However, some students may want just a small taste of After Effects. Noble Desktop offers both a beginner crash course and an intermediate course. See their website for more details regarding one-day courses.

Noble also offers a deep dive with a Video Editing & Motion Graphics Certificate if you're committed to an intense class. Students will intensively work with Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Audition, and Cinema 4D Lite in this certificate program. Upon completion, they will have several projects to add to their portfolio.

Regardless of your current ability level, there is a live online course that can meet your needs.

Animation Classes for High School Students

NextGen Bootcamp's Animation Summer Bootcamp NYC offers high schoolers an exciting immersion into the world of 2D animation. Held in NYC, this in-person class provides hands-on guidance from expert instructors and an engaging environment to connect with fellow animation enthusiasts. Throughout the first week, students delve into the fascinating history of animation, tracing its evolution from humble beginnings to today's cutting-edge techniques. Then, they immerse themselves in the world of design and animation principles and apply their newfound knowledge to interactive sketching exercises. Students will tackle personal projects that solidify learning and craft a tangible demonstration of their experience.

Week two takes students to the next level with advanced concepts and a final project. Here, they harness cutting-edge animation techniques, sound design, and timing to craft professional-grade projects. Additionally, students learn the art of storyboarding to bring narratives to life. The culmination of the course is a final project where students showcase their skills and receive feedback from peers and instructors, building their confidence and igniting a passion for animation. Students who complete the bootcamp receive a certificate of completion, which is sure to make an impression in college applications and job searches.

For those unable to attend in-person, Animation Summer Bootcamp Live Online offers a convenient alternative. Led by experienced instructors, this live, interactive course mirrors the in-person experience. Students receive remote setup assistance and work on the same hands-on projects using Zoom technology, enabling real-time interaction with instructors and fellow participants. Instructors can even access student screens to offer real-time assistance and demonstrations.

The online course covers the same cutting-edge content as the NYC bootcamp, immersing students in design and animation principles through hands-on exercises and state-of-the-art techniques. They explore the intricacies of timing to create lifelike projects that evoke mood, weight, and power. By the course's end, students emerge equipped with professional-grade skills, showcased through a final online project where they receive feedback from peers and instructors. Whether in-person or online, NextGen Bootcamp's Animation Summer Bootcamp offers a dynamic learning experience that nurtures creativity, builds skills, and prepares students for future endeavors in animation and beyond.

Corporate & Onsite Animation Training in Chicago

Sometimes pushing your company to that next level begs for additional training. Noble Desktop has several options for onsite or live corporate animation training that will satisfy your company’s requirements. They can bring the training to you at your place of business. Don’t have a space that works to host a training? No matter. Noble can arrange live online training through Zoom or a similar teleconferencing platform.

If getting everyone together in a training at the same time is too much of a headache, Noble allows companies to purchase vouchers for Noble’s open enrollment group classes and receive discounts for purchasing multiple. That way, all employees can get essential training at times that fit their schedules. Contact Noble Desktop for more information or to schedule a training.