Animation is an emerging medium of communication. It offers a creative career ahead, hence, the number of people willing to take up a career in animation is on the rise. However, animation training is expensive. Is is due to the high cost of proprietary animation software. But should it be? Well, we, at TrumpLearning, believe that learning should be open to all and must never be a costly affair.
To help you learn animation on a budget, we scouted through the internet and researched through some of the animation classes online. After reviewing more than 100 animation classes online and consulting 35 animation experts, we have a list of the nine best animation classes online.
This list of the best animation classes online has been prepared after considering many factors, such as the offerings of the course, the background of the instructor, student rating, certification offered, and pricing of the course. Now, let us get started and take a look at some of the best animation classes online. Hopefully, through this list of the best animation training courses, you can find your preferred online animation training course.
9 Best Animation Classes & Courses Online
- Learn 3D Animation - The Ultimate NEW BLENDER 2.8 Course A-Z (Udemy)
- Animation and CGI Motion Offered by Columbia University (edX)
- Basic 3D animation using Blender Offered by IIT Bombay (edX)
- Character Animation Basics: Create a Dance Loop with After Effects and Photoshop (Skillshare)
- Animation for Illustration: Creating Layered GIFs with Photoshop & After Effects (Skillshare)
- Animation Foundations: Fundamentals (LinkedIn)
- Maya for Beginners: Complete Guide to 3D Animation in Maya (Udemy)
- After Effects CC Creating Your First Animation (PluralSight)
- Become a 2D Digital Animator (LinkedIn)
About the course
There is a myriad of animation courses online. However, this one in particular by Udemy caught her eye, and it is why it ranks right at the top in our list of top animation courses online. Not only that, of the several animation courses online offered by Udemy, but it is also a bestseller course on their platform and has a rating of 4.6.
We particularly like this of the many animation courses online because it is an all-new and updated course on Blender 2.8. Through the course you’ll be guided to create animations using the new Blender 2.8. The tutor has included some of the band new projects and animations that you will be working on here. The tutor will teach you some intermediate skills through this animation certificate online course as the course progresses. Further, you and your instructor will work together to create some incredibly unique projects.
After that, the instructor will step by step take you through the process of creating your first full-blown animation from creating your character, texturing, rigging, animating, and adding sound. The animation certificate online course will help you develop projects, animations, and models you can be proud of as you hone your skills.
An important reason why it ranks at the top in our animation courses online list is that you get complete lifetime access with this course. So, whenever you wish to come back and revise, you can. It is one of the most comprehensive animation courses online. You will be taking 110 different lectures, each of which is ideal for anyone who wants to learn 3D graphics, regardless of whether you have any experience. In this course, you will learn 3D art skills, which will enable you to create your 3D artwork. Another notable feature of this one of the top-ranked animation courses online is that it is a hands-on project. So, you will work on several projects and practice whatever you learn. It will help you master the art of 3D and come out of it with some excellent work of your own.
A beneficial aspect of this one of the most well-rated animation courses online is getting a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee with this course. So, if any element is not pleasing enough, you can always request a refund. It is one of the detailed animation courses online, which comes with 19 hours of on-demand video. Further, whatever content or resources you receive through this animation certificate online remain yours forever. You can access the same via mobile or TV. Following the completion of this course, you will bag yourself an animation certificate online from Udemy.
What will you learn?
When ranking the animation courses online, our primary consideration is to see how much you learn from a course. From that perspective, too, this one is a winner in our animation courses online list. Some of the things that you will learn through this course include:
- New Blender 2.8 and its new interface - The tutor will cover everything from the basics to the advanced level to help you create animations in 3D using Blender 2.8.
- Through this course, you will have the skills, knowledge, and know how to create your very own animations from start to finish.
- All the skills that you possibly need to create your animation and works of art from start to finished product!
What do you need?
Another consideration in ranking the animation courses online is assessing how much past knowledge is required by the user to undertake this course. As it is only a beginner-level course, you do not need any prior experience for the course. However, you will need to Download Blender 2.8, which is a free tool. Further, if you are excited and willing to learn, this is one of the best choices for animation courses online.
Who should take up this course?
It is one of the most-liked animation courses online. It is perfect for anyone who has zero knowledge of 3D, anyone from older versions of Blender, or anyone who has some experience but wants to further their knowledge and go from A-Z. However, for someone who already is aware of all the ins and outs of Blender, you will have to look for any other online animation training.
Reviews by Nathan Hawkes
“
This is a really great course to take. The instructor gives you a good base on what you need to make an animation. As you go through it I would take your time and just play around with a bunch of different tools, as it will help build your skill set as you go. I really enjoyed my time with this course.
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About the course
Next in our list of the animation courses online is a course offered by Columbia University. It is an edX course, and approximately 36,000 students have already enrolled for this course. Now, why is it the best animation course online?
It is an animation certificate online course, which will help you create lifelike animations. The instructor of this best animation course online focuses on CGI animation's technical aspects and gives you a glimpse into how studios approach physically-based animation.
It is one of the best animation classes online because it is detailed and offers you a lot. This one is a 12-week course, which will require an effort of 8–10 hours per week. Being one of the best animation classes online, it is free to undertake. However, if you wish to make this an animation certificate online course, you will have to bear a fee of 248.99 dollars. In doing so, you will bag yourself a verified animation certificate online.
What will you learn?
The reason why we regard it as one of the best animation classes online is that it is one of the very few complete courses in terms of learning. Through this course, you will learn a bunch of things. These include:
- Integration of ordinary differential equations such as those needed to predict a dress's motion in the wind.
- Formulation of models needed for physical phenomena such as crumpling sheet metal and flowing water.
- How to manage discontinuities, such as fractures and collisions.
- Simulation of liquids and solids in both Lagrangian and Eulerian coordinates.
- Artistic control of physically-based animations.
- To code your physics simulator to master the fundamental algorithms for creating lifelike animations, clothing, hair, liquids, rigid bodies, and more!
- Temporal integration of the equations of motion
- Formulation of mathematical models for mechanical systems
- Numerical methods for treating contact and impact
- Lagrangian and Eulerian representations of continua control of physical models
Further, your learned concepts through this one of the top-ranked and the best animation classes online are that the instructor gives you a hands-on learning experience. So, you will be putting into practice all your learnings via the programming assignments spanning:
- Discretizing and integrating Newton's equations of motion
- Constrained Lagrangian Mechanics
- Collisions, contact, and friction: detection and response
- Continuum mechanics
- Finite elements
- Rigid body simulation
- Thin shell and cloth simulation
- Elastic rod and hair simulation
- Fluid simulation
What do you need?
It is the best animation course of the advanced level. So, if you have some prior knowledge, it can be a good animation certificate online course for you.
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About this course
Another one in our list of the best animation classes online is again a course by edX. The introductory course is designed using an open-source 3D animation tool: Blender. The Blender helps to create a sustainable solution for animation skill development. Learners willing to develope skillsets for 3D animation can take this best animation course online. This best animation training will help you learn the nuances of 3D animation and Blender. It is a four week best animation training course covering the basics of key-framing, timing, and animation principles.
The animation certificate online course comprises slow-paced video tutorials, quizzes, activities, and hands-on assignments. During this animation certificate online, the learners will be creating simple animation motion, using Blender as a tool.
This best animation training course has video tutorials explaining the concepts and the software required to create these animations. The tutorials are designed in such a way that the learner can apply these concepts to in his/her work to create similar or new animations.
The animation certificate online course focuses primarily on animation of non-organic objects as the education domain requires such objects' motion. It does not cover any character animation. This best animation course online is a part of the Professional Certificate program 'Fundamentals of 3D visualization'. Another course in this program is Basic 3D Modeling using Blender. This animation certificate online (combining 101x and 102x is a prerequisite for other certificate programs on Architectural visualization and Game creation.
The best animation course is a free course by edX. However, if you need a verified certificate for the course, you will have to pay $49. It is a 4-week best animation training. However, you will need an effort of 4-6 hours every week.
What will you learn?
It is the best animation course because it has a lot for you to learn. Some essential things that you can know through these animation classes online include:
- Exploring the visualization 3D concepts
- Applying the concepts of the timing and motion to create 3D animation
- Integrating animation principles to achieve realistic timing in the 3D animation
- Learning the intricacies of a free and open-source 3D animation tool: Blender
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About the course
Wish to learn animation, but not sure how and where to start? You can now create a dance loop from start to finish and learn After Effects along the way in this fun, comprehensive best animation course online.
In this Skillshare course offering online animation training, your instructor will be Bee Grandinetti. He is a prolific illustrator and animator and is famous for his iconic hand-drawn style and analog approach to animation planning. Throughout this best animation course online, you will be appreciative of the holistic approach of Bee. It will help you understand the foundational principles of effective animation in addition to the technical skills every animator needs to know.
Through this course, to learn animation online, you will be doing everything from sketching with pencil and paper to final tweaks to your finished animation. The best part of this course where you learn animation online is that it is a hands-on course. So, you will follow Ben through every step of his training. The course is a tried and tested process to create your dancing character as you go.
Over 7000 students have taken up these animation classes online. So, why are you still waiting? You will work on 62 projects through this online animation training. Why would you want to miss it?
What will you learn?
Through this best animation course online, you and Ben will walk through a fun session to learn to:
- Use Adobe After Effects
- Setting up a canvas to animating a character
- Create interesting-looking motion through speed graphs and easing in and out
- Speed up the process of animation with Bee's shortcuts and tips
- Adapt the traditional onion skin animation approach to your digital process
Who should take up this course?
To be straightforward and upfront, this online animation training is for everyone. It is an intermediate level course to learn animation online. So, regardless of whether it is your first-time trying the After Effects or if you aspire to sharpen your existing animation skills, this best animation course is your best bet to upskill yourself.
Reviews by Shubham Sharma
“
Thank you so much for this amazing class. Learning everything on the internet, it feels great to have such amazing teacher. If you are interested in animating in after effects and photoshop, then this is the class for you. The quality of content is superb.
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About the course
Wish to take GIFs to a whole new level? Well, now you can with this Skillshare best animation training. It is an efficient online animation training where the tutor combines Photoshop with simple steps in After Effects to create layered animations with a hand-drawn look.
It is a comprehensive platform to learn animation online. Your instructor for this online animation training will be Abbey Lossing. He will teach you several tips and tricks to bring Photoshop creations to life by adding a few introductory steps in Adobe After Effects. Through this best animation training, you will be doing everything from sketching and coloring to timing out motion and exporting to share. The instructor of this course is a trained professional. He will take you through everything you need to know to create show-stopping animations that marry the hand-drawn quality of Photoshop with After Effects' cinematic look.
Do you know why it has found a place in our list of the animation classes online? It is because through this learn animation online course, the instructor will teach you all the crucial tips and tricks that you possibly need to transition seamlessly between Photoshop and After Effects.
It is an intermediate level best animation course online. Approximately 8000 students have taken up this online animation training. So, you will thoroughly enjoy the tutor's offerings through this course to learn animation online.
What will you learn?
In this course, to learn animation online, you will know how to:
- Sketch and color a quirky scene with an eye toward motion
- Use video layers in Photoshop to animate your character
- Structure your files to stay organized and easily make changes
- Activate your animation with introductory tools in After Effects
Who should take up this course?
It is one of the best animation course for any illustrator who is serious about becoming both motion or a seasoned GIF-creator. If you wish to make the next project pop, it is the best animation training for you. Through this best animation course, you will learn to add After Effects to your process. It is a natural next step that's easier than you think. Follow along to unlock your ability to create hand-drawn animations with dynamic, expressive movement!
Reviews by Diane Eisenstat
“
This is a really phenomenal class. I was looking at everyone else's work and was astounded. Thanks, Abbey!
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About the course
The next best animation course is LinkedIn's beginner-level course. Through this online animation training, you will do what the prolific animators, motion graphics artists, and visual effects designers of the world do. Your instructor for this best animation course is Author George Maestri. He will review the basic concepts of animation and teach you key things like what makes things move—and the features you'll find in almost every animation package, including X, Y, and Z planes, keyframes, animation paths, hierarchies, pivots, and rotation. Further, through this best animation course, you will learn time-tested techniques that bring your animations to life, such as easing, squash and stretch, exaggeration, staging, and the importance of timing. Approximately 20,000 people have taken up this course to learn animation online. Why are you still waiting?
Who should take up this course?
This best animation course online will benefit everyone who wishes to learn animation.
Reviews by Umantazhi Esonor
“
This course is amazing, most of the things he taught I can't possibly learn them on my own within a short period of time. Even tho I haven't really started practicing, its like an eye opener to things I wished to have understood long time ago.. Great instructor.
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About the course
Next, we have a Udemy course, which has a rating of 4.6 and is a Bestseller online course.
These animation classes online are taught by a renowned Hollywood professional. Autodesk Maya is the industry's standard 3D animation software. It is a pivotal tool to learn if you wish to bag yourself a job in the film, music, and gaming industry. Through this course, you will be able to create your entire animation from scratch. The best thing about this course is that it is a hands-on course, where you learn by doing projects.
You will work on a Dia de Los Muertos inspired scene with a complete animated skeleton in this course. After completion, you will indeed be inspired by your own skills. The course will make you a confident professional in using Autodesk Maya.
Through this course, you get 25+ hours of easy-to-follow tutorials. Additionally, you also get bonus animation demonstrations. You can find downloadable project files for every step of the course. Lastly, the instructor will provide you premium support to help you as you take the course.
Through this course, you get a 30-day 100% money-back guarantee. So, if there is any reason that you are not enjoying the course as much as you do, you can get your money refunded. The course comprises 25.5 hours of on-demand video, 1 article, and one downloadable resource that comes with lifetime access. The course can be viewed on both TV and mobile. With this best course to learn animation online, you bag yourself a certificate of completion.
What will you learn?
The online animation training will help you learn a bunch of things. These include:
- Becoming comfortable using Autodesk Maya to model, texture, rig, animate, dynamics, light, and render
- Building and designing your 3D objects
- Animating your 3D objects with keyframes
- Modeling, shading, texturing, lighting beautiful designs
- Rendering your projects for high-quality playback
- Rigging a 3D character for animation
- Simulating dynamic effects like water, cloth, and smoke
- Through this course, you will learn how to put together an entire 3D animated scene.
What do you need?
For undertaking the best animation course, you need a few prerequisites. These include:
- Autodesk Maya to follow along with the course - You can find a free 3-year educational version of Maya from the Autodesk website
- 3-button mouse
Why should you take up this course?
In this course, you will be learning from Lucas Ridley. He is a professional 3D animator and has worked on a bunch of Hollywood films such as Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One. His students always have loved him. So, you can be assured of a fun time while you take this course. Lucas will simplify the most complicated things to you in this online class for Autodesk Maya. Phil is also an instructor of the course who is just as good. They will help you start doing animation on your own. It is a course for complete beginners who want to get started with Autodesk Maya and take their learnings to the next level. However, anyone who wishes to learn 3D animation and the tools used by professional animators in the film industry can also take this course.
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About the course
In our humble opinion, there is no better way to learn animation online along with after effects, than by getting in the program and completing a real project. In these animation classes online, you will work through a real animation project and gain a solid foundation by learning good habits, the best workflows, and fundamental knowledge of After Effects' main features. The course will teach you about the After Effects workflow and how to stay organized. You will also explore 2D character rigging/animation as well as how to write expressions. Lastly, in these classes, you will be comfortable enough with After Effects to complete your complex animation projects.
What do you need?
To undertake this 3h 46 mins beginner class on After Effects, you need a software, i.e., After Effects CC.
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About the course
Last in our list of courses to learn animation online is a cluster of seven courses by LinkedIn. It has a total of 23-hour of content where you use your creativity and technical skills to bring characters and stories to life as a 2D digital animator. These animation classes online will take you from concept to finished animation, using industry-standard tools and the latest techniques from prominent animators in the business.
What will you learn?
Through the LinkedIn courses to learn animation online, you will understand the:
- Basics of animation and character development for 2D.
- Application of the Storytelling principles to your animations.
You will also get an array of practice exercises to practice what you are taught.
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So, these, according to us, are the nine top animation classes online. We have prepared this list of the animation classes online, upon a careful discussion with 35 of the reputed animation experts worldwide. So, we never compromise on the standards of ranking in our list of the animation classes online. To know more about these animation classes online, you can explore the websites of these course providers. For your easy access to these animation classes online, we have provided a site link along with the course names above. So, go ahead, take a good look at them, and then you will be able to pick the best animation course online for yourself. Good Luck!