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

Are there free animation courses or certifications available on Coursera?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Coursera offers a variety of free courses across many topics, including animation. While you can access most course materials for free by auditing the courses, this does not include graded assignments or a completion certificate. For those looking to obtain a certificate to showcase their learning or enhance their professional profile, Coursera provides the option to purchase the course. Additionally, Coursera offers free trials or financial aid to learners who qualify, making certifications more accessible to everyone.

Animation Courses Online

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Explore the Animation Course Catalog

Introduction to Programming and Animation with Alice

VFX with Adobe After Effects from Novice to Expert

Interactive Computer Graphics

Epic Games Game Design

Character Design for Video Games

Data-Driven Animation for Science Communication

Create a Promotional Video using Canva

The Art of Storytelling

Biomedical Visualisation

Create Training Videos with Powtoon

Create Animated Social Media Posts using Canva

Art for Games

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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?‎

Are there free animation courses or certifications available on Coursera?‎

Other topics to explore