Animation Cost

The cost of animation tools will vary depending on how many students license and which programs they opt to license. Regardless of their decisions, they can expect to pay, either upfront or monthly, for multiple design software.

What is Animation?

Most people have seen animated movies or shows, but 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. An animator would create a series of pictures to show, for example, a flower on a windy day, each with the flower in a slightly different position. When viewed quickly, one after another, the flower will appear to move back and forth even though it’s not actually moving. 

Animation skills are great to have in many different jobs; they’re just fun! 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?

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. 

The software that Animators use day in and day out is just plain fun! After Effects and Premiere Pro are the go-to animation software for professionals. After Effects allows users to complete video compositing, motion graphics design, and animation projects. Animators also learn software like Photoshop and Cinema 4D. Each type of software performs a specific function, such as image generating or developing special effects; Animators using multiple types of software can layer them to create stunning work.

In-Depth Review of the Cost

Students looking to practice animation skills will need to acquire a computer animation program like Adobe After Effects. This program is available through an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, with an attached monthly fee depending on the user’s payment plan. Users who only want to license this program can expect to pay approximately 20 dollars a month. Students can also license other animation software alongside After Effects. Each program will cost about 20 dollars a month to license, but Adobe offers users the option to license all of their programs at once for a flat fee of about 55 dollars a month.

Free trial versions of all these programs are available but tend to be short. In addition, once a student’s trial has expired, they will only be able to access their work by activating the application with a paid subscription.

Additionally, free alternative programs exist, such as Frame.io and Blender. These programs have their affordances, strengths, and weaknesses. Some will be more limited in their features, and others will be more specialized.

Why Learn Animation?

Career prospects for Animators are strong. Most Animators find themselves working in the entertainment industry, making graphics for movies or films. Yet, Animators are in high demand across multiple industries, not just the entertainment industry. Outside the entertainment industry, Animators may find themselves working in creative jobs in education, advertising, marketing, or the arts. Animators may find themselves creating short clips to summarize science concepts. Or perhaps they may create sales videos for publishing companies. The opportunities are numerous.

Learning animation builds an eye for detail. Depending on your interests and career goals, knowing art and design concepts and possessing strong English skills is a bonus. As an Animator, you might use software such as Autodesk Maya, Houdini, or software developed by the company. Animators who develop motion graphics and visual effects may primarily use Cinema 4D or After Effects. 2D animators use Adobe Animate or Toon Boom Harmony. Of course, knowing more than one or two types of software can only make you more marketable. 

Read more about why you should learn animation. 

Free Introductory Animation Course Online 

Attending an entire course takes a commitment. If you’re not ready yet to attend a course but want to start learning animation, enroll in a free online animation seminar. In this free introductory animation course from Noble, you’ll learn how to create motion graphics animation from a photo. By the end of the two hours, you will be adding easing and animating with keyframes like a pro. The class allows participants to test out animation. Love it? Then you’re ready to sign up for a full-length course.

Other online providers offer After Effects and Premiere Pro classes. Udemy’s Adobe After Effects: Complete Course from Novice to Expert teaches students how to create motion graphics and visual effects through several projects. They also have courses that move more slowly, covering just beginner skills. Coursera has some free courses and many paid courses that cover animation. Most are specialized, so it helps to know what area of animation you’re interested in. You can find anything from VR to biomedical animations. As always, sites like LinkedIn offer animation courses.

Read about more free animation videos and online tutorials.

Learn Animation with Hands-on Training at 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, from their live online training taken anywhere in the world to their in-person courses in Manhattan, so students can easily find a class that enables them to gain animation skills. Class sizes are small; students are not nameless faces on a computer screen. Instructors can provide plenty of attention and feedback to students. The school is committed to student learning, allowing students to retake the course free up to a year later if they want to brush up on skills. 

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 who want to start creating moving graphics with industry-leading software. 

If you have more time, you can learn what it takes to become an Animator in Noble’s comprehensive Motion Graphics Certificate course. This class teaches animation with Adobe After Effects, video editing with Adobe Premiere Pro, and audio editing with Adobe Audition. These three pieces of software blend perfectly to create a polished final product. Participants will leave the course with a solid portfolio demonstrating their skills to future employers.