Animation Classes Online

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Discover the Best Live Online Animation Classes

The animation field is booming, and those who can create and edit animated motion graphics and video effects are in high demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Special Effects Artists and Animators annually average nearly $80,000, a figure notably higher than the median salary across all industries.

If you want to work in animation, you should consider enrolling in an intensive bootcamp or certificate course to get training. These programs typically provide significant knowledge and skills in a concentrated timeframe.

Many students prefer to take classes held live online via teleconferencing. This training method offers engagement comparable to in-person courses, and you can find many more options online than in person. Read on to learn more about instructor-led online animation classes.

Best Live Online Animation Classes & Schools

Different people look for different types of animation training. Some want to work with motion graphics design, some tend toward the artistic side, and others want to learn animation as part of a broader video editing curriculum. Consider the following providers and some of the courses they offer that include or feature animation training:

• NYC Career Centers - Many animation pros work in fields where they need to create and edit video and audio. Learning how to do it all in the studio is essential, and one course that teaches these skills is the Video Editing & Motion Graphics Certificateprogram from Noble Desktop affiliate NYC Career Centers. This immersive certificate includes training in essential Adobe Creative Cloud programs Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Audition, as students create a professional-level demo reel (portfolio).

• Future Media Concepts - Another essential software program for many animation pros is 3ds Max from Autodesk. Future Media Concepts (FMC), a digital media training center, provides training through its Autodesk 3ds Max Fundamentals course. The program gives new users a comprehensive education in the software. While there are no prerequisites, FMC recommends 3D modeling experience before enrollment.

• Manhattan Edit Workshop - Most animation pros use multiple Adobe Creative Cloud programs, and Manhattan Edit Workshop teaches them alongside Apple, Avid, and Autodesk. Their Adobe After Effects Level I (Online) course offers students a three-day crash course in the powerful software. Applicants should have basic macOS knowledge before enrolling.

• headTrix, Inc. - Adobe-certified training and consulting company headTrix offers a range of courses, from Lightroom to InDesign. Their Adobe XD Level 1class provides beginners ages 14 and older with a two-day deep dive into this essential design program. Photoshop experience is helpful but not required.

• Lumenbrite Training - Lumenbrite specializes in Adobe Creative Cloud training, offering beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes. Aspiring animation pros can begin their education with Lumenbrite’s Premiere Pro Training: Essential Skills 1, a three-day bootcamp available at their Houston location or live online anywhere via teleconferencing.

• Noble Desktop - Since 1990, Noble Desktop has provided bootcamps and certificate programs in subjects ranging from web development to digital design. Their Motion Graphics Certificateoffers beginner-level students a comprehensive program to prepare for careers as Animators, Motion Graphics Designers, or Video Editors. Training includes Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro, and Cinema 4D Lite.

• Digital Workshop Center - Digital Workshop Center is another course provider that offers beginner-friendly curricula for aspiring animation and video workers. Their Adobe After Effects for Beginners (Level 1)is open to students aged 16 and above and runs for 14 hours. Photoshop Level 1 is helpful but not required.

Industries That Use Animation

Animation is needed in most industries, even if only for a company website. When it comes to the industries that use animation the most, the following top many online lists:

• Entertainment
• Art & Design
• Marketing & Advertising

Most of the biggest animation work for television and movies happens in Hollywood, or nearby California cities like Glendale or Burbank. Top studios that require long-form animation today include well-known companies:

• 20th Century Fox Animation
• Cartoon Network Studios
• Sony Pictures Animation
• Walt Disney Animation Studios
• Warner Bros. Animation

The Art & Design industry can include positions within the entertainment industry, but each is a sector all its own. Some roles require assisting other Animators or Modelers, but others focus on graphics and digital art. Top positions in this industry include Video Editors, Motion Graphics Animators, Production Artists, UX Designers, and even Industrial Designers.

The Marketing & Advertising category also cuts across all sectors. Animation can be essential for Advertising Designers, Brand Designers, Social Media Designers, and other marketing professionals.

Some tech workers start in animation but move up to management positions thanks to a combination of crucial soft and hard skills. These valued employees may become Brand Managers, Art Directors, Game Design Directors, or other management personnel. 

Other roles requiring animation skills can include web design, tech startups, and multimedia. And many animation pros work as freelancers. Consider entertainment, advertising, and design attractive fields for tech pros with animation experience.

Animation Jobs & Salaries

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary for Special Effects Artists and Animators is about $79,000, well above the average U.S. salary. These highly-skilled tech workers can work in many diverse positions and include titles like:

• 3D Animator
• Art Director
• Motion Graphics Designer
• Video Editor
• Video Manager

Many animation and motion graphics professionals start their education with the Adobe Creative Suite. While most workers are familiar with Adobe Acrobat or Photoshop, animation pros may need to be well-trained in After Effects, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro. Maxon’s Cinema 4D software suite is another popular tool often required for animation roles.

Top U.S. cities for animation pros include:

• San Francisco
• Los Angeles
• New York
• Seattle
• Chicago

While many animation pros seek work in entertainment, design, or marketing, others find positions in industries or sectors not typically associated with animation. Forensic Animators help investigators recreate crime scenes, Mathematical Modelers may work in physics or chemical or electrical engineering, and Render Wranglers train in computer science to learn their skills. One thing is certain: whether you freelance or for a major studio, a career in animation can be an exciting, creative endeavor.