Can I Learn Animation in 3 Months?

While it is possible to learn the fundamentals of animation and build a strong foundation in three months, you will likely need more than three months to feel like you’ve learned animation. After taking an animation course, you will learn the basics of animation software, how to create your own animations, and continue building your demo reel, but learning the advanced techniques will take much longer. Many aspiring Animators ask this question because they’re eager to begin a career in animation, but don’t want to spend too much time on their education. There are multiple timelines for learning animation because there is a wide range of careers in this field to choose from. The type of animation professional you wish to become will determine how much and what training you need to achieve your career goals. For instance, someone who’s interested in working on complex, digitally animated projects like film and television may need many months or even years of training. Several factors can affect your animation learning timeline, and this article will examine some of the resources available to you that can help speed the process along. 

How Much Animation Can I Learn in 3 Months 

In three months, you can learn how to use several animation software. Depending on how much time you have to devote to learning, you may be able to learn both basic and advanced tools for some of the software. For instance, you can learn After Effects in a Day, covering the software basics and basic techniques like creating animations from graphics, working with timelines and layers, and creating fluid, natural motion with easing. Likewise, you can get more advanced After Effects training in a three-day After Effects Bootcamp. This course covers creating animations with photos, text, and graphics, creating dynamic transitions, incorporating video footage, green screen removal, and motion tracking. With courses that are this short, you can look forward to possibly gaining proficiency in a few of the more commonly used animation software. Of course, if you’re seriously considering making animation your career path, you’ll need to gain mastery and devote more than three months to learning the art of animation. 

For a more in-depth animation education, you can enroll in a Motion Graphics Certificate course. Students of this class will learn animation principles, motion graphics concepts, and how to edit video and audio with Adobe Premiere Pro and make 3D models and animations with Cinema 4D Lite. The Video Editing & Motion Graphics Certificate course will help students gain a strong foundation in multiple animation software including Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe After Effects and cover a range of techniques that can be applied to them. Some of the topics covered include video editing, animation, motion graphics principles, audio editing, and 3D modeling and animating. These courses are offered on both full-time and part-time schedules, to fit different scheduling needs. Although the part-time schedules span a little over three months, the full-time schedule will be completed within one month. Enrolling in courses like these is going to give you a crash course in a variety of animation skills that will play a key role in becoming an Animator. You’ll still need to practice to continue honing your skills and developing your demo reel, however.

Other factors that can affect how much you can learn in three months include the class schedule and the learning format you choose. Choosing to attend an animation course full-time will give you a more accelerated timeline, provided that you have the flexibility of schedule to attend classes four or five days a week for six to eight hours a day. You’ll be covering a lot of ground quickly, but you’ll have to devote quite a bit of time to learning and practicing outside of class times to keep up with the pace of the curriculum. Courses take longer to complete on a part-time schedule, but you’ll have more time to digest the course material, practice what you’re learning, and get comfortable with various tools and techniques. Part-time animation courses are better for those who can’t take a large chunk of time off to dedicate to learning a new skill due to career or personal obligations. 

Your chosen learning format also affects how long it will take you to learn animation. If you enroll in an on-demand course or have decided that you want to be a self-taught Animator, your learning timeline largely depends on you. On-demand or self-paced courses are measured in prerecorded hours and can take as long as you need them to. They give you the ability to start, stop, pause, fast forward, and repeat topics as needed. Students usually have an access window in which they will need to complete the course unless the courses are taken on an on-demand learning platform with a monthly subscription. Embarking on a self-taught path is difficult. Not having guidance and structure can drastically increase the amount of time it takes to learn animation. If you’re trying to gain professional-level skills in animation, the self-taught route can take years. 

How Can I Learn Animation More Quickly?

The fastest ways to learn animation include enrolling in an animation course and Internet searches. Beginner-friendly animation classes are a great way to get started quickly. If your goal is to gain a solid understanding of animation principles and basic techniques, short beginner’s classes can get you where you’re going quickly. If you’re interested in making animation your career, you’ll probably want a more in-depth and immersive course. Whether you choose a college degree program or a professional training course, taking additional single-topic short courses can be helpful. During a college degree program, taking courses in the winter and summer sessions can help you complete your degree sooner. In any case, you’ll have to practice, practice, practice. The more time you’re able to spend practicing and perfecting your skills, the better your animations will become and the more adept you will become with animation principles, design theory, and animation tools and techniques. 

When you’re faced with animation challenges, you can do an Internet search to find ways to work through it. This is a fast and free way to learn incrementally. Free resources are a great supplement to your animation education whether you’re enrolled in a class, a degree program, or self-teaching. Consider perusing software vendor sites like Adobe for educational components that can teach you how to navigate software like Autodesk Maya and Cinema 4D. Most companies offer free video tutorials, case studies, articles, and other resources to help you understand how their software can be applied to various animation tasks and challenges. These bite-sized learning opportunities are helpful when you’re trying to learn animation more quickly. 

What Animation Skills Will I Need to Learn After 3 Months?

After you’ve completed short courses, bootcamps, or certificate programs, you’ll still have much to learn. Advanced techniques and tools are likely going to be at the top of your to-do list after your first three months of animation education. If you’re proficient in multiple animation software, you may want to consider enrolling in a demo reel course to help you refine what you have or create new pieces that truly demonstrate your style and mastery. Advanced Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Animate, and Blender skills are nice to have because they allow you to create more complicated, telling, and creative animations. In addition to advanced techniques, you may also want to learn video editing to round out your skill set or even AutoCAD to help you render better 3D animations. Learning skills like these can help you niche down in animation and make you a more marketable Animator. 

After completing a college degree program, there is still plenty of learning left. Animation is a constantly evolving field that changes according to audiences, artist innovations, and technology. Even Animators who have been working professionals for decades are still learning new things to improve their craft and their ability to create animations that push the boundaries and captivate audiences. Professional development courses are often recommended or required by employers. Not only is this an investment employers are making in their company, but also an investment in employees. It helps to keep skills sharp and up-to-date, increase employee marketability, and encourage high-quality deliverables that help the organization meet its business goals. Recommended courses for those who are already working in the field of animation are generally shorter and advanced courses, but they are sometimes courses that can expand a professional’s range with animation-adjacent skills like visual communication or graphic design.

There’s a lot to be learned in animation. If you’ve worked on 2D animation previously, you may find yourself interested in diving into 3D animation. Learning 3D animation may nudge you into AutoCAD or rigging. If you have a strong interest in web animation and you’ve been centering your animation studies around that, learning film animation skills is a logical next step. As you can see there are many paths to take and many specialties that can be deepened and explored. The skills you learn can improve your core animation skills or they can help you become more advanced. You can learn skills in visual effects, digital design, lighting, and layouts. The best idea is to let your creativity and interests lead the way. Learning more specialized and advanced animation skills will help you be more marketable and better define your identity and style as an Animator.