Top 25 Free Animation Courses

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Adinnu Blessing Chiamaka
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Free Animation Courses
Free Animation Courses

Are you interested in learning animation but don’t want to spend a lot of money on expensive courses? Look no further! In this article, we’ve compiled a list of 25 free online animation courses that will help you learn the basics and advance your skills in this exciting field.

From character design to storyboarding to the final exhibition, these courses cover a wide range of topics and techniques that will help you bring your ideas to life. Whether you’re a beginner looking to get started or an experienced animator looking to brush up on your skills, you’re sure to find something of value in this list.

It is important to note that animation is a growing field with many exciting career opportunities. Whether you want to work in film, television, video games, or the web, the ability to create engaging and dynamic visual content is a valuable skill.

Animation is also a great way to tell stories and communicate ideas in a unique and engaging way. By learning animation, you can develop your creativity, problem-solving skills, and attention to detail, all of which are important qualities in today’s competitive job market.

So not only is learning animation fun and rewarding, it can also open up new doors and opportunities for you. So let’s get started!

Table of Contents

25 Best Free Courses to Get You Started

Below is a list of top free animation courses to get started with:

Top 25 Free Animation Courses

1. Toon Boom Harmony Tutorial for Beginners: How To Make a Cartoon

This course is designed to teach you the fundamentals of using software for creating animations. You will learn how to navigate the interface and utilize the various drawing tools available to create your desired visual effects. 

The course also covers two main methods of animation, frame-by-frame, and cut-out. The course also provides instructions on how to use these techniques to bring your ideas to life. Additionally, you will learn how to create time-lapse videos and import sound to enhance your animations. 

Finally, the course will guide you through the process of exporting your completed video for uploading to YouTube or other video-sharing platforms. You can find this course on YouTube through this link.

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2. Stop Motion Animation

 This course is designed to provide a comprehensive guide to creating animations. In the introduction, you will be introduced to the basics of the software and the various tools and features that will be used throughout the course.

Before you get started, you will need to gather some materials and make sure your setup is ready for animation. This may include setting up your drawing tablet, installing the software, and gathering any necessary reference images or other resources.

This course covers important techniques like camera movement and exporting your animation as individual images. You will learn how to remove rigging and wires, and how to compile your images into a single animation.

By the end of the course, you will have all the knowledge and skills necessary to create your own professional-quality animations from start to finish.

Interested in this course? Here is the link

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3. Workflow for Animating Dialogue

This course is designed to provide a comprehensive guide to creating realistic and engaging character dialogue in your animations. You will learn how to select the right audio, break down dialogue, and create workflows to ensure that you are efficiently and effectively animating your characters’ lip sync and facial expressions. 

The course also covers the four components of language that you need to consider when animating dialogue: jaw open/closed, corners in/out, lip shapes, and tongue placement. In addition, this course emphasizes the importance of polishing your animation to achieve a professional level of quality. By the end of the course, you will have the knowledge and skills needed to create convincing character dialogue in your animations.

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4. 12 Principles of Animation: The Complete Series

This course is designed to provide a comprehensive guide to the principles of animation. You will learn about the key concepts and techniques that are essential to creating professional-quality animations, including squash and stretch, which refers to the ability to distort an object’s shape in order to give it a sense of weight and movement. 

Another important principle covered in the course is anticipation( which is the act of preparing the audience for an action that is about to occur), Staging is (the way that you present an idea or action clearly and concisely). 

In addition to these core principles, the course also covers slow in and slow out, arcs, secondary action, timing, exaggeration, solid drawing, and appeal. By the end of the course, you will have a thorough understanding of the principles of animation and how to apply them to your own work. Follow this link to learn this course for free! 

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5. 2D Game Development with libGDX

 This course provides an in-depth exploration of the capabilities of LibGDX as a game development platform. You will learn how to use this powerful tool to create 2D games that can be played on a wide range of devices, including computers, tablets, and smartphones. The course will start with the fundamentals of drawing and animating within the LibGDX framework and then progress to more advanced topics such as physics simulation and user input handling.

By the end of the course, you will have the skills and knowledge needed to create a fully-fledged game, called Icicles, in which the player must dodge falling icicles using either arrow keys or device tilt controls. Overall, this course will give you a comprehensive understanding of the capabilities of LibGDX and equip you with the skills to build your own engaging and immersive 2D games. The link below will direct you to the course.

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6. Introduction to Animation Fundamentals Course

This free course covers the fundamentals of drawing, and animation using the popular Flipaclip software, and how to create stunning motion graphics from scratch. As you progress through the course, you’ll have the opportunity to learn valuable tips and avoid common mistakes that can hold you back as an animator. Plus, upon completing the course, you’ll receive a free certification that attests to your newfound skills and knowledge in the field of animation. Interested in this course? Click the link below

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7. A Practical Introduction – Modeling and Animation in Blender

If you’re looking to explore the world of 3D modeling and animation, then this free online course is a great place to start. You’ll have the chance to work with Blender, a powerful and widely-used 3D computer graphics software. By participating in this course, you’ll gain a strong understanding of the process of creating 3D models and animations.

You’ll learn how to use a variety of tools and techniques to produce high-quality motion graphics, and you’ll get hands-on experience putting your new skills into practice. Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience under your belt, this course is a fantastic opportunity to enhance your skills and knowledge in 3D modeling and animation. Enter here to get the course

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8. Introduction to Programming and Animation with Alice

This eight-week online course combines programming and animation in a way that takes your learning to the next level. You’ll have the chance to learn how to become a 3D-animated storyteller, gain an understanding of the inner workings of Alice, a widely-used object-based computer programming language, and even create your own interactive game.

This course is suitable for both beginners and those with more advanced knowledge of 3D animation. It offers a comprehensive and engaging program that will help you take your skills to new heights. Follow the link below

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9. Animation for Illustration: Adding Movement with Procreate & Photoshop

This video lesson on Skillshare is a great resource for learning the basics of animation and creating your own attractive character. It will guide you through all the necessary steps, from building and refining your character to adding layers and animating it using Photoshop.

You’ll also learn how to incorporate creative elements to enhance the appeal of your character. The lesson is designed specifically for beginners, and it provides a comprehensive overview of the animation process. 

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10. 3D Artist Specialisation

This course is designed to provide animators with a deeper understanding of asset creation and management, script integration for interactive work, character setup and animation, and other practical tools.

The modules included in the course are designed to help you prepare for the Unity Certified 3D Artist exam, which is a professional certification for entry- to mid-level Unity artists. Click the link to register

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11. Basic Animation In After Effects

For this course, you will be creating original motion graphics for a video by using a variety of techniques such as preset animations and effects, animating a cartoon character, and turning the video into a cartoon.

These elements will bring the video to life and make it more visually appealing. This task will require a strong skillset in motion graphics and animation. Follow the link below if the course interests you

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12. How to Animate Logos for Companies & Brands

This course helps you become familiar with the After Effects interface and learn about the basic elements of motion. You will also learn some tips and tricks for adding polish to your animations.

To help you understand these concepts, you will be shown a demonstration of animating logos using After Effects. This will give you a chance to see how these principles can be applied in practice. Does this interest you? The link is below

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13. Animatron University – Beginner Course

In this course, you will be creating HTML5 animations using free web-based software called Animatron. This tool is user-friendly and allows you to create a wide range of animations quickly and easily.

Your task is to use Animatron to create fun, engaging, and exciting animations that will capture the attention of your audience. You will have the freedom to be creative and explore different animation styles, as long as the end result is high-quality and engaging animation. Click the link below to register

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14. Basic Animation in Adobe After Effects

In this course, you will learn how to create short animated cartoons featuring amusing cartoon characters. Through a series of lessons, you will be guided through the process of designing and animating these characters, as well as incorporating them into a story or script to create a complete cartoon. This is the link to register

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15. AOS Animate on scroll with examples

In this course, you will be adding animation to your web templates using the AOS (Animate on Scroll) script. This script allows you to add animation to elements on your web page as they scroll into view. You will also learn how to use HTML containers and create an HTML-animated image background.

Additionally, you will learn how to use an image with a transparent background to create a more seamless animation effect. Overall, this project will give you the skills and knowledge to add dynamic and engaging animation to your web templates, helping you to create a more visually appealing and interactive user experience. Follow this link to register

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16. Using Canva to help you Animate

Canva is a powerful graphic design platform that offers a variety of features for creating professional-quality designs. One of these features is the ability to create videos using the platform. In this course, you will learn how to use Canva’s video feature to create engaging and eye-catching videos. You will learn how to use different overlays, such as text and shapes, to add visual interest to your videos.

Also, you will learn some special tricks for animating elements within your videos using Canva’s tools and features. Finally, you will learn how to use Canva to create GIFs and videos that can be shared online or used for a variety of purposes. By the end of this project, you will have a solid understanding of how to use Canva to create dynamic and visually appealing videos and GIFs. Click the link to register

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17. Learn to Make Animated Presentations with Avatars

For this course, users will learn how to create unique and expressive avatars that can be used in a variety of contexts. Users will also be able to create both comic-style and photo-realistic avatars that can be customized to their liking. In addition to creating these avatars, users will also learn how to create instant facial and body animations that will help bring their characters to life.

Once their avatars and animations are complete, users will be able to easily export their creations by copying and pasting them as animated GIFs. These GIFs can then be used in presentation tools such as PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Docs, and Evernote, giving users a wide range of options for using and sharing their avatars and animations. The link to register is below

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18. Powtoon for Beginners

Powtoon is a digital tool that allows users to create animated videos and presentations. One feature of Powtoon is the ability to add a timeline, which allows users to organize the different elements of their animation. Within the timeline, users can add entry and exit effects for various elements, such as basic shapes, images, and animated objects. Users can also add title text and other text elements to their timelines.

In addition, Powtoon allows users to import images and add them to the timeline. Users can also add animated objects to their timelines, which can be customized with various effects and transitions. Another feature of Powtoon is the ability to add a soundtrack to the timeline, which can enhance the overall viewing experience of the animation or presentation. Overall, the timeline feature in Powtoon offers a range of options for organizing and enhancing the elements of an animated video or presentation. This is the link to register

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19. 3 Simple Animation Tricks in PowerPoint to Make an Impact

In this course, you will learn how to use PowerPoint to create impressive and modern animations. Specifically, you will learn about:

  • The effective animation tools that are available in PowerPoint.
  • How to use basic picture editing skills to boost boring stock photos, without the need for Photoshop.
  • Techniques for manipulating the viewer’s eye and creating a more engaging experience with your animations

By the end of this tutorial, you should have a good understanding of how to use PowerPoint to create professional-looking animations that will impress your audience. Want this course? Follow the link below

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20. Animatron University – Intermediate Course

 In this course, you will learn how to create HTML5 animations using Animatron, a free web-based software. You will learn how to design and animate your own characters and objects, and how to export your creations as HTML5 files that can be shared and viewed on any device with a web browser.

The course will cover the various features and tools available in Animatron and will teach you how to use them to create professional-quality animations. By the end of the course, you should understand how to use Animatron to create fun, engaging, and exciting HTML5 animations. Follow this link to grab this course

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21. Animatron University – Advanced Course

 This advanced course covers the creation of professional-quality HTML5 animations using Animatron. It delves into advanced features and tools and teaches students how to design and animate their own characters and objects for export as HTML5 files.

HTML5 is not for the beginner, but by the end of this course, students will have a thorough understanding of how to use Animatron to create engaging and exciting animations. If you’re interested in learning this, click on the link

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22. OpenToonz – How to animate 2D Animation Class [#004B]

In this course, you will learn how to set up and use OpenToonz to create animation. This includes planning the motion path, using the control point editor, and changing the opacity of layers. You will also learn about common mistakes made by beginners in animation, as well as techniques for achieving smooth animation, such as timing charts and the halving method for planning spacings.

Students will also learn about onion skinning and creating animation frames, as well as techniques for adding motion blur and maintaining consistent volumes. You’ll also learn how to copy frames and use the timeline in OpenToonz, as well as how to make layers invisible and preview your animation. If this interests you, follow the link

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23. Create the Most AMAZING Animations with Rive – Crash Course

This course covers a range of topics related to design and animation. It begins with an introduction and overview of the interface, and then covers design basics and techniques for finishing a design. The course also covers how to create animations using the state machine and includes information on project export options. There is a challenge included to test your skills, and the course concludes with an outro and suggestions for further learning. Click the link below to register

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24. Create CAPTIVATING Looping Motion Graphics | Tutorial

In this course, you will learn how to create an animation using various techniques. The syllabus includes an introduction episode and an overview of the process. Individuals will learn how to animate an elevator moving through a tunnel, bouncing on trampolines, and swinging on a see-saw. The course will conclude with a lesson on completing the final product. Follow the link below to register

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25. How to Animate | COMPLETE FREE COURSE

Through this course, you will learn the complete process of creating an animated project, including script and storyboard development, character design, animatics creation, background design, title-card design, and final exhibition. The course provides tips and guidance for each step to help you create a professional and high-quality animated project. Click the link below

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FAQs About Free Animation Courses 

1. What are the prerequisites for these courses?

Most animation courses do not have specific prerequisites, but some may recommend that students have a basic understanding of art or design principles. It is always a good idea to check the course description or contact the instructor to determine if there are any recommended prerequisites.

2. Are these courses suitable for beginners?

Most of the courses are more suitable for beginners, while a few others may be more advanced. It is always a good idea to review the course description and objectives to determine the appropriate level for you.

3. Can I earn a certificate upon completing a course?

Some free online animation courses may offer a certificate upon completion, while others may not. It is always a good idea to check with the course provider to see if a certificate is offered and what the requirements are for earning one.

4. Will I need any specialized software or equipment to complete the course?

Some animation courses may require students to have access to certain software or equipment, while others may not. It is always a good idea to check the course description or contact the instructor to determine if there are any recommended or required tools.

Important Recommendations

Conclusion 

Overall, there are many benefits to taking a free online animation course. Not only can it provide you with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the field of animation, but it can also be a cost-effective way to learn and advance your career. With so many options available, it’s important to carefully consider your goals and choose a course that aligns with your interests and needs.

Whether you are a beginner looking to get started in animation or an experienced artist looking to brush up on your skills, there is a course out there for you. By investing in your education and taking the time to learn from experts in the field, you can set yourself up for success in the exciting and constantly evolving world of animation.

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