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Animation Classes Boston

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Unleash your creativity and bring your ideas to life with animation classes in Boston. From introductory courses for beginners to advanced workshops for experienced animators, learn the techniques, software, and skills needed to create captivating animations and gain an edge in the industry.

2 classes in-person in Boston have spots left, and 18 classes live online are available.

Motion Graphics Certificate

Noble Desktop - Virtually Online

Become a skilled Motion Graphics Designer and master the art of animating motion graphics, creating visual effects, and editing videos using industry-standard software like Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro, and Cinema 4D Lite. Develop a strong portfolio showcasing your creative techniques and gain the skills needed to meet the growing demand for video professionals.

(372) All levels 18 and older
$3,495

16 sessions

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After Effects Bootcamp

Noble Desktop - Virtually Online

Discover the secrets of creating captivating motion graphics and animations in this comprehensive course. Gain hands-on experience with real-world projects and learn from a leading instructor, as you delve into techniques like motion tracking and animating 3D layers. Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of Adobe Photoshop recommended.

(372) All levels 18 and older
$975

3 sessions

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After Effects in a Day

Noble Desktop - Virtually Online

Learn how to create stunning animations, add music and sounds, and import files from Illustrator and Photoshop in this hands-on workshop at Noble Desktop. Perfect for beginners looking to master After Effects in just one day.

(372) All levels 18 and older
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Video Editing & Animation Certificate (High School)

NextGen Bootcamp @ Live Virtual

Unlock your creativity and bring your video projects to life with the Video Editing & Animation Certificate at NextGen Bootcamp. Master industry-standard software, Adobe Premiere Pro, for professional video editing, and then explore the exciting world of animation with After Effects. Start your journey towards a future in film and media today.

(61) All levels 13 - 18 years old
$2,495

8 sessions

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Video Editing & Animation Certificate (High School)

NextGen Bootcamp - Virtually Online

Learn industry-standard video editing and animation skills in this comprehensive certificate program. Master Adobe Premiere Pro to create professional video projects, then take your skills further with advanced techniques in After Effects. Launch your career in film or multimedia with this hands-on course.

(61) All levels 13 - 18 years old
$2,495

8 sessions

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Animation with After Effects (High School)

NextGen Bootcamp @ Live Virtual

Learn to create eye-catching animations and dazzling visual effects with Adobe After Effects in this hands-on summer program at NextGen Bootcamp. Dive into basic animation concepts and processes, and then explore advanced techniques such as title and text animation, 3D layer animation, and motion tracking. Suitable for beginners with no previous experience in animation or design.

(61) All levels 13 - 18 years old
$1,299

4 sessions

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Animation with After Effects (High School)

NextGen Bootcamp - Virtually Online

Unlock your creativity and bring your imagination to life with Animation with After Effects. Discover the exciting world of animation and motion graphics in this hands-on summer program in NYC. Join us at NextGen Bootcamp and learn how to navigate the After Effects workspace, master basic animation techniques, and create stunning visual effects.

(61) All levels 13 - 18 years old
$1,499

4 sessions

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Video Editing Certificate

Noble Desktop - Virtually Online

Master the art of video editing, audio editing, and motion graphics at a leading institution. Learn the creative techniques and workflow required to transform concepts into fully edited videos. Elevate your skills and stand out to potential clients or employers with a compelling video editing demo reel.

(372) All levels 18 and older
$2,995

13 sessions

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Adobe After Effects Private Training

Noble Desktop - Virtually Online

Unlock the power of motion graphics with this comprehensive training. Master Adobe After Effects' interface, timeline, and layer animation techniques to craft stunning GIFs, animate logos, and seamlessly integrate artwork from Illustrator and Photoshop.

(372) All levels 13 and older

After Effects Advanced

Noble Desktop - Virtually Online

Take your After Effects skills to the next level with this advanced course at Noble Desktop. Master text and shape animations, learn video compositing techniques, and discover how to speed up your workflow with expressions. Enhance your motion graphics and compositing skills with hands-on projects in this immersive course.

(372) Advanced 18 and older
$975

3 sessions

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Cinema 4D in After Effects Bootcamp

Noble Desktop - Virtually Online

Unlock the power of 3D graphics in your After Effects projects with this immersive hands-on course. Learn to create and animate stunning 3D models, apply textures, and seamlessly integrate with After Effects using Cinema 4D Lite. Expand your skill set and take your motion projects to new heights.

(372) All levels 18 and older
$975

6 sessions

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Adobe After Effects Level I (Online)

Manhattan Edit Workshop @ Virtual Class room

Learn the essentials of Adobe After Effects for motion graphics and visual effects with this introductory online course. Discover traditional After Effects workflow, basic animation techniques, keying, and 3D effects. Gain the skills needed to create compelling motion graphics and visual effects.

(95) Beginner 16 and older
$1,295

3 sessions

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After Effects Bootcamp

Training Connection @ Online

Learn to create special effects and motion graphics in this After Effects course at Training Connection. Perfect for graphic and video professionals looking to enhance their editing and compositing skills, this hands-on bootcamp covers everything from basic animation to advanced concepts like 3D and particle simulations. No prior experience is required.

(158) All levels 14 and older
$1,995

5 sessions

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After Effects Fundamentals

Training Connection @ Online

Master Adobe After Effects in this hands-on course at Training Connection. Suitable for graphic and video professionals looking to enhance their editing and compositing abilities, this course offers both beginners and experienced users the opportunity to learn and practice various projects and tricks. No prior experience with After Effects is required.

(158) Beginner 14 and older
$1,495

3 sessions

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Adobe After Effects Level II (Online)

Manhattan Edit Workshop @ Virtual Class room

Take your motion graphics skills to the next level with a two-day intermediate class at Manhattan Edit Workshop. Learn industry-standard practices for creating stunning visuals in Adobe After Effects. Enhance your movies with text, graphics, and effects and gain a high level of efficiency in your work.

(95) Intermediate 16 and older
$1,095

2 sessions

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After Effects Advanced

Training Connection @ Online

Take your After Effects skills to the next level with this advanced course. Learn motion tracking, advanced masking, 3D effects, and more in this comprehensive training program designed for experienced users. Elevate your video production with Training Connection.

(158) Advanced 14 and older
$995

2 sessions

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Adobe After Effects I (Online)

Key Code Education @ Virtual Classroom

Unlock the full potential of Adobe After Effects with Key Code Education's immersive course. Learn to create stunning motion graphics, master advanced animation techniques, and discover the power of video blending and keying effects. Perfect for editors, VFX editors, and graphic artists seeking to elevate their skills.

(8) Beginner 18 and older
$1,175

4 sessions

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Adobe After Effects II (Online)

Key Code Education @ Virtual Classroom

Enhance your motion editing and compositing in Adobe After Effects with Key Code Education's advanced online course. Learn complex document creation, work with a variety of palettes and tools, and discover best practices for creating professional-grade motion graphics and video effects. Perfect for editors, VFX editors, and graphic artists looking to take their skills to the next level.

(8) All levels 18 and older
$1,175

4 sessions

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After Effects Bootcamp

NYC Career Centers - Virtually Online

Master the art of creating professional videos, animations, and special effects with After Effects. Elevate your skills in motion graphics and animation, from basic techniques to advanced motion tracking and particle effects. Take your video editing to the next level at NYC Career Centers.

(679) All levels 18 and older
$975

3 sessions

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Learning to Stream from a YouTube and Twitch Partner

Mt. San Antonio College

Unlock your potential in the world of online streaming with this course that teaches you the essential hardware, software, and strategies needed to grow your platform and build a following. Discover the secrets to creating engaging content, mastering video editing, and choosing the right streaming platform. Take the first step towards a successful business venture in streaming.

(81) Beginner 18 and older
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Reviews for Animation Classes in Boston

Animation Classes in Boston are rated 4.6 stars based on 1,454 verified reviews from actual CourseHorse.com purchasers.

  • Adobe After Effects Level II (Online)

    Reviewed by David S. on 5/27/2021
    Chad was wonderful! Very clear instruction, great attitude, and a lot of fun!
  • Adobe After Effects Level I (Online)

    Reviewed by Kedrick W. on 10/16/2020
    Amazing class taught by Mr.Mark Chandler. The 3 jam-packed days were just a steller foundation on what's possible with creating in After Effects and Premiere. The class was a mixture of informational lessons and real-world perspectives. I feel more confident tackling more AE projects now.
  • After Effects in a Day

    Anonymous review on 11/7/2019
    Amazing instructor!
  • After Effects in a Day

    Reviewed by Mary B. on 10/17/2019
    Great teacher! Learned a lot in one day.
  • After Effects in a Day

    Anonymous review on 8/3/2019
    Very good for learning with no experience or for filling in the gaps from self teaching AfterEffects. Wish there were a little more complex concepts taught other than just moving shapes around on 2D space but you can only teach so much in a day. Got a little too quick towards the end when exporting projects and learning different compressions so it felt arbitrary to even explain. But overall good class and great teacher, perfect pace for learning from scratch and if you need to learn specifically how to make gifs and logos
  • After Effects Bootcamp

    Reviewed by Dov A. on 5/2/2019
    Kalika was a fantastic instructor bringing patience and humor to every lesson. Thanks to her, I have a strong grasp on the topics covered, am confident in my skills and capability to delve further into the app. Kalika is the rare teacher who goes the extra mile for her students because she's happy to. One suggestion note is that there are a few lessons that start off with importing or setting up in more than one way for the sake of learning how different modes function. I think the class would benefit from taking time in between the demonstrations to practice that part before continuing into the bulk of the lesson - I found that I forgot what the take-away was from that initial portion of the lesson by the time the demonstration was over, and conducting that portion on my own created an interruption between the demonstration and going through the section on my own.
  • After Effects in a Day

    Anonymous review on 5/17/2018
    The class was challenging, but it was a great introduction to what's possible in After Effects!
  • After Effects in a Day

    Reviewed by Vanessa S. on 3/19/2018
    Great teacher who's passionate about what she teaches. She's also really helpful and insightful with answering questions.
  • After Effects in a Day

    Reviewed by Neela A. on 9/29/2017
    love it!
  • After Effects Bootcamp

    Reviewed by Eric Vasquez on 7/11/2016
    I had been trying to learn After Effects on my own for a while, but it wasn't until I decided to take the course through Noble Desktop that things really started to make sense for me. Now I feel that I have a solid foundation and am more excited than before about learning After Effects. As much as I enjoyed this class, I only wish that there was a second part to this course or something that would take you into some of the more intermediate/advanced techniques with track mattes, rotoscoping, null objects etc.

Discover the Best Animation Classes in Boston

To animate an object is to breathe life into it, or, more strictly speaking, to imbue it with a soul, the Latin word for which is anima. The number of entities capable of creating souls being highly limited, the animation done by mortals not named Frankenstein is a trick or an illusion. The trick can, however, be spectacular when a very big stack of drawings is viewed at the rate of 12 per second and can seemingly bring to life and tell the story of a besotted mermaid, a handsome prince, and a villainous sea witch.

The Little Mermaid was Disney’s last entirely hand-drawn animated feature. Disney subsequently developed its own computer animation software (CAPS, Computer Animation Production System) that soon made possible such effects as a chorus line of identical diving teaspoons worthy of a Busby Berkeley movie. Computer animation developed by leaps and bounds after that: exactly four years to the day elapsed between Disney’s 1991 release of Beauty and the Beast and then-independent Pixar’s release of the fully 3D computer-animated Toy Story in 1995. Since then, computer animation has all but replaced the hand-drawn animation of the Little Mermaid and her illustrious predecessors.

There is all manner of software capable of creating computer-generated imagery (CGI), and it is used in everything from animated motion pictures to “live-action” movies that leave a lot of their image creation to the computer, which is far cheaper than having to manufacture an entire set of White Star Line china only to break it, as was done when James Cameron made Titanic in 1997. Computers can create animation for purposes beyond the motion picture industry: even small companies are either doing in-house animation or farming out animation projects to promote themselves, especially on platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

Technological progress has put all manner of motion graphics software within the reach of laypeople whose forte isn’t drawing. It hasn’t evolved to the point at which someone who can’t draw stick figures can create Beauty and the Beast using one laptop, but software such as Adobe After Effects does make it possible for people who aren’t great with pencil and paper to create elaborate and visually satisfying animations, and as sure as tea leaves will initially float when dumped into a harbor, so can a creative person find a professional home in animation.

Best Animation Classes & Schools in Boston

If you’re looking for a Downtown location, American Media Training is located in the Bedford Building, and teaches two levels of After Effects classes. The beginner class runs for three weekdays and covers everything from importing footage to create a project to animating text, using shape layers, using the Roto Brush tool, performing color correction, and building 3D objects. The advanced class lasts for two days, and, picking up where the beginner class left off, goes on to cover such topics as compositing, color keying, and a whole lesson in animated pyrotechnics that will teach you how to blow up the world you just created.

If Woburn is too inconvenient, and if taking the T to get downtown isn’t your cup of, well, tea, you might prefer employing the internet to bring a live online class to a location that suits you better. Live online classes incorporate most of the advantages of in-person classes (you can ask the teacher questions, and the instructor can even magically reach into your screen and help you should you get impossibly stuck), with the incomparable convenience of being able to study anywhere you like, from Hingham to Saugus and from Framingham to the Harbor, or, for that matter, from Boston Spa in West Yorkshire to Boston Suzak in Kyrgyzstan.

A specialist in such classes (in English, but not quite yet in Kyrgyz) is Noble Desktop, which can get you kitted out with a Motion Graphics Certificate that will testify that you know how to edit video with PremierePro, render animation with Cinema 4D Lite, and, of course, create motion graphics with After Effects. The class takes 17 weekdays to complete, and includes such useful features as help with developing your demo reel (portfolio), and 1-to-1 mentoring sessions with established professionals to help guide you as you seek to make a career in animation. Also included is a free retake option and proprietary teaching materials created by the school for its students.

If a complete certificate program seems too long, too expensive, or if you just want to learn to use After Effects, you may wish to consider Noble Desktop’s After Effects Bootcamp. In the space of only three weekdays, the class teaches students to use the software to create animations, titles, and 3D objects. Included in the class tuition is the opportunity for 1-to-1 bonus training, which gives you a chance to meet privately with your instructor to clarify a difficult point or just ask questions you’re afraid the rest of the class will consider stupid. Students taking on either the certificate program or the bootcamp should already possess working knowledge of Illustrator and Photoshop before tackling motion graphics. (Noble Desktop gives classes in those programs as well.)

Another possibility for a live online class in After Effects is Adobe After Effects Level 1, a three-day program from Manhattan Edit Workshop that starts students off at the beginning with the fundamentals of motion graphics and goes on to show them how to create animations of their own using such essential tools as keyframes, layers, and masks. Also available are Level 2 and Level 3 classes (two days each) for students who require an even deeper knowledge of the software.

If you’d rather be spared a first-thing-in-the-morning class as well as that trip on the T at rush hour, you might consider Adobe After Effects for Beginners (Level 1) from Digital Workshop Center. Based in idyllic Fort Collins, Colorado (the “Napa Valley of craft beer”), the school teaches its motion graphics classes from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mountain Time, which should suit late risers on the East Coast very nicely indeed. If they desire, students may continue along to Adobe After Effects Advanced (Level 2), which introduces such cool gizmos as the 3D Camera Tracker, the Roto Brush Tool, and the Puppet Tool. The course is also available in-person, and might make an interesting way to write off part of a Colorado vacation. (Neither the Fort Collins Ghost Tour nor craft beer samples are included.)

Boston Industries That Use Animation

Animation may not be as Bostonian as the Red Sox, Bruins, or the bean, but the area is home to a large quantity of video production, graphic design, and advertising firms that make animation on a regular basis. Boston also lays claim to being the birthplace, not just of the American Revolution, but also (through MIT) of the video game. While that industry in Boston has been through numerous ups and downs, and the current scene consists mainly of small, independent studios, it still exists, and jobs for animators exist in that sector as well.

Boston isn’t exactly the place to go if you want to work on an animated movie (that’s still Hollywood), but there are job opportunities in Beantown for animators. You may have to exercise a bit of originality to locate them, but there are opportunities, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ location quotient of 1.1 for the Boston-Cambridge-Nashua area shows. (A location quotient of 1.1 indicates that the Boston megalopolis employs 1.1 times as many animators and special effects artists as the national average.)

Animation Jobs & Salaries in Boston

In the world view of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, animators and special effects artists are considered one job category, partly because of the ways in which what once were “real” special effects are now practically the exclusive domain of CGI. O*net Online, another database run by the US Department of Labor, goes on to break up the category into job titles such as 2D animator/artist, 3D animator/artist, animator, graphic artist, digital artist, and the rather grand-sounding multimedia producer.

Using BLS 2022 figures, 720 people are employed in these capacities in the greater Boston area, which makes for that 1.1 location quotient and the encouraging news that you stand a slightly better chance of getting an animator job in Boston than you do in the country as a whole. The mean annual salary for animators in Boston is roughly $86,000, a bit more than the $81,000 mean annual wage for all Bostonians but quite a bit less than the $111,000 mean annual wage for animators in the United States as a whole.

That also needs to be weighed against the infamously high cost of living in Boston, which Payscale puts at 50% higher than the national average, with housing costs a daunting 124% more and groceries costing some 14% more than the national average. And a Fenway Frank at a Red Sox game, complete with mustard, onions, and relish, will run you $6.25.

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