Learn More About Animation Classes in Long Island
Animation is the captivating art of bringing still images to life through movement. At its core, it involves creating a sequence of slightly different images that, when displayed rapidly, give the illusion of motion. This creative practice dates back to early visual devices such as the zoetrope and phenakistoscope, which fascinated audiences with their spinning animated sequences.
Modern animation began to take shape in the late 19th century with the invention of the motion picture camera. Pioneers like Émile Cohl and Winsor McCay laid the foundation with hand-drawn animations, introducing audiences to expressive characters and imaginative storytelling. The industry experienced a major breakthrough in 1928 when Walt Disney released Steamboat Willie, the first animation with synchronized sound, marking the debut of Mickey Mouse and establishing animation as a mainstream entertainment medium.
Today, animation has evolved into a diverse and versatile art form, including traditional hand-drawn techniques, computer-generated imagery (CGI), stop-motion, and hybrid styles that combine multiple approaches. It plays a vital role in film, television, advertising, video games, education, and digital media, demonstrating its wide-ranging impact across industries.
For aspiring animators, mastering this craft offers endless creative opportunities. By blending imagination, technical expertise, and storytelling, animators can transform ideas into vivid, dynamic experiences that engage and inspire audiences around the world.
Industries in Long Island That Rely on Animation
Animation provides options for a variety of jobs related to graphic design and digital media. As part of the New York City metropolitan area, Long Island offers career opportunities related to animation that can be used to work in entertainment, information technology, or educational media. Animators use design software to create content to use in movies, television programs, video games, advertising, and marketing. In marketing, animation helps with telling a story by creating a connection with viewers more effectively than other branding options. Animation includes motion graphics that can range from a small animated accent to an elaborate visual effect. Experience in animation can be used to find work with film studios or television stations, as well as for designing websites or adding to social media posts, which provides flexibility for working as part of a design team or an independent contractor.
- Web Design: Web Designers in Long Island work with clients throughout southwestern New York to develop content for websites while also creating graphic designs, animation, and motion graphics. Tools like Adobe After Effects allow designers to produce dynamic animations that enhance text and static images, making websites and digital media more engaging. Companies such as Digital Luxury Group, The Lillian Group, and LI Web Design offer professional web design services to help businesses establish a strong online presence.
- Digital Marketing: Marketing and advertising agencies in Long Island create digital content to promote clients, projects, and services to a wide range of audiences. While written content informs potential customers about a product or service, animated visuals are essential for capturing attention. Animation brings marketing materials to life, making graphics more dynamic and drawing viewers to key messages. Agencies like AdverGroup, Seven Eleven Media, and Comstar Communications specialize in combining animation with digital marketing strategies for maximum impact.
- Film and Television: The film and television industry in Long Island often seeks Graphic Designers, Animators, and Video Editors with expertise in visual design, animation, and motion graphics. Graphic design work can include static images and motion graphics for film titles, end credits, visual effects in music videos, dynamic graphics in news programs, and infographics for documentaries. Local companies such as NYLI Productions, Cineworks, and LI Creative Studios provide opportunities for creatives to apply these skills in professional film and television projects.
Trends with Animation in Long Island
Trends in animation for Long Island include the emergence of AI technology, which mainly involves helping make 3D animated graphics look more authentic. Other trends with animation in Long Island include kinetic typography and liquid animation, which aim at making animated characters move in a more realistic manner. Another popular area of animation would be vertical animation, which emphasizes developing animated graphics specifically for mobile devices.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment outlook for careers related to animation and special effects is expected to increase by 4% between 2023 and 2033, for finding work in the film and television industries. Due to Long Island’s close proximity to New York City, the area benefits from being able to operate businesses near the world’s most dynamic financial center. With digital technology dominating every area of media, there is a demand for people who have skills in animation and graphic design to be able to shape dynamic visual content.
- Animators create lively and engaging graphic designs that get used in a variety of media such as film, television, video games, websites, social media, and online ads. In Long Island, an Animator can earn between $69,000 and $128,000 a year. Animators work with Art Directors, Storyboard Artists, Film and Television Directors, and Producers to develop characters and environments that engage audiences.
- Another profession for applying skills in animation would include becoming a 3D Animator. This position requires training in computer-aided design tools like AutoCAD for developing animation and motion graphics that appear to pop right out of the screen. In Long Island, a 3D Animator can earn an annual salary ranging from $82,000 to $145,000. Working as a 3D Animator involves working with animation, green screen effects, and video editing.
- A Motion Graphics Designer creates animated text and graphics that get used in different media such as websites, social media, and online videos, along with film and television. Motion Graphics Designers in Long Island can earn a yearly income between $80,000 and $129,000.
- With the prevalence of video streaming today, there has been a high demand for Video Editors who can shape digital content into something coherent and appealing by adding animation and other visual effects. Video Editors can make from $61,000 to $110,000 a year in Long Island. Becoming a Video Editor requires training in graphic design tools like Premiere Pro, along with visual effects software like After Effects.
- Digital Designers work in several areas, including designing websites, smartphone apps, and online ads for applying skills to create graphic designs, animation, and visual effects. Digital Designers are able to work in various areas such as web design, digital marketing, social media, and print. A Digital Designer in Long Island can earn an annual salary between $84,000 and $150,000. The position requires training in software like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and After Effects.
Animation Classes in Long Island
Noble Desktop offers both virtual and in-person animation courses. Located in New York City, Noble hosts classes at its Manhattan campus and provides live online instruction for students anywhere. One flagship program is the Motion Graphics Certificate, a multi-week course that teaches students to create animations, visual effects, and motion graphics. Using Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Cinema 4D Lite, students animate photos, graphics, and text through projects such as animated logos, infographics, social media promos, and title sequences. The program includes five one-on-one mentoring sessions for personalized guidance on concepts, portfolio feedback, or job search strategies. Graduates receive a certificate of completion and can retake the course for free within one year. Noble Desktop is licensed by the New York State Department of Education.
Another popular offering is the After Effects Bootcamp, a multi-day course focused on creating motion graphics and animations with Adobe After Effects. Students gain foundational skills such as navigating the workspace and applying basic animation techniques, while also learning advanced features like motion tracking, green screen removal, dynamic transitions, and audio syncing. For beginners, After Effects in a Day provides an introduction to core concepts, including fade-ins, easing, interface navigation, layer animation, timeline basics, and working with video. While prior experience with Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator can be helpful, it is not required.
Noble Desktop also offers certification-focused programs, including the Adobe After Effects Certification Program. This multi-day program prepares students for the Adobe Certified Professional Exam in After Effects, combining two full courses covering beginner to advanced skills with six hours of private tutoring for exam prep. The program fee includes the certification exam, proctoring, and one free retake. Students who opt not to take the exam receive an additional hour of private tutoring instead.
Animation Corporate Training in Long Island
If your company could benefit from animation expertise, Noble Desktop’s corporate animation training may be the perfect solution. The program offers both onsite and remote instruction with flexible scheduling and the option to customize course content to align with your organization’s specific goals. Employees also receive comprehensive support materials after training, including handouts and access to premium instructional videos.
For a more flexible option, companies can purchase group class vouchers for employees, allowing them to enroll individually in Noble’s regularly scheduled public classes. Discounts are available for bulk purchases. For more details on corporate animation training or to schedule a free consultation, contact Noble Desktop.
Learn From Noble Desktop’s Experienced Animation Instructors in Long Island
Long Island’s professional community is thriving with opportunities for individuals looking to build skills in technology, design, business, and data. The area is anchored by business centers in Melville and Hauppauge and maintains a strong connection to New York City’s industries. Animation is becoming a prominent skill in a place like Long Island, as more and more companies need experts to help bring ideas to life. It's used to create engaging content for marketing materials as well as entertainment like film, games, and other forms of digital media. Through Noble Desktop’s network of expert instructors, students in Long Island can attain high-quality training led by professionals who understand the local landscape and industry demands. These instructors bring decades of experience and teach in a way that meshes industry knowledge with a commitment to practical instruction.
Noble Desktop has state-of-the-art facilities conveniently located in Midtown Manhattan at 185 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016. The campus is centrally located, featuring modern and well-equipped classrooms with access to both PC and Mac desktops. Students benefit from high-speed internet connections and full-time IT support. Moreover, the central location makes it easy to fit your training into your busy schedule. From Long Island, it’s an easy trip to the Noble Desktop facility, accessible by public transportation, from Penn Station, Grand Central Terminal, and several subway lines. If you take the Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station, it’s a short walk to the building.
Linda Haynes-Jackson
As a longtime government contractor and instructor, Linda Haynes-Jackson has accrued over 35 years of professional experience delivering training to federal agencies and corporate clients across Long Island and the nation. She delivers training in Customer Service and Section 508 Compliance and across various Microsoft applications, including Excel, Power BI, Power Pivot, Access, Outlook, Word, Teams, and PowerPoint. In the classroom, Linda is well-regarded for her energetic and lively nature, which is clear through her numerous awards for instructional excellence. Moreover, she has taught a wide range of students, from beginners to advanced users, as well as those with specific accommodations. She holds a Bachelor's from Temple University, a Master’s of Arts from Villanova University, and a Doctorate from NYU.
Garfield Stinvil
Garfield is an accomplished software trainer based in New York City, with over 16 years of experience spanning data analytics, corporate training, and professional development. He began his career as a Data Analyst for a Wall Street real estate investment firm before shifting focus to shaping learning programs and instructing. He is known as a creative thinker and brings humor to the classroom, making students feel comfortable and engaged. Since launching his training career, he has collaborated with a range of high-profile clients, including Adobe, Amazon, and HBO, and has helped teams translate technical knowledge into real-world insights.
Dan Rodney
Dan Rodney is a seasoned Web Developer and Designer with over 20 years of experience creating websites as well as courses at Noble Desktop. He’s passionate about the innovations that connect design with tech, and as such, has been a driving force behind AI integration into a variety of creative and business situations. He enjoys building custom InDesign scripts, such as Make Book Jacket and Proper Fraction Pro, and is consistently exploring new ways to integrate AI and animation into his work. His combined passion for and expertise in tech and design position him as an instructor who knows how to help others stay ahead of the curve while acquiring real-world, practical skills.
Brian McClain
Brian is an experienced New York-based instructor, curriculum developer, and Web Developer with a strong reputation for his professionalism in both teaching and technology. Before joining Noble Desktop, Brian served as a Director for a coding bootcamp, where he oversaw the design and instruction within the program. In addition, he worked as an Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at Westchester County College. Overall, Brian is an active member of the tech community, also working on app development. His app, Artmink, uses AI to provide appraisals of art and antiques from user-submitted images. He currently teaches courses in JavaScript, Python, web development, machine learning, AI, and Python for data science.