Discover the Best Animation Classes in Atlanta
Jobs for creatives that offer a 401k while allowing them to practice their art daily are few and far between. Luckily, a career in animation checks both boxes and provides many other perks, as well. One benefit to working in animation is excellent job security, thanks to animation’s projected global market size of $531.237 billion by 2028. It’s also an ideal field for those excited by variety, as opportunities in animation range from creating special effects for major motion pictures and art for major anime series to website design and game development. And those who desire to work in a field full of cutting-edge innovation will find they are never bored in the animation industry thanks to changing audience tastes and rapidly advancing technology.
While those who create moving images primarily for branding, web design, marketing, or advertising are typically titled Motion Graphics Artists, they utilize many of the same skills and softwares as true Animators who work in the art of storytelling with motion graphics in film and television. Commonly used softwares include Autodesk Maya, Adobe After Effects, and Adobe Animate (formerly known as Flash Pro). Learning these softwares will allow you to create your own YouTube or short-form videos, freelance through platforms like Upwork, or provide a solid foundation for beginning your career in a major animation studio, creative agency, or gaming development company.
Best Animation Classes & Schools in Atlanta
Adobe Animate Core Skills: Level 1 ONLC Training Centers - 3355 Lenox Road NE, Ste 750, Atlanta, GA 30326
In this beginner-level Adobe Animate Core Skills class, students will learn how to create, render, and publish animations in various formats. The instructor guides participants through the concepts of motion tweens, motion paths, and frame-by-frame animation, as well as the basics of Motion Editor and editing property curves. This class is appropriate for beginners, self-trained Animate users, and those experienced with the program hoping to gain more confidence by filling in gaps in their knowledge of Animate’s tools and functions.
Prerequisites: Basic computer knowledge, including file management skills, is a prerequisite for this course.
Duration: Two 6.75-hour sessions
Cost: $795
Adobe After Effects Beginner Class American Media Training - 2200 Northlake Parkway, Tucker, GA 30084
Individuals seeking a beginners’ Adobe After Effects class will find all they’re looking for in this course by American Media Training. Participants will learn the basic concepts, tools, and functions of After Effects, and by the end of the class, they will be able to create an animation project from start to finish in the program. The instructor will cover topics ranging from importing footage to distorting images and some advanced editing techniques, as well. By the end of the course, students will feel confident in their solid foundational knowledge of After Effects.
Prerequisites: This beginner-level course requires basic computer knowledge.
Duration: Three 6-hour sessions
Cost: $1,295
Cinema 4D in After Effects Bootcamp Noble Desktop - Online
This online Cinema 4D in After Effects Bootcamp guides participants to a solid understanding of Maxon’s Cinema 4D Lite, the version of the software included for no additional charge with Adobe’s After Effects. Through hands-on projects, students will learn to create and work with 3D models to enhance any animation work in After Effects. Whether you are an Animator or Motion Graphics Artist, an in-depth knowledge of Cinema 4D can level up your work.
Prerequisites: After Effects experience equivalent to Noble Desktop’s After Effects Bootcamp is required for this course.
Duration: Three 7-hour sessions or six 3-hour sessions
Cost: $975
Atlanta Industries That Use Animation
Often called “the Hollywood of the South,” Atlanta’s thriving film and television industry includes a healthy animation sector that employs many 2D and 3D Animators in the region. Atlanta’s surprisingly vibrant animation history dates back to 1986 when Atlanta-based Turner Broadcasting acquired MGM and its library of classic cartoons.
This purchase was followed by Hanna Barbera’s iconic collection of animation in 1991, setting up Atlanta’s Cartoon Network as the king of television animation. Adult Swim’s 2001 debut on the Cartoon Network was a significant event in the history of animation, shaping the future of adult cartoons by pushing boundaries and providing a platform to connect mainstream audiences to unique art styles and voices. Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, and other Turner subsidiaries are major employers of Animators in Atlanta, though they are also joined by many other studios and production companies today.
Like other cities with large tech sectors, Atlanta boasts a number of motion graphics opportunities in branding, advertising, marketing, and game design. And its frequent large-scale concerts and other events create opportunities for Animators specializing in creating interactive experiences for audiences.
Animation Jobs & Salaries in Atlanta
Atlanta provides employment for the fifth-highest number of Special Effects Artists and Animators in the U.S., which is not too shabby a ranking considering the city is the 37th largest in the country. As of 2022, Atlanta’s 910 Animators and Special Effects Artists made an average mean wage of $77,000. While this is nowhere near the highest salary for Animators in the country, the lower cost of living in the city promises a comfortable quality of life for creatives who prefer to live in the South. Home to adult animation giants like Cartoon Network and a surprising number of tech giants and startups, Atlanta’s job market for Motion Graphics Artists is rich and varied enough to promise a rewarding career to those interested in working in animation in the region.
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