Animation Classes St. Louis, MO

Animation is the process of creating the illusion of motion by displaying a rapid sequence of images or frames, each showing a slightly different position of characters or objects. In traditional animation, pictures are drawn or painted on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed. Early cartoons are examples of this, but today, most animated movies are made with computer-generated imagery or CGI.

The earliest forms of animation can be traced back to ancient Chinese shadow puppetry, which used cut-out figures to tell stories. James Stuart Blackton’s Humorous Phases of Funny Faces in 1906 and Émile Cohl’s Fantasmagorie in 1908 are considered the early pioneers of animated film, forging a path for the much later development of industry giants like Disney, Warner Bros., Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network.

Currently, animated movies and TV shows are popular, with many of them achieving critical acclaim and box office success. Animation isn’t just for children anymore either; interest in animated content for adult audiences has drastically increased with the popularity of shows like Bob’s Burgers, Rick and Morty, and The Simpsons. Innovations like motion capture technology, computer graphics, and visual effects are all being used to create more lifelike characters, environments, and action sequences, contributing to the rising interest in animated films and television.

What Can You Do with Animation Training?

What you can do with animation will largely depend on which type of animation you pursue. There are five types of animation:

• Traditional Animation: Also known as classical animation, traditional animation is a technique in which each frame is drawn by hand. Animation artists use acetate sheets for this technique, which is clear paper that helps draw accurate movements and create a progression from one frame to another.
• 2D Animation: This technique uses vector images to create motion graphics, including characters, creatures, FX, and backgrounds. The illusion of movement is created when individual drawings are sequenced together over time.
• 3D Animation: Completely computer generated, 3D animation is the most popular. Artists create characters, objects and scenery with rigs so that they can animate illustrations with a computer program rather than drawing each frame.
• Motion Graphics: The animation of shapes and text, motion graphics is most commonly used for web development, commercials, logos and models for research or design in the medical, engineering or mathematical fields.
• Stop Motion: A sequence of still frames that a photographer or artist captures of real objects, stop motion requires you to create models of characters and settings. Artists use clay figures or puppets and adjust them before photographing each scene. Editors can then put the photos in a sequence with video editing software to create a motion picture.

Animation allows you to explore your creativity, fine-tune your artistic skills, and potentially pursue new career paths. The type of animation you choose to learn will determine what you can create: maybe you’ll create eloquently handcrafted traditional animations, develop logos or work on commercials, or design truly terrifying monsters or FX effects.

What Will I Learn in an Animation Class?

For each section, include the name of the skill you’ll learn and then write a paragraph explaining what that skill is and why it is applicable to Animation. Most of the focus should be on technical skills you’ll learn (for subjects like animation, graphic design or data science, these should be things like After Effects, Photoshop, SQL, etc.), but at least one skill mentioned should be a ‘soft skill’ (programming teaches you logic, Photoshop teaches you composition).

Animation Process

The animation process is a series of steps that turns ideas into a visual and audio sequence. This will be one of the first things you’ll learn in an animation course. The animation process is typically broken down into eight essential steps:

• Research and brief: The process starts with an initial brief and research.
• Scriptwriting: A script is written.
• Storyboarding: A storyboard is created.
• Design: Characters and visuals are designed.
• Animation: The animation is created.
• Audio: The voice-over is recorded, and sound effects, music, and narration are added.
• Post-production: The animation is edited, and special effects are added.
• Review and delivery: The final product is reviewed and delivered to the client.

Figure Drawing and Composition

Figure drawing and composition are crucial in animation because they provide the foundation for creating believable and visually engaging characters and scenes. Figure drawing enhances knowledge of human anatomy, including skeletal structure and muscles and how they interact. Composition in animation is the arrangement of visual elements in a scene to create an attractive, engaging story. Being able to accurately depict the human form in motion, understand anatomy, and strategically arrange elements within a frame help you to convey emotion and story effectively. Essentially, you will be able to translate ideas into compelling visuals through precise drawing techniques and thoughtful spatial arrangement.

Storyboarding

The main purpose of an animation storyboard is to map out the story's flow, scene timing, and character positioning. Storyboarding ensures everyone involved in the project understands the storyline and creates a cohesive final product. By identifying potential issues early, storyboarding saves time and resources during the animation process, ensuring that the final animation is well-structured and engaging for the audience. Storyboarding typically involves animators, directors, producers, writers, editors, and marketing professionals.

3D Modeling

3D Modeling is a three-dimensional representation of objects, animals, machines, and humans. In animation production, all the settings and characters are composed of a 3D model. 3D modeling is used in different kinds of fields from engineering, game industry, film and animation, business advertising to architecture, and special effects. There are two main types of 3D modeling: organic modeling includes natural objects in the surroundings and characters, animals, and plants; hard surface modeling includes man-made objects and things such as buildings, vehicles, and things that are manufactured.

VFX

Visual effects (VFX) are computer-generated or manipulated images that are used to create animations and enhance the aesthetics of a project. VFX can be used to create characters or environments that are difficult or impossible to shoot in real life; enhance action sequences by creating explosions, fire, smoke, and water simulations; and improve the storytelling and immersion of an animated project by adding a touch of realism through animating fabrics like curtains, dresses, and tablecloths.

How Hard is It to Learn Animation?

The level of difficulty in learning animation depends on the kind of work one wants to do, the required detail and professionalism in the animations, and the individual's prior knowledge in digital design skills. Animation is a specialized field that combines artistic expression with practical applications, and often involves skill sets from related fields like graphic design, UX design, and UI design. The variety of skills needed can be challenging for those entirely new to the field but, with the right amount of dedication and passion, anyone can become an expert in animation.

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Animation?

Perhaps the most challenging part of learning animation is mastering the wide range of software programs used within the industry. Professional software like After Effects, Premiere Pro, Photoshop, and Cinema 4D are crucial tools for animators. Each software has a specific function such as motion graphics design, video compositing, image generation, and special effects development. Additionally, most animation studios will have some form of product management software that they will use to manage workflow. All of these software programs will have their own learning curves and challenges.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Animation?

The time it takes to learn animation will depend on several factors, like the skills you want to learn, the amount of time and effort you invest, and your other commitments. Professional level animation can take anywhere from months to years to master, although this duration can be shortened depending on the learner's prior experience and goals. Previous experience in digital design or knowledge of animation theory can accelerate the learning process, and attending a professional training course can also get you to your new career more quickly.

Should I Learn Animation in Person or Online?

There are many factors to consider when answering this question. Firstly, you’ll need to decide what learning environment is best suited for you. Do you excel in a collaborative environment that allows you to interact with your peers and receive instant feedback from your instructor? Or, do you prefer a more solitary learning environment, perhaps one where you can learn at your own speed?

You’ll also need to decide how much time you can commit to your education and what level of flexibility your schedule requires. Are you looking to dive deeply into an intensive program? Do you work full-time and require your classes to be scheduled for evening and weekend hours?

In-person classes offer face-to-face interaction with your fellow students and your expert instructor. This collaborative environment is available for both full-time and part-time classes and provides structure and accountability, two things that can help you succeed. Online courses may lack this in-person interaction, but they make up for it with increased flexibility. Live virtual courses still offer instant feedback from your instructor and interactions with other students, while on-demand virtual training allows for the most flexibility since you can decide where and when you learn.

The good news is that, no matter which version you attend, you can obtain a quality animation education with a top-notch curriculum and expert instructors.

Can I Learn Animation Free Online?

The internet is a great source of free animation tutorials. From blogs to YouTube videos, there are nearly endless free tips and tricks available. There is also the possibility to use free trials of online trainings to try your hand at learning programming before committing to a paid course. These free training materials are great for dipping your toes into the basics of animation and can help you further explore if learning animation is what you really want.

If you’re hoping to learn up-to-date animation skills or do a deep dive into this creative field, then a more structured class or course could be the better choice. Experienced instructors, a high-quality curriculum, and a more traditional learning environment will help you to become an expert in animation in record time. Whether you enroll in an on-demand or live online course, both options offer a breadth of knowledge that you won’t be able to access through free resources.

What Should I Learn Alongside Animation?

If you’re looking to complement your animation skills, consider learning additional creative skills like visual design principles, and anatomy and gesture drawing. These skills will help you to expand your artistic skills, improving the quality of your animations. Additionally, ‘hard’ skills like basic coding, video editing, software like 3D modeling or motion graphics tools will enhance your ability to create compelling and technically proficient animated content.

Industries That Use Animation

Home to the well-known Gateway Arch, St. Louis is becoming equally well known as an ideal location for working in animation. Several industries are thriving in the region, each of which will have a need for investment experts for a variety of roles.

Advanced Manufacturing

With both national and global manufacturers operating in St. Louis, advanced manufacturing businesses export billions of dollars of goods and services each year. Regional advanced manufacturing strengths include products related to beverages, leather, printing, petroleum and coal, chemicals, primary metals, machinery, and transportation equipment. Over 114,000 manufacturing employees call the region home, and it isn’t hard to see why.

Bioscience

Greater St. Louis is home to a world-class collection of research centers, institutions, and companies focused on engineering biological and agricultural processes to create products that help sustain the global population. More than 400 biotech R&D firms have bases in the St. Louis region, including category leaders like Bayer and the Danforth Plant Science Center. The region also offers close connections to multi-state hospital systems, colleges and universities, major corporations like Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline, and focused investors like Cultivation Capital.

Financial & Business Services

Home to 14 Fortune 1000 companies, 7 Forbes Global 2000 and 8 Forbes Largest Private Company Headquarters, St. Louis is an ideal location for finance and business. The region is home to more than 7,900 business establishments in the financial activities industry, which employ more than 84,000 people. St. Louis’ robust business environment is supported by a healthy financial and business services sector. Emerging FinTech scene and a thriving insurance market, provide the backbone for companies large and small to operate efficiently and effectively.

Transportation

Greater St. Louis has always valued transportation as a key part of its economy, thanks to the three major rivers, five interstate highways, and six Class I railroads that all intersect. Amazon alone employs more than 7,000 workers at more than a dozen separate distribution, sortation, and fulfillment locations in the region. Additionally, the headquarters of USTRANSCOM, which conducts globally integrated mobility operations for the Department of Defense, is located at Scott Air Force Base in the St. Louis metro.

Animation Job Titles and Salaries

Animation is often used in movies, television shows, video games, websites, and other media. While job titles may vary, these professionals usually report to a Creative Director or Animation Director while working closely with writers, other artists, and technical staff. On larger projects, Animators may be part of a team assigned specific roles such as Character Animation, Background Animation, or Special Effects Animator.

It can be tricky to know which job titles are best for your job hunt, so a few of the most commonly found roles are outlined below.

Gameplay Animator

Gameplay Animators work with techniques like keyframing and motion capture to bring digital creatures, humans, vehicles, and props to life in games. They are hired to maximize a game engine’s technology and the opportunities for interactivity and gameplay in the gaming experience. These individuals work alongside Designers and Game Programmers to generate initial character movements while adhering to technical constraints. This requires maintaining vast libraries of character movements, which can be revised as animation cycles for every character. As a Gameplay Animator, you can expect to make $65,000-$81,000 in St. Louis.

Storyboard Artist

Storyboard Artists are visual storytellers who transform written scripts into 2D images that comprise a storyboard which serves as a visual guide for how the animated feature will play out. A strong storyboard not only shows the logical progression of action in a film but also depicts the story’s emotional impact as well. Storyboard Artists are mostly involved with pre-production tasks, including camera angles, timings, and sequence points of view. A Storyboard Artist can earn $62,000-$83,000 in St. Louis.

2D Animator

2D Animators create traditional anime and cartoons in which backgrounds and characters are drawn by hand. On a daily basis, 2D Animators perform tasks like collaborating with writers, clients, and directors about stylistic elements and how they’re being executed through animation, preparing rough sketches, creating illustrations and models, selecting color palettes, and setting up exposure sheets. They also sync audio and voiceover tracks with visual elements. Salaries in St. Louis range from $69,000 to $87,000 for a 2D Animator.

3D Layout Artist

Those who work as 3D Layout Artists determine the virtual camera angle for each shot, including its depth, movement, angle, and point of view. 3D Layout Artists collaborate with Directors and VFX Supervisors to determine the camera’s look and feel, as well as the animated sequence’s environment. On a daily basis, these individuals perform tasks like interpreting storyboards, positioning characters, assembling environments, determining the camera path in a scene, and experimenting with various camera angles to find the best shots. As a 3D Layout Artist, you can earn $65,000—$75,000 in St. Louis.

Animation Classes Near Me

Digital Games Artist Certificate

Offered by St. Louis Community College, this online course will train you to become a professional video game artist by developing core skills for jobs related to Digital Art, 3D Art, Modeling, Character Design, and Environmental Art Design. You will learn essential techniques for jobs related to game art, including modeling game props and characters, importing elements into game-specific software, and animating game assets.

In addition to software and game-related techniques, this course also covers topics like general design principles and concept art. You will learn the fundamental principles that distinguish good art from great art and the key social aspects necessary for ongoing growth and professional development in the field. By the end, you will have acquired a diverse set of employable skills and a solid understanding of the key components of 3D art and environmental art.

Adobe Animate CC (2020)

Offered by Certstaffix in-person in St. Louis, this 3-day course on Adobe Animate CC will teach you how to use the Adobe Animate workspace and understand how the tool works. Then, you will learn how to create graphics, texts and symbols, animate symbols and transformations, and add advanced motion tweens. At the completion of the course, you will be able to publish their work for Flash or HTML5.

While there aren’t many in-person offerings currently in St. Louis, Noble Desktop offers many live online training options that can help offer you more flexibility without sacrificing course quality. Their courses come with many benefits, like one-on-one mentoring and a free retake, in addition to top-notch curriculum taught by industry experts. A few of their courses are outline below:

Motion Graphics Certificate

Build your skills in animation, video editing, and special effects, with this certificate course that prepares you for opportunities in the world of motion design and video production. You’ll learn the art of motion graphics and visual effects using Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro, and Cinema 4D Lite.

You’ll practice advanced techniques like greenscreen removal, rotoscoping, and motion tracking with Adobe Effects, learn the fundamentals of video editing with Adobe Premiere Pro, and create 3D models using Cinema 4D Lite. Apply your skills through hands-on projects that mirror industry standards. You’ll also develop a professional demo reel showcasing your work in motion graphics, special effects, and video editing, giving you the tools to impress potential employers or clients with your expertise.

Digital Design Certificate

If you’re looking to gain the skills needed to excel in digital design, this program may be for you. You’ll be equipped with the technical expertise and creative confidence to craft modern, professional designs for both digital and print media, setting the stage for a successful career in the design field. This course will teach you to deepen your understanding of design theory by mastering layout strategies, typography, and color schemes; learn Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign to create stunning designs for print, web, and digital platforms; and explore the principles of user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design using Figma. By the end of the program, you'll have a well-rounded portfolio that showcases your expertise in web design, digital graphics, and UX/UI that’s ready to present to employers or clients.

Video Editing Certificate

This program focuses on building creative techniques and prepares you to deliver polished video projects for professional use. Through hands-on projects, you’ll learn the essentials of video editing, motion graphics, and audio design and transform your skills in video editing, motion graphics, and audio production using Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Audition.

You’ll learn how to edit video footage using Adobe Premiere Pro, adjusting clip timing, speed, and color to achieve professional results; clean up and mix audio tracks, remove noise, and add sound effects using Adobe Audition for enhanced video production quality; and animate text, graphics, and layered elements from Photoshop and Illustrator using Adobe After Effects.

Animation Corporate Training

If you’re looking to offer in-person or online training to your office or team, Noble Desktop can help. They offer a variety of corporate training programs, including in construction. You can order vouchers in bulk at a discount, choose which courses are available to employees, and even let your employees choose their own schedule. Plus, you can choose to have your training hosted at a location of your choosing, live online, or at Noble Desktop’s Manhattan office.

With a top-notch customizable curriculum and instructors who are experts in their industries, Noble Desktop’s corporate training is designed to cater to your business or organization’s needs. For more information or to schedule a free consultation, you can reach out to Noble Desktop at corporate@nobledesktop.com.