Animator course

Lesson 1 • History and Evolution of Animation

Trace animation from hand-drawn cels to digital pipelines. Understanding this history contextualises modern techniques and industry standards.

Lesson 2 • The 12 Principles Explained

Break down each of the 12 principles with visual examples. These principles form the theoretical backbone of all animation work in this course.

Lesson 3 • Observational Drawing for Animators

Gesture drawing and life observation sharpen an animator's eye for motion. These skills directly improve pose quality and movement authenticity.

Lesson 1 • Scene Organisation and Asset Management

Organise layers, objects, and assets using naming conventions and folders. Clean scene structure prevents errors and supports team collaboration.

Lesson 2 • Keyframing and the Timeline

Set, edit, and manage keyframes across the timeline to define motion. Keyframing is the primary mechanism for all digital animation production.

Lesson 3 • Graph Editor and Curve Manipulation

Control interpolation curves to refine easing and motion feel. The graph editor translates timing principles into precise mathematical control.

Lesson 4 • Rendering and Output Basics

Configure render settings and export animations in standard formats. Output knowledge ensures work is deliverable across production pipelines.

Lesson 1 • Forward and Inverse Kinematics

Distinguish FK and IK systems and know when to use each. Switching between them correctly is essential for natural limb and body animation.

Lesson 2 • Facial Rig Controls and Expressions

Navigate blend shapes, bone-based facial rigs, and control sliders. Facial animation relies on understanding how controls map to muscle movement.

Lesson 3 • Constraints and Space Switching

Apply parent, point, and orient constraints to manage object relationships. Space switching enables props and limbs to follow different reference frames.

Lesson 1 • Run and Jump Animation

Adapt walk mechanics to faster locomotion with airborne phases. Runs and jumps require exaggerated timing and anticipation for believability.

Lesson 2 • Locomotion Variation and Character Style

Modify cycles to reflect personality, age, and physical traits. Stylised locomotion communicates character without dialogue or facial animation.

Lesson 3 • Cycle Looping and Game Integration

Create seamless looping cycles ready for game engine integration. Loop points, root motion, and in-place cycles are standard game deliverables.

Lesson 4 • Quadruped and Creature Locomotion

Apply locomotion principles to four-legged and non-human characters. Quadruped timing differs significantly from bipedal patterns and requires study.

Lesson 1 • Dialogue and Lip Sync Animation

Synchronise mouth shapes to audio while maintaining full-body performance. Lip sync must support, not dominate, the overall acting performance.

Lesson 2 • Emotion and Physical Expression

Map emotional states to body posture, weight, and gesture. Physical expression must align with facial animation to create believable performance.

Lesson 3 • Acting Reference and Video Analysis

Record and analyse personal reference footage to extract key poses and timing. Reference study prevents generic animation and grounds performance in reality.

Lesson 4 • Pose and Silhouette Design

Craft poses that read clearly in silhouette and communicate intent instantly. Strong poses are the foundation of all performance-driven animation.

Lesson 1 • Overlap, Follow-Through, and Drag

Animate secondary elements that lag behind primary motion with natural delay. Overlap and drag add organic complexity to hair, clothing, and tails.

Lesson 2 • Destruction and Impact Animation

Animate hits, falls, and collisions with physically grounded reactions. Impact animation requires precise timing of anticipation, contact, and recovery.

Lesson 3 • Weight, Momentum, and Inertia

Convey object mass through acceleration, deceleration, and resistance. Momentum and inertia define how characters and objects start and stop moving.

Lesson 4 • Cloth and Hair Simulation Basics

Use simulation tools to generate secondary motion for cloth and hair. Animators must guide and correct simulations to match performance intent.

Lesson 1 • Deadline Management and Shot Tracking

Manage multiple shots simultaneously using tracking tools and schedules. Time management directly impacts team delivery and production quality.

Lesson 2 • Spline Refinement and Polish

Convert blocked animation to splines and refine curves for smooth motion. Polish passes address curve artifacts, pops, and timing inconsistencies.

Lesson 3 • Feedback, Revision, and Iteration

Receive director and supervisor notes and implement revisions efficiently. Iteration is a core professional skill, not a sign of failure.

Lesson 4 • Collaboration with Other Departments

Coordinate with rigging, layout, and VFX teams to maintain scene integrity. Cross-department communication prevents costly rework late in production.

Lesson 1 • Shot Polish and Presentation Quality

Apply final lighting, camera work, and compositing to reel shots. Presentation quality signals professionalism and attention to detail to employers.

Lesson 2 • Demo Reel Strategy and Curation

Select and sequence shots that showcase technical skill and artistic range. A strong reel opens doors; a weak one closes them regardless of talent.

Lesson 3 • Job Application and Industry Readiness

Prepare resumes, online portfolios, and interview responses for animation roles. Industry readiness combines technical skill with professional self-presentation.

Lesson 4 • Games vs. Film Animation Differences

Compare real-time game animation constraints with film quality standards. Each medium demands different technical and artistic priorities from animators.