Question 1

How to learn animation?

Accepted Answer

Knowing why you want to learn animation, be it for film, games, or personal projects, will keep you motivated. Regular practice with animation software is crucial. Join online communities like the Animation subreddits or local groups for feedback and support. Work on real projects such as creating short animations. Coursera offers the course Interactive Computer Graphics by University of Tokyo, which can help you get started with animation.

Question 2

What skills or experience do I need to already have before starting to learn animation?

Accepted Answer

The skills and experience you may need to have already before studying animation include having a creative mind with the ability to pay attention to the smallest details, some drawing or other artistic ability, and feeling comfortable working on a computer. Having a familiarity with computer graphics software and computer programming may also help you learn animation as well as learning how to create animated 3D movies. If you have some basic graphic design skills, they'll also be helpful. Another set of skills you may want to have to learn animation is the knowledge of color theory so you can understand the use of colors to express and communicate various emotions or feelings.

Question 3

What kind of person is best suited to learn animation?

Accepted Answer

The kind of person best suited to learn animation is someone who may want to become a game developer artist, an animator, or visual effects artist for a variety of media including film or television, or a digital or graphics designer for the internet. Someone who may do well learning animation might also be able to work both independently and on a team. Often animators must work with a team of other animators or creative colleagues on projects. Someone learning animation will need to be able to handle feedback from directors, other animator team members, game designers, and clients and then edit their work to comply with those requests. Another characteristic of someone who may be well suited to learn animation is patience. That’s because creating animation is a labor-intensive process in order to capture the details that go into each character and setting frame to frame.

Question 4

How do I know if learning about animation is right for me?

Accepted Answer

Learning animation may be right for you if you feel compelled to express your creativity using computer programs to create illustrations used on various media or platforms. It may be right for you if you want to learn how to design and develop game worlds and gameplay for video games, from concept to presentation. Studying animation is also a good idea if you plan to enter the virtual reality field where interactive animation and character animation and design are important to know. Studying animation may be beneficial for you to learn if you plan to become a 3D artist working on various platforms that require certification, such as Unity.

Question 5

Can I take free animation courses on Coursera?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can start learning animation skills on Coursera for free in two ways:

Preview the first module of many animation courses at no cost. This includes video lessons, readings, graded assignments, and Coursera Coach (where available).
Start a 7-day free trial for Specializations or Coursera Plus. This gives you full access to all course content across eligible programs within the timeframe of your trial.

If you want to keep learning, earn a certificate in animation, or unlock full course access after the preview or trial, you can upgrade or apply for financial aid.

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Explore the Animation Course Catalog

Introduction to Programming and Animation with Alice

Epic Games Game Design

Character Design for Video Games

Interactive Computer Graphics

VFX with Adobe After Effects from Novice to Expert

Beginner After Effects: Logo Animation

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Frequently Asked Questions about Animation

How to learn animation?‎

What skills or experience do I need to already have before starting to learn animation?‎

What kind of person is best suited to learn animation?‎

How do I know if learning about animation is right for me?‎

Can I take free animation courses on Coursera?‎

Other topics to explore