Animation Classes Toronto

Animation is a filmmaking technique that creates moving images by manipulating still images, including drawings, paintings, and illustrations. Traditional animation uses still images that someone has drawn or painted onto celluloid sheets, which someone then photographs for film. Advances in technology led to the development of digital animation, which became the default around the 1990s and 2000s.

Filmmakers, television producers, video game developers, and online content creators use animation for entertainment or informational purposes. Over time, a wide range of animation styles have developed, from cartoonish to hyper-realistic. Aside from animation styles popularized by U.S. animation studios, anime, a style of animation that originated in Japan, has become increasingly popular in the U.S. as access to overseas content has become easier for Americans to purchase and stream.

What Can You Do with Animation Training?

Learning animation can help you begin a career in media, particularly working on films, television shows, and video games. A lot of attention and skill goes into producing animation, meaning you have several opportunities available to you if you receive animation training. You can work on visual effects, game development, VFX art, and even as a Medical Animator. You can also use your animation training for personal projects. Most animation classes have students learning software like Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Cinema 4D. You can receive animation training and learn to animate something for fun or even offer your animation services as a Freelancer.

What Will I Learn in an Animation Class?

Beginner-level animation classes typically start with animation principles. When you first begin learning, you must understand the fundamentals of animation such as timing, spacing, and exaggeration. You’ll also learn how to create storyboards to plan your animations and receive lessons in character design. You can find animation classes that cover specific software, but most classes will have students learning with Adobe Animate, Blender, Adobe Premiere Pro, or Adobe After Effects. If you plan to work on 3D animation, you should enroll in a 3D animation class where you’ll learn how to create and manipulate 3D models.

How Hard is It to Learn Animation?

Learning animation can be challenging, depending on your background, the time you can dedicate to learning, and the type of animation you want to learn.

Students with a background in drawing or design may find the fundamentals of animation easy to learn, or even that they already know the fundamentals, whereas beginners with no prior experience may find that it takes more time for them to pick up the basics. Some of the tools and software used by animators, have a high learning curve, which can prove challenging for beginner-level students. Like with learning any new skill, however, with enough practice working to improve and the right guidance, you can learn beginner, intermediate, and even advanced-level animation skills.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Animation?

With enough practice, you can learn the basics of animation, like animation principles and drawing, in just a few weeks or months. Learning animation software may take several months, depending on the program and how much time you spend using it. Intermediate-level animation skills include the ability to create animations with polished character designs and movements, which typically take six months to one year to learn. If you want to develop advanced-level animation skills, you can expect that to take several years of committed lessons and practice. Advanced techniques include 3D modeling and rigging. Like many skills, learning animation is an ongoing experience that you’ll need to brush up on and practice frequently.

Should I Learn Animation in Person or Online?

When searching for an animation program to enroll in, consider both in-person and live online classes. Students who like traditional classroom environments will likely succeed in an in-person class. In-person classes take place during the week, in the evenings, and on weekends at training centers and schools. You can expect to gain hands-on experience and learn via demonstrations from an instructor in an in-person class.

Live online classes let students experience live learning from the comfort of their home or office. This class modality allows students a degree of flexibility because they don’t have to commute to a classroom. However, live online classes still take place at a scheduled time under the guidance of an instructor.

If you need to squeeze in lessons between work or school, consider enrolling in an asynchronous course. Asynchronous courses allow you to learn at your preferred pace as you work through class material by yourself. Students like the flexibility this class modality offers, although the drawback of asynchronous classes is that students don’t have access to a live instructor who can answer their questions and provide feedback.

Can I Learn Animation Free Online?

Before enrolling in an animation class, you can look for videos online that will teach you the basics of animation. Tutorials and walkthroughs will help you learn the foundational principles of animation and become familiar with animation software. You can also look for forums online where new and expert animators ask each other questions and provide animation tips and tricks. The internet is a great free resource for learning animation basics before enrolling in a training course where you’ll learn from a more structured curriculum under instructor guidance.

What Should I Learn Alongside Animation?

If you have a passion for animation, consider learning related skills that can help you boost your animation expertise. Many aspiring animators work on their drawing skills. Learning how to draw can help you create more expressive and dynamic characters for your animations. You can also consider learning art and design principles like color theory and composition. Learning these art basics can help you create more aesthetically appealing animated characters and backgrounds.

Industries That Use Animation

Want to apply your animation skills to your career? Consider these major industries in Toronto that use animation.

Entertainment

The entertainment industry in Toronto takes advantage of the vibrant and diverse cityscape. The city has become home to a robust film and production scene as well as a growing animation center. Animation plays a huge role in the entertainment industry, from animated films to animation in video games. If you want to get started in animation, check out Toronto-based studios currently making a name for themselves in the industry.

Advertising and Marketing

Many advertising and marketing agencies in Canada have turned toward digital marketing in recent years. A global marketing strategy that focuses on social media, content creation, and SEO has become more widespread with the advance of technology and increasing globalization. Animation plays an important role in this industry, with marketing teams turning toward animation to help increase brand visibility and create memorable digital marketing campaigns that will stick in their audience’s minds.

Education

Several major universities call Toronto home, along with numerous colleges and technical institutes, K-12 public schools, and continuing studies programs. Animation in the education industry aims to help students better understand complicated concepts and encourages engagement. With animation, schools can provide illustrations of lessons for students who have difficulty learning through text. Animated content can also capture students’ attention, encouraging participation.

Animation Job Titles and Salaries

Ready to look for a career in animation? Here are several animation-related jobs and their salaries that you can find in the Toronto area.

• Game Developer: Game Developers create playable games from concepts. They code visual elements within games, program features of the game, and test the game to make sure it’s ready for distribution. The average salary of a Game Developer in Toronto is CAD 121,000, depending on years of experience.
• Animator: Animators produce animations for a variety of purposes, from film to television to web content. An Animator should have technical skills and creativity. The average salary of an Animator in Toronto is CAD 59,000, although this average varies widely depending on what type of animations the Animator creates.
• Character Designer: Character Designers visualize and then create the designs of animated characters. They often create characters based on the notes or character profiles given to them by a director or someone else working on the project with them. The average annual salary of a Character Designer in Toronto is CAD 96,500.

Animation Classes Near Me

When choosing an animation class to enroll in, you have a wide variety of options depending on the type of animation you want to learn and the software you’d like to use. Below are several options for classes available to you in-person and live online.

Noble Desktop’s live online Motion Graphics Certificate program will teach you to create motion graphics and visual effects using Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro, and Cinema 4D Lite. Spend four units learning the principles of animation, motion graphics content, and how to create motion graphics and animations using a variety of software. Before enrolling in the program, Noble recommends that students learn the basics of Photoshop and Illustrator.

Expect to learn how to integrate Cinema 4D Lite with After Effects in Noble’s Cinema 4D in After Effects Bootcamp. The class covers techniques for creating and working with 3D models, assigning textures, and creating animations. Over 18 hours, you’ll follow along with an instructor as you work on real projects and develop essential skills for working with Cinema 4D Lite.

The Toronto Film School offers a Video Game Design & Animation Diploma. In this program, students will work on designing, scripting, modeling, and animating characters under the guidance of working video game creators. This six-term program will prepare students for prospective careers as Game Designers, Concept Artists, Level Designers, and even Game Animators.

Animation Corporate Training

Does your team need animation training? Noble Desktop can provide your organization with team training in animation that meets your employees’ learning objectives and scheduling needs. When enrolling in corporate training, you have the option of selecting live online or onsite training options. Teams interested in corporate training can also purchase group vouchers in bulk at a discount from Noble Desktop. When purchasing group vouchers, you can select the courses available to your team to choose from. They’ll then schedule their training at a time that fits their schedules.

Reach out to corporate@nobledesktop.com to learn more about Noble Desktop’s corporate training services and receive help in determining which options best fit your team’s needs and goals.