Digital Animation 101

Learn the foundational aspects of animation and how to create original works with different feelings, moods, and effects. Throughout this four-week course, you'll learn the 12 principles of animation to help guide your creative process and workflow. You'll also hone your observational skills and vocabulary so that you can learn from existing animated media and apply techniques to your own creations. 

The course begins with character design and the principles of solid drawing, staging, and exaggeration. The goal is to capture the essence of a person, animal, or object. You'll then explore the nuances of timing, easing, and squash and stretch as you make your characters move. 

Once you have basic movement down, you'll learn how to make your characters even more believable—first with anticipation, secondary action, and follow-through—and then with overlapping action and arcs. Last but not least, you’ll learn about appeal and how to create animations and characters that people want to watch and connect with.

With a blend of hands-on exercises, engaging discussions, and expert guidance, this course offers a holistic learning experience that empowers you to bring your animated visions to life.

What you will learn:

✔ Master fundamental animation skills, allowing for immediate application in creating animations 
✔ Develop proficiency in using animation software and confidently navigate interfaces and drawing tools effectively 
✔ Analyze existing animated media so you can apply similar techniques directly to your own animation projects 
✔ Build a diverse portfolio of animation projects, including character turnarounds, dynamic movements, and expressive gestures, demonstrating a practical understanding of the 12 principles of animation