After Effects Animation Course

After Effects animation course online or in-person

Attend this After Effects animation course and learn animation skills for creating content for broadcast, film, and on the Web. This class requires previous After Effects experience, and is focused on animation tools and techniques. This course provides a next-step for those who have completed the introductory and advanced training, or the After Effects Bootcamp in our series of After Effects classes. 

Our After Effects animation course is led by the same experienced motion graphics professionals who have backgrounds in broadcast, film, and online media production. Our After Effects teachers are also the authors of the After Effects Digital Classroom book.

What you learn in the After Effects animation course

• Easing with the Graph Editor: Learn to refine the timing and pacing of your animations by adjusting keyframe interpolation with the Graph Editor. This technique creates smoother and more natural motion, making your animations feel polished and professional.
• Optimizing Animations with Expressions: Use expressions to automate repetitive tasks and add dynamic behaviors to your animations. This saves time, increases efficiency, and opens up creative possibilities that are hard to achieve manually.
• Wiring Parameters with Expressions: Connect different properties using expressions to create relationships between them. This enables you to control multiple elements simultaneously, simplifying complex animations and improving workflow.
• Introducing Motion Sketch: Discover how to capture and apply hand-drawn motion paths to your animations with Motion Sketch. This adds a personalized, organic feel to your animations, making them more engaging and unique.
• Animating with the Puppet Tool: Use the Puppet Tool to add realistic movement to static images and shapes. This technique is essential for bringing characters and objects to life with natural, fluid motion.
• Creating and Working with Shape Layers: Learn to design and animate custom graphics using shape layers. This gives you the flexibility to create precise and scalable visuals directly within your animation software.
• Working with Audio: Integrate sound effects and music seamlessly into your animations. This enhances the storytelling and emotional impact of your projects, making them more immersive and effective.
• Working with 3D Layers: Explore 3D layers to create depth and perspective in your animations. This allows you to add a cinematic quality to your work, elevating its visual appeal.
• Using Character Animator: Learn to animate characters in real-time using Character Animator. This tool is vital for creating expressive, engaging characters quickly and efficiently.
• Advanced Use of Track Mattes: Master advanced track matte techniques to control visibility and create complex masking effects. This expands your creative toolkit, enabling intricate and professional-looking results.
• Understanding Nested Compositions: Discover how to use nested compositions to manage and organize complex animation projects. This improves your workflow, making it easier to update and edit individual elements without affecting the entire project.
• Outputting Animation Projects: Learn the best practices for exporting your animations in various formats and resolutions. This ensures your final project meets the technical and quality standards required for its intended platform or audience.