Discover the Best Animation Classes in Los Angeles
Most people think of cartoons when they read or hear the word animation. Far from being limited to static or motion cartoon work, this broad category also includes video game graphic design, website special effects, and small animations added to live-action videos on platforms like YouTube and TikTok.
The list of graphics, video, and art pros who learn animation techniques is even more expansive. Besides titles like Animator, 2D Animator, and 3D Animator, they include the following:
- 3D Modeler
- Character Rigger
- Compositor
- Environment Artist
- Lighting Artist
- Motion Graphics Animator
- Production Artist
- Technical Artist
- Video Editor
- Video Manager
If you're interested in learning animation to launch a career or add to your skill set, consider looking for a bootcamp or certificate you can take in-person in the Los Angeles area or live online from anywhere. Read on to learn more about the best animation classes in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metropolitan area.
Best Animation Classes & Schools in Los Angeles
- Noble Desktop—For those looking to work as Motion Graphics Designers, Animators, or Video Editors, Noble Desktop offers an immersive Motion Graphics Certificate. This program includes training in Adobe Creative Cloud software like After Effects and Premiere Pro, which work with Cinema 4D Lite from Maxon. Applicants should have working knowledge of Photoshop or Illustrator before enrolling.
- Training Connection—Training Connection offers computer and business skills classes, from Microsoft and Adobe Creative Cloud software to project management. Captivate Fundamentals is one of their popular courses that combines business with technical knowledge: trainers, sales executives and marketers typically use Adobe Captivate for presentations and multimedia projects. The class is open to students aged 14 and above.
- ONLC Training Centers—ONLC Training Centers offer IT education at over 300 locations throughout the U.S. Their programs include design, cybersecurity, and business courses. Articulate Storyline 360 Core Skills: Level 1 is one of their many e-learning offerings. Participants learn this cloud-based development tool in an intensive two-session program. While there are no prerequisites, ONLC recommends reviewing the general Storyline tutorials before the first class.
- CG Master Academy (CGMA)—If you look for animation training in Los Angeles, you will quickly become familiar with CG Master Academy (CGMA). This school provides numerous art and design classes, including many appropriate for animation. For a deep dive into motion graphics, check out their 2D Motion Graphics in After Effects course, an eight-week program that teaches attendees how to create animations and other visual elements. Applicants should have an understanding of design fundamentals before enrollment.
- Lumenbrite Training—The Premiere Pro Training: Bootcamp from Lumenbrite introduces video editing beginners to this Adobe Creative Cloud software. Subjects in this immersive weeklong bootcamp include Adobe Audition, Dynamic Link with After Effects, and Media Encoder. There are no prerequisites for Premiere Pro Training: Bootcamp.
Los Angeles Industries That Use Animation
The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metropolitan area covers a wide swath of geography and population. Top industries here include:
- Entertainment
- Fashion & Apparel
- Retail
- Professional & Business Services
- Government
Besides entertainment, industries here that use animation also include IT, manufacturing, health services, and FinTech. Some industries mainly use different types of animation tools than others. For example, Adobe Premiere Pro, Animate, and After Effects are industry standards in the movie industry; in professional and business services, workers are more likely to be familiar with Photoshop or PowerPoint.
Animation Jobs & Salaries in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is one part of the country with plenty of opportunities for those with animation expertise. California tech roles abound in areas like Hollywood, Burbank, and Mountain View, but L.A. is home to some of the biggest animation studios, including:
- 20th Century Fox Animation (Century City)
- Cartoon Network Studios (Burbank)
- DreamWorks Animation (Glendale)
- Pixar (Richmond)
- Sony Pictures Animation (Culver City)
- Walt Disney Animation Studios (Burbank)
- Warner Bros. Animation (Burbank)
Design and animation salaries in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area range from modest to much higher than the national average. While a Video Editor here can expect to earn around $65,000 annually— more than 40% higher than the national average—a Video Manager typically earns about $84,000 per year on average.
Salaries for 2D and 3D Animators are even higher in L.A., averaging around $89,000 annually. For 2D Animators, that represents an average base salary over 130% higher than the national average, an impressive number.
As in most industries, management positions tend to pay more. The base salary for an Art Director in the L.A. metro area is $98,000 on average. And at the high end of the range, an experienced Design Director commands an average annual salary of $142,000—around 18% higher than the national average for comparable positions.
Salaries at these levels may require years of experience, and some industries pay more than others. Regardless of the role you choose, an animation career can be artistically and financially rewarding as long as you have the right training.
