$31

weekly

or $550 for 18 classes

Animation Basics (2D) - Dedicated Course

Ages 9-14

Live Group Course

In this Animation course, we will learn the basics of how to animate things in a digital environment, using a free basic software called Synfig Studio. Students will also learn character creation and rigging, as well as background design.

Paul Makowski

Live video meetings

1x per week, 18 weeks

1-6 learners per class

120 min

About Learning Overview Teacher Reviews

What's included

18 live meetings

36 in-class hours

Homework

1 hour per week. Occasionally, students may need to finish projects in their own time. It is estimated that they will need no longer than 1 hour in a week for this (if they need the extra time at all)

Assessment

included

Class Experience

US Grade 5 - 8

Beginner Level

A HOME LAPTOP/DESKTOP COMPUTER IS REQUIRED FOR THIS COURSE!

"Animation Basics (2D) - Dedicated Course" will go over everything necessary for children aged 9+ to create their own basic animated videos for themselves to own or publish online to websites such as YouTube to TikTok.
Through online meeting classes, students will learn animation, rigging, character and background creation, using the free and open source software "Synfig Studio".

This will be taught over the course of 18 weeks, 1 class a week, 2 hours for a class.

All teaching will be mostly hands on, with the instructor guiding the students through lessons, with occasional lectures going over important subjects such as lip sync and perspective. The instructor will ask students questions from time to time to evaluate whether or not they understand certain ideas and concepts taught previously to them. Students may ask the instructor any questions at any time.

Classes will be focused on having a fun and easy-going time-- just as animation is supposed to be!

Learning Goals

Students will learn how to effectively move digital objects (characters, shapes, etc) in an appealing way, with a professional, foundational learning kit.

Students will learn the basics of how to create digital puppets (character rigs) using layers and layering interaction methods.

Syllabus

18 Lessons

over 18 Weeks

Lesson 1:

Principles of animation Lecture and Software Introduction

 Students will have an introduction to the "Principles of Animation", a series of guidelines every animator must follow to understand appealing movement when animating anything. This principles will be repeatedly referenced throughout later lessons. The students will also afterwards be shown the animation software "Synfig Studio", and will learn the basic tools and how to use them.

120 mins online live lesson

Lesson 2:

Bouncing Ball

 Introduction to animation: (With guidance from the instructor) Students will create and animate a ball bouncing up and down utilizing the posing, timing, squash and stretch and easing principles.

120 mins online live lesson

Lesson 3:

Rotating Arm

 (With guidance from the instructor) Students will be given an "Arm" rig character, and will animate the arm swinging forward, using the anticipation, arcs and follow-through principles.

120 mins online live lesson

Lesson 4:

Bakery Animation

 (With guidance from the instructor) Students will be given an "Arm" rig character holding a roller and a ball of dough, and will animate the arm hitting the dough, using the same principles learned in the previous 2 lessons.

120 mins online live lesson

Other Details

External Resources

In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:

Synfig Studio

Sources

Synfig Studio: https://www.synfig.org/ This software will be the one students will be using to learn animation, and will required to be downloaded and ready to use on the device students will be using to login to the class. (It's 100% free). Everything will be made and done in this software! Students who have their own software for DRAWING will be encouraged to use it for the "Backgrounds" creation portion of the course. An email address will be required one-time to download (but not to use) this software.

Meet the teacher

Paul Makowski

Joined March, 2025

Profile

Teacher expertise and credentials

I have 7 years of experience in animation, having previously worked on 2 animated shows for television and streaming, with a few freelance clients on their creative and promotional visions and needs, and consistently on my own experimental work. I am an expert in both 2D and 3D styles of animation, as well as highly skilled in rigging, character and background creation and video editing.