When considering enrolling in animation classes, class length matters. As an investment in yourself, you need to know what the time commitment entails because your time is valuable. An animation class can have a big impact on your long-term earning potential, so it helps to be sure you’ll be making the most of your precious time when you enroll. The answer to this question will vary from class to class, training facility to training facility. There is no one-size-fits-all animation class length. This article will detail how different types of animation courses impact their length, which is ideal for different groups of students, and how to select which is right for you.
Lengths of Courses
It’s no secret that learning something new takes time, and the same rule applies to learning animation. You can approach class length from two different angles. Decide how much time you can devote to learning animation and pick a course that fits within your time parameters, or decide how much you want to learn/how in-depth of a class you need to reach your learning goals and allow the time investment to come second priority to your learning goals. When you’re considering the length of animation courses, you also need to factor in how much time outside of class you’ll need to devote to meet your objective. Classes can be as short as a few hours or last several months. The biggest factor in determining the length of an animation course or program is the amount of material being covered and the depth of instruction. Generally, introductory courses are fairly short and only cover the basics or most popular features or techniques; while career-focused classes that teach professional-level skills will be considerably longer.
Introductory Classes
If you’re interested in the shortest class options available, introductory animation courses will be your best bet. They’re short and efficient, offering live instruction and a straightforward introduction to tools like Premiere Pro and After Effects, setting a solid foundation for you to build on. Often, these courses last no more than a few days and can leave you feeling more comfortable exploring and experimenting with various animation tools and techniques on your own. The disadvantage is also its strength. After completing an introductory class, you will need further education if you decide animation is a good fit and wish to explore more advanced techniques.
Advanced Classes
Advanced animation classes serve the same purpose as introductory animation classes. They target specific skills and techniques, teaching them efficiently. They’re great for people who are upskilling or have previous experience with the basics of what’s being taught. The main difference between introductory and advanced classes lies in the prerequisites. Advanced classes are not recommended for beginners due to the steep learning curve. If you’re learning animation at your own pace, advanced classes can help round out your curriculum. But, if you’re looking for a more career-focused animation education, you should consider enrolling in a more intensive and immersive animation program.
Animation Bootcamps
Enroll in an animation bootcamp if you’re sure that animation is the career that you want to pursue. Bootcamps and certificate programs are often more intense and cost significantly more than introductory or advanced animation classes. They’re often accelerated courses that cover a lot of ground in a short time. Animation bootcamps typically span a few weeks to several months, depending on the depth of instruction and whether you choose a part-time or full-time schedule. Bootcamps are career-focused programs that teach in-demand animation skills while providing support such as mentoring, job search assistance, and demo reel development.
Film Studies Degrees
If you want the most immersive and in-depth animation education and have the time and resources to dedicate to the endeavor, consider enrolling in a college or university offering a film studies degree. If you are accepted into an art school, you may be able to major specifically in animation, motion graphics, or visual effects. College degrees provide a broader education spanning both related and unrelated topics. You’ll likely be able to work in animation and adjacent fields due to the breadth of degree programs. Pursuing a film studies degree allows you to have access to both student and career support services, networking events among peers and professionals, and name recognition among employers. But the biggest drawbacks to earning a degree are that it takes two to six years to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree and that it can cost between tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars. Degree programs are the best way to learn animation skills in an immersive and supportive environment.
On-Demand Classes
Enrolling in an on-demand course gives you the freedom to schedule your time as it works best for you. Self-motivated students with unpredictable or busy schedules often do well with on-demand or self-paced animation classes. These classes are typically measured in hours, as the time it takes to complete them varies by student. On-demand courses are pre-recorded courses that allow you to start, pause, and repeat classes whenever you like. However, without a live instructor, you may find the feedback response time to be a disadvantage, leaving you to troubleshoot on your own when challenges arise. You’ll also have to keep yourself motivated to complete the course. It is very easy to become disengaged, procrastinate, and even abandon the course altogether when taking an on-demand course as there is very little accountability present.
Part-Time or Full-Time
A part-time or full-time schedule will also impact the duration of a course. This is an important decision you’ll need to make when choosing an animation class to enroll in. If you’re a busy professional with personal obligations, it may not be feasible to take time off for a full-time course that spans most of a workday for several months. Enrolling part-time is more realistic for many students. Not only does it better fit your schedule, but it also slows the learning pace, giving you more time to practice and digest course material. Full-time enrollment has its advantages, including completing the course more quickly. However, the trade-off is that you must put in more effort to keep up with the course pace and spend additional time practicing outside of class.
Learn Animation Skills with Noble Desktop
Noble Desktop offers animation classes of varying lengths, whether you’re interested in an immersive and in-depth bootcamp or something less intense and more practical. If you’re searching for an animation class that’s going to help you establish a career in animation, then consider their Motion Graphics Certificate course. It helps students get started with video editing, animating motion graphics, creating visual and special effects, and building a professional demo reel or portfolio using Cinema 4D, After Effects, and Premiere Pro. It’s a beginner-friendly, 96-hour, project-based course with no prior knowledge required. If you’re comfortable using a computer, Noble Desktop can help you become an Animator in two months with full-time enrollment or four months with part-time enrollment.
When you enroll in the live, 126-hour Video Editing and Motion Graphics Certificate course, you’ll learn video editing principles, how to work with animations, and advanced After Effects and Premiere Pro techniques in one month full-time or four months part-time. You can expect to learn animation and motion graphics concepts, best practices, and workflows, how to animate text using After Effects, and make 3D models and animations with Cinema 4D Lite. This course also offers a bonus lesson in either AI for Video and Motion Graphics or Adobe Photoshop Bootcamp. It’s helpful to be familiar with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop but not required for enrollment. This is a beginner-friendly course that allows students one free retake and 1-on-1 mentoring sessions outside of class.
For a less intense class that covers a little more than the basics, consider After Effects Bootcamp. This bootcamp teaches you how to create animated motion graphics using professional techniques in three days or six evenings spread over three weeks. You’ll start with the basics and move through to motion tracking and green screen removal. This beginner-friendly, 18-hour, live, project-based bootcamp will teach you how to create dynamic transitions, add audio to animations, and incorporate video footage. Students can take advantage of a free class retake, class recordings, and a 1-on-1 mentoring session. If you only need to learn the basics of After Effects, After Effects in a Day may be a better fit for you.
Already proficient with Adobe After Effects and want to tie it into Cinema 4D? Take your animation skills a little further with Cinema 4D in After Effects Bootcamp. In three full-time days, you’ll learn to integrate Cinema 4D Lite with After Effects to animate 3D models and motion graphics. A part-time schedule is also available and spans three weeks. After completing this bootcamp, you’ll have the skills to create and work with 3D models, assign textures, create animations, and use the Cineware effect for seamless integration through the 18-hour live, project-based curriculum. Students can view recorded class sessions to reinforce their understanding and can retake the course once within a year if needed.