Animators manipulate still images to make them look like they are moving. They work on a wide variety of different content and in many different industries. Researching complementary and related skills is an important factor in deciding to learn a new skill. Doing so will help you make more informed decisions about what you want to learn, and it will help you decide whether or not learning a specific skill is the right decision for you. You will also learn what skills you may want to learn to complement your training later. 

Read on to learn more about related animation training options such as After Effects, video editing, and graphic design.

What is Animation?

Animation is the process of photographing a still image—typically a drawing—then making slight modifications to the image while taking successive pictures. An animator will rapidly show these pictures to make it appear as if the image is moving. Animation skills are great to have in many different jobs. Animators don’t just create movies or television shows. They also create moving graphics for websites, video games, or visual effects. Most animators now use software to create the graphics, though some still use drawings and sketches to bring their imagination to life.

Read more about what animation is and why you should learn it. 

What Can You Do with Animation Skills?

Learning animation opens doors to different fields. The most obvious field is filmmaking: producing visual effects, developing computer-generated special effects, or creating images for any media type. Movies, television, the internet, and (video) games all rely on Animators for their products. Yet, Animators can also work as Medical or Mathematical Animators, Illustrators, Games Developers, and VFX Artists. Illustrators focus on still images, both hand-drawn and computer-generated, while Medical or Mathematical Animators, Games Developers, and VFX Artists develop 3D moving images. After Effects and Premiere Pro are the go-to animation software for professionals. 

Skills Related to Animation

Several other skills complement animation, so learning these can be valuable for people who want to work in this field. Animators who learn related skills will have a more extensive toolkit to draw from and will also find that they have more resources to meet design challenges. Having additional skills will likely make them more attractive to employers and clients. Many of these related skills will be easier to learn for those who already know how to work with animation.

After Effects

Animation comes from creating a series of images, each slightly different from the one before. When these images are viewed in quick succession, viewers get the illusion of movement. With traditional animation, all the images are drawn by hand, which is highly time-consuming. In the 1960s, animators started to utilize computers to create images, removing the need for hand drawing and saving hours. Now, the majority of animation is computer generated. 

Adobe After Effects is one of the most popular applications used to create computer-generated animation. Not only does it eliminate hours of drawing, but it also gives Animators a variety of new tools to manipulate animations. They can use these tools to do things that would be very difficult or even impossible when drawing by hand. For example, with the Puppet tool, an Animator can give fluid movement to a static image simply by placing pins on that image.

Graphic Design 

Graphic designers combine text, images, and other visual elements to communicate ideas and messages with an audience. They create a wide array of different products, including advertisements, web content, and company logos. Since graphic design concerns visual elements, knowing about this field can be useful to animators who also work with visual content. 

Knowing something about graphic design can help an animator understand how their design choices will affect an audience. Graphic designers understand that every design choice does have a specific effect. For example, colors can be combined or contrasted in different ways to create certain feelings in the audience. Animators who understand the way their design choices work will be able to have more control over the impact of their creations. They can also have an easier time finding solutions to any design problems that they come up against.

Video Editing

Video editors combine unfinished elements such as video clips, special effects, and audio into a format designed to appeal to an audience. Editing often involves sorting through raw footage to find good clips to use. Video Editors may also manipulate existing footage, for example, changing color and lighting, altering the background, or adding special effects or text.

Animators who are skilled in video editing can do more than simply create a piece of animation. With video editing skills, they can also make many different changes to their material. They also can turn it into a finished product that is ready to be viewed by an audience.

Motion Graphics

Motion Graphics Designers add movement to static design elements. Many motion graphics projects involve animation, so learning about motion graphics can be an excellent next step for somebody already skilled in animation techniques. Just like animations, motion graphics are used in a variety of media, including websites, video games, films, and television.

Motion Graphics Designers and Animators use many of the same computer applications too. Adobe After Effects is one of the most popular in both professions. Other Adobe apps such as Premiere Pro, Photoshop, and Illustrator are also used. In addition, both Motion Graphics Designers and Animators understand the importance of keeping up to date on new techniques and software since technology changes rapidly in these fields.

Learn Animation Skills with Noble Desktop

Many experts agree that animation is much easier to learn when taken either in a live online class or in person. Noble Desktop provides animation classes in both formats. Class sizes are small, and instructors can give students plenty of attention and feedback. 

In just a few days, students can learn how to use Adobe After Effects in Noble Desktop's bootcamp. This class is ideal for people new to the field of animation and motion design. Those with more time can learn what it takes to become an Animator in Noble’s comprehensive Motion Graphics Certificate course. This class teaches animation with After Effects, video editing with Premiere Pro, and audio editing with Audition.

Key Takeaways

• A number of other skills are related to animation and can be helpful to people who want to work in this field. 
• Adobe After Effects is a popular tool used by many animators.
• By learning about graphic design, Animators can better understand the impact of their design choices.
• Animators can benefit from a knowledge of video editing, which will allow them to manipulate animations and create finished videos.
• Since many motion graphics projects involve animation, motion graphics training can be a good next step for an Animator looking to learn new skills.
• Animators who want to learn related skills can find various class options through Noble Desktop, which offers both in-person and live online training.