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Animation Classes San Francisco

Unlock your creativity and bring your imagination to life with animation classes in San Francisco. Learn the art of storytelling through motion and gain valuable skills in character design, 2D and 3D animation techniques, and more.

Unfortunately, no classes in-person in San Francisco have spots left, but 15 classes live online are available.

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

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

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

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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.

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

Adobe After Effects for Beginners (Level 1)

Digital Workshop Center

Learn the basics of vector animation and create dynamic visual effects and motion graphics for commercial video and web designs in Adobe After Effects at Digital Workshop Center. Impress your audience with breathtaking motion graphics and become a visual effects professional.

Monday Jan 22nd, 9am–12:30pm Mountain Time

 (4 sessions)

$1,325

4 sessions

Adobe After Effects CC (Intermediate)

Future Media Concepts

Take your Adobe After Effects skills to the next level with this intermediate-level course at Future Media Concepts. Learn how to incorporate text, graphics, and effects into your movies, and gain a thorough understanding of the menu and tools in After Effects. Perfect for videographers, graphic artists, and animators looking to enhance their skills.

Tuesday Dec 26th, 10am–5:30pm Eastern Time

 (2 sessions)

$795

2 sessions

Motion 101 - An Introduction to Motion 5

Future Media Concepts

Learn to create stunning motion graphics, titles, and effects with Motion 5 in this hands-on course at Future Media Concepts. Dive into the world of compositing, animation, and 3D as you explore intelligent templates, parameter rigs, and advanced 3D features. Perfect for those looking for interactive instruction in motion graphics.

Wednesday Feb 14th, 10am–5:30pm Eastern Time

 (3 sessions)

$1,595

3 sessions

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Discover the Best Animation Classes in San Francisco

It’s all but impossible to go a single day in the 21st century without encountering multiple examples of animation and motion graphics. From blockbuster movies and streaming anime to e-commerce websites and reels, the art of moving images is a fixture of life today. This is good news for creatives with an aptitude for technology, as Animators will be in high demand to keep up with the 2028 projected global market size of $531.237 billion.

A career in animation has many perks, including providing an unusual amount of job security for artists and storytellers who desire a lifestyle that includes creating art every day. While changing trends define the highest-demand styles, opportunities are flourishing for those interested in 2D animation, 3D animation, stop motion, and other innovative techniques. Animators and Motion Graphics Artists require similar skills: the difference between the two lies in the definition of “animation” being motion graphics with a storyline. Opportunities in motion graphics are arguably higher today, especially in cities like San Francisco and Seattle, where tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google offer ample employment opportunities to those who can jazz up their websites and other products with modern moving images.

However, considering the popularity of animation in entertainment today—especially its growth in appeal for adults—it’s likely the storytelling Animator job market will thrive and expand in the upcoming years. From the 2D styles of anime to 3D CGI and other animated effects of live-action films, Animators have plenty to do to keep up with today’s audience demands.

Best Animation Classes & Schools in San Francisco

Cinema 4D in After Effects Bootcamp Noble Desktop - Online

This online Cinema 4D in After Effects Bootcamp guides participants to a solid understanding of Maxon’s Cinema 4D Lite, the version of the software included for no additional charge with Adobe’s After Effects. Through hands-on projects, students will learn to create and work with 3D models to enhance any animation work in After Effects. Whether you are an Animator or Motion Graphics Artist, an in-depth knowledge of Cinema 4D can level up your work.

Prerequisites: After Effects experience equivalent to Noble Desktop’s After Effects Bootcamp is required for this course.

Duration: Three 7-hour sessions or six 3-hour sessions

Cost: $975

After Effects Beginner Class American Media Training - 601 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94111

This beginner-level After Effects class is a primer for anyone just getting started in the art of digital video. While not initially created with Animators in mind, After Effects is essential software for many working in the field today. Students will gain a clear understanding of the basics of the program, learning how to craft an animation project, from creating a composition to rendering a final product.

Prerequisites: Basic computer knowledge is all you need for this beginners’ course.

Duration: Three 6-hour sessions

Cost: $1,295

Learning Maya NobleProg - 75 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94111

Students of the Learning Maya Training Course will learn to use Autodesk Maya to create 3D animations through interactive lectures and hands-on practice in a live lab. By the end of this class, participants will be able to animate and render high-quality projects featuring realistic models and textures. They will also be able to use Maya to simulate water, smoke, and other natural effects.

Prerequisites: You’ll need a basic understanding of computers to excel in this class.

Duration: 14 hours, typically in two 7-hour sessions

Cost: $3,834

After Effects in a Day NYC Career Centers - Online

This one-day After Effects crash course provides students with high-quality instruction and hands-on experience in creating professional-grade motion graphics. Participants will learn the user interface, timeline, and essential functions required to create GIFs, logos, and other animations. Depending on your goals, this workshop may be all you need to get started, or you may use it to meet prerequisite requirements for NYC Career Centers’ After Effects Level 1 intensive.

Prerequisites: Photoshop experience is recommended but not required.

Duration: One 7-hour session

Cost: $425

San Francisco Industries That Use Animation

As the headquarters of Pixar Animation Studios and Lucasfilm Ltd.—among many other lesser-known studios—San Francisco is a hotbed for both 2D and 3D storytelling animation careers. Another leading employer of Animators in the Bay Area is the visual effects powerhouse Industrial Light and Magic, creators of the magic behind Star Wars, Back to the Future, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, and many other iconic films.

Silicon Valley and San Francisco’s thriving tech industry provides numerous animation and motion graphics opportunities in the Bay Area. Reddit, Uber, and Adobe—makers of common applications in the world of animation—are just a few of the major companies that call the region home, and each employs several individuals in the motion graphics field. This culture of technological innovation supports many motion design studios, branding agencies, and gaming companies that need talented Animators to meet the high expectations of their clientele.

The Bay Area is the ideal home for aspiring Animators interested in staying abreast of the latest innovations in the field or even working on the newest technology that will define the next generation of animation. Solid industry leaders like Adobe are improving the longtime standard applications, while startups like Rive are developing exciting new animation software that promises to open doors for even more positions in the field.

Animation Jobs & Salaries in San Francisco

San Francisco boasts the third-highest number of Special Effects Artists and Animators employed in a metropolitan area in the U.S. About 2,480 San Franciscans worked in the field in 2022, with an average mean wage of $137,000. While LA’s film industry understandably hosts about 12,000 more animation jobs than San Francisco, their average wages differ by less than $1,000. San Francisco is a unique city in its variety of opportunities in animation, offering storytelling opportunities with studios like Pixar and Lucasfilm alongside motion graphics positions with tech companies like Google, Apple, and Adobe. While the cost of living in the Bay Area is notoriously high, the hourly mean wage of $66 makes a comfortable lifestyle possible for Animators in San Francisco.

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