Become a Character Animator
Become a 3D character animator by taking our 6 Core Animation Courses. They’re designed by industry experts and will take you from bouncing a ball to completing a demo reel in just 18 months.
Animation Basics
12-Week Course
LIVE Q&As | 12 Weekly 1-hour Q&As
START DATE | Week of September 25, 2023
PRICE | $2,499 USD
Start Your Animation Journey
Master basic animation techniques and learn to bring characters to life in our Animation Basics course. You’ll give your characters weight, make them walk with personality, and learn how to express emotion through movement. All of these exercises will be performed using our professional rigs.
Body Mechanics
12-Week Course
LIVE Q&As | 12 Weekly 1-hour Q&As
START DATE | Week of September 25, 2023
PRICE | $2,499 USD
Animate Realistic Character Movement
Learn how to animate bipedal characters in our Body Mechanics course. Understand how the anatomy of your characters affects their physical movement, and use proper timing and spacing to make that movement believable. You’ll use these skills to create a polished, full body walk.
Advanced Body Mechanics
12-Week Course
LIVE Q&As | 12 Weekly 1-hour Q&As
START DATE | Week of September 25, 2023
PRICE | $2,499 USD
Design Exciting Action Sequences
In the Advanced Body Mechanics course you will learn to use camera angles and composition to share your story with an audience. You’ll edit multiple shots into a cohesive narrative and build on your knowledge of body mechanics to make your characters run, jump, and climb.
Introduction to Acting
12-Week Course
LIVE Q&As | 12 Weekly 1-hour Q&As
START DATE | Week of September 25, 2023
PRICE | $2,499 USD
Create Standout Performances
Introduction to Acting will teach you to animate unique dialogue shots, helping you craft characters that are iconic and relatable. Learn how to convey real emotion through facial expressions and develop your character acting skills by adding believable lip sync.
Advanced Acting
12-Week Course
LIVE Q&As | 12 Weekly 1-hour Q&As
START DATE | Week of September 25, 2023
PRICE | $2,499 USD
Build a Masterful 1-on-1 Dialogue Sequence
Now that your characters can walk, talk, and react to their environment, it's time to learn how to make them interact with each other. In Advanced Acting, you’ll craft believable, multi-character moments and learn to animate scenes that form a cohesive story.
Feature Animation Acting & Polish
12-Week Course
LIVE Q&As | 12 Weekly 1-hour Q&As
START DATE | Week of September 25, 2023
PRICE | $2,499 USD
Develop Pro-Level Shots for Your Demo Reel
Congratulations! You’ve acquired all the knowledge you need to become an animator and now it's time to put it all together. In Feature Animation Acting & Polish, you’ll take your skills to the professional level by animating feature-quality shots that you can showcase in your demo reel. Your mentor will also share best practices for creating your portfolio and advice on how to get hired for your dream job in the industry.
Mentor Jean Denis Haas in an in-class demo
What Makes Animation Mentor Different?
Become a 3D character animator by taking our 6 Core Animation Courses. They’re designed by industry experts and will take you from bouncing a ball to completing a demo reel in just 18 months.
Experienced Mentors
Our mentors come from world-class animation studios like Disney, Pixar, Sony, and Industrial Light & Magic. As a student, you will have the opportunity to learn from artists that created the animated masterpieces that inspired you to start your own animation journey.
Professional Animation Tools and Assets
We teach our students how to work in a studio environment so they’re ready for jobs when they graduate. This training starts from day one, with exclusive access to professionally designed character rigs and art assets. We ensure students learn using the same tools and animation workflows that professionals use in their day-to-day work.
A Community of Animators
The animation community is one of the most diverse and passionate groups in the entertainment industry. We wanted to bring this spirit to Animation Mentor and create a place for animators just like us, who are eager to learn and improve their skills. As a member of our community, you’ll make friends with like-minded peers, share feedback, and grow as artists.
Personal Mentorship
Animation Mentor has been teaching students to animate for over 15 years! We’ve learned many things since 2005 that have helped our school grow, but one thing that remains consistent is that every student is unique. Some students take to body mechanics like acrobats to trapezes, and others find facial animation to be as easy as blinking. No matter their skills, we are proud that every student gets their own individual video feedback from our mentors. The learning experience here is truly personalized.
Path to become a Character Animation Superstar
– Start Here –
Maya Workshop: Animation Basics
6-Week Workshop
Master this key software before diving into the art of animation.
Animation
Basics
12-Week Course
Begin your character animation journey and master the basics.
Feature Animation
Acting & Polish
12-Week Course
Animate a shot the pros would be proud of and finish your demo reel.
– Continue Here –
Creature Animation:
Locomotion
12-Week Workshop
Animate creatures and animals with guidance from pro VFX animators.
Creature Animation:
Fight or Flight
12-Week Workshop
Create dynamic flight scenes and fight sequences with creatures.
Cartoony Animation
for 3D Animators
6-Week Workshop
Plus your animation by pushing your characters to their limits.
Previs Basics
for Animators
6-Week Workshop
Quickly animate, layout, and stage shots for production.
FAQ for 3D Character Animation Courses
How long do the character animation courses take?
Each of our Core Animation Courses is 12 weeks. Without breaks, the entire series of 6 classes takes 18 months and will teach you everything you need to know to become a professional animator.
Can I get financial support?
Yes. We have interest-free student loans. You can learn more about them here.
How many times per week do I need to be online?
You will need to be online at least once a week for your weekly live Q&A with your mentor and classmates.
How much work do I need to do outside of class?
If you really want to understand the material and build your skills, you will need to invest at least 15-20 hours a week working on the assignments. Don’t feel pressured to speed through your education, learning animation isn’t a race. That’s why all of our material is accessible through the online campus, allowing you to rewatch lectures as often as you like. We also offer peer tutoring and a support team that is available to help you overcome hurdles and master the principles you are working on.
Will I learn how to make 3D character models?
No, our Character Animation Courses teach you how to animate 3D characters. We provide you with free, professionally-designed character rigs to work with. If you want to learn more about character modeling, take our Introduction to Character Modeling workshop.
Will I be able to create a full portfolio after taking all of the classes?
Yes. Our 6 Character Animation Courses are designed to give you the skills you need to work in an animation production environment. As the final step in your education, we help you refine and polish your best work for your demo reel or portfolio.
What does a 3D animation portfolio look like?
A 3D animation portfolio—also called a demo reel— is a short (30sec – 3min) collection of animated shots you’ve created. It’s best to keep it simple with a title card that has your contact information and 2-3 of your strongest shots, starting with the strongest one. Recruiters would rather see your best work than an overview of everything you’ve ever done. You can see examples of shots used in our students’ demo reels here.
What is the difference between an art portfolio, a 3D animation portfolio and a 2D animation portfolio?
A 2D animation portfolio should represent your skills in the animation of 2D objects, characters, and environments while a 3D animation portfolio should show your skills in the 3D space. An art portfolio features your best artwork, illustration, photography, or graphic design, depending on the niche you’ve chosen. Remember to tailor your portfolio to the job description.
How hard is it to get a job in animation?
Like any other creative career, you need to be able to demonstrate your skills. The better your skills, the easier it is to land a job. That’s why we help our students refine and polish their work to create an outstanding demo reel that they can show to studios and other potential employers.
How can I get my first job in animation?
Taking a look at job board websites is a good start. You should also keep an eye on the career pages of companies you’re interested in working with. However, like every industry, most people find their jobs through their connections and referrals. Becoming part of an animation community or organization is essential to building those connections.