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Animation Classes Online

Unleash your creativity with online animation classes that teach you the art of bringing characters and graphics to life. Learn the fundamentals of animation, master industry-standard software, and gain the skills to create captivating animated videos and films.

91 classes have spots left

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.

Tuesday Jan 16th, 10am–5pm Eastern Time

 (16 sessions)

$3,495

16 sessions

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.

Monday Dec 18th, 10am–5pm Eastern Time

 (3 sessions)

$975

3 sessions

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.

Monday Aug 12th, 10am–4pm Eastern Time

 (4 sessions)

$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.

Monday Aug 12th, 10am–4pm Eastern Time

 (4 sessions)

$1,499

4 sessions

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.

Monday Aug 5th, 10am–4pm Eastern Time

 (8 sessions)

$2,495

8 sessions

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.

Monday Aug 5th, 10am–4pm Eastern Time

 (8 sessions)

$2,495

8 sessions

Motion Graphics & Video Editing Portfolio Development

Noble Desktop - Virtually Online

Discover how to create engaging and meaningful motion graphics and video edits from concept to completion in this in-depth course. Gain the skills necessary to build a professional portfolio and excel in the growing industries of motion graphics and video editing. Take the first step towards a career in this creative field with Noble Desktop.

Tuesday Jan 30th, 6–9pm Eastern Time

 (10 sessions)

$1,495

10 sessions

After Effects in a Day

NYC Career Centers - Virtually Online

After Effects is a powerful component of Adobe's suite of design software that allows you to create professional motion graphics with a simple but powerful user interface. This course will have you up and running quickly, as you learn to create animated GIFs, logos, transitions, and more. You'll get hands-on experience in a small class led by a leading motion graphics instructor.  Get started in this one-day workshop, or dive right into our...

Monday Dec 18th, 10am–5pm Eastern Time

$425

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.

Monday Dec 18th, 10am–6pm Eastern Time

 (3 sessions)

$1,295

3 sessions

$975

3 sessions

Introduction to Adobe After Effects CC

Future Media Concepts

Unlock the power of Adobe After Effects CC and take your motion graphics to new heights. Join industry professionals at Future Media Concepts and discover how to create stunning visual effects and animations with After Effects CC. Enhance your creative skills and bring your ideas to life in this dynamic course.

Monday Dec 18th, 10am–5:30pm Eastern Time

 (3 sessions)

$1,195

3 sessions

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.

Thursday Dec 21st, 10am–6pm Eastern Time

 (2 sessions)

$1,095

2 sessions

Adobe After Effects Level III (Online)

Manhattan Edit Workshop @ Virtual Class room

Enhance your Adobe After Effects skills with an advanced class covering alphas, formatting, rendering, 3D features, Photoshop integration, Cinema 4D, particles, paint effects, color correction, and more. Perfect for producers, editors, and motion graphic artists looking to master the intricacies of After Effects.

Saturday Dec 23rd, 10am–6pm Eastern Time

 (2 sessions)

$1,095

2 sessions

Adobe After Effects CC (Advanced)

Future Media Concepts

Take your motion graphics and compositions to the next level with the advanced techniques of Adobe After Effects. Master 3D features, the 3D engine, Cinema 4D, 3D camera tracking, warp stabilizing, particle playground, and other simulation effects. Enhance your projects with stroke, scribble, write-on, and paint effects. Join us at Future Media Concepts for this 2-day course!

Thursday Dec 28th, 10am–5:30pm Eastern Time

 (2 sessions)

$795

2 sessions

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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.

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