How to Animate for Beginners- Self-Guided!
In this 12 week course, we will practice how to animate from the very basics! We will use the 12 Principles of Animation to guide our learning. No experience required!
Stacy D.
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(16)
What's included
13 pre-recorded lessons
12 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentHomework
1-2 hours per week. Learners will be required to completed one small project per week. It will be related to the topic we covered in class, and should take no more than 1-2 hours per week. Students may also follow along with me when they see the lesson videos, and finish their assignments as they watch along.Class Experience
Beginner Level
In this 12 week course, students will learn how to animate in 2D from the ground up! Beginners welcome, no experience required. Please keep in mind that this is a Flex Class, in which there are no scheduled meeting times. Pre-recorded video lessons will be posted, and weekly assignments will be given for students to complete in their own time. I will be available for help along the way, and will stay in touch with students throughout the course! If you do not prefer pre-recorded video lessons, there is a live version of this class as well! We will work through the 12 Principles of Animation in order to better build our vocabulary and train our eyes to understand what makes an animation great, and how we can incorporate what we see into our own stories.
Learning Goals
Learners will be guided by the 12 Principles of Animation in order to build their vocabulary and expertise in animation. By practicing these principles, learners will be better equipped to animate their own stories that will become more exaggerated, realistic, and appealing by what we practice in class. Learners will better understand what makes a great quality animation, and what to look for in realistic movements in order to incorporate them into their animations.
Syllabus
13 Lessons
over 12 WeeksLesson 1:
Software Tutorials
Please watch the tutorial video that applies to the software you're using! Lesson 2:
Squash and Stretch
We will emphasize speed and momentum, weight and mass in this week. Lesson 3:
Anticipation
Characters must prepare for an exaggerated movement. Lesson 4:
Staging
How to present an idea so that it is completely clear to your audience what you're trying to communicate about your character. Other Details
Parental Guidance
Scary or violent content will not be used in this class. We will use basic forms and simple characters in order to understand movement. Nothing inappropriate for young viewers will be used.
Some third party tools are recommended below for students without animation software. NOT ALL RESOURCES ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS CLASS. Parents and learners can choose the one that suits their systems best. Please feel free to reach out with any questions if you are unsure.
For Krita, no accounts are required and it is completely free to use. This is a drawing and animation software that will be used as such.
For FlipaClip, no accounts are required within the app, and it is completely free to use. The only account required is one in the app store to download the app. There is a paid subscription that is not required for this class. This is a drawing and animation software that will be used as such.
For Procreate, no accounts are required within the app, and it is a one time payment of $9.99. The only account required is one in the app store to download the app. This is a drawing and animation software that will be used as such.
For Procreate Dreams, no accounts are required within the app, and it is a one time payment of $19.99. The only account required is one in the app store to download the app. This is a drawing and animation software that will be used as such.
Supply List
Animation software and digital drawing materials. Free animation software is available depending on the devices you have at home! Feel free to reach out for recommendations if needed. Krita and FlipaClip will be perfect for this course. Krita can be used on PC and Mac, and FlipaClip can be used on the iPad. Procreate and Adobe Animate are also perfect fits! ONLY ONE APP IS REQUIRED. Not all apps will be necessary for this course. All that is required is one app that allows your learner to animate.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree in Science from University of Dundee
Hiya! I'm Stacy! I love all things art and animation! I'm a huge cartoon and anime fan, and love to share my passion with my students!
I have been teaching drawing, digital painting, and animation online since 2020, and have had over 50 long-term private students! I have also been a freelance artist and animator since graduating with my Master's in Medical Art in 2019.
One of my most important values in teaching is to build students' confidence in themselves. Especially in art, people can be so hard on themselves! I will always encourage my students to do their best, and allow themselves some grace when trying something new for the first time. Self-confidence and self-love is important! That's why I take extra special care to pay attention to the way we talk to ourselves in class. We encourage each other and take pride in the things we succeed in! But, we also forgive ourselves and persevere in the things it takes us more than one try to master.Reviews
Self-Paced Course
$25
weekly or $300 for all content13 pre-recorded lessons
12 weeks of teacher support
Choose your start date
1 year of access to the content
Completed by 14 learners
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Ages: 10-15
