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1 Year Access 
Beginner 
7 Students 
5 hours, 9 minutes Get access to 5000+ courses including this for only £49. Learn More.
Animation for Beginners is a practical introduction to animation basics, covering essential animation techniques and the 12 principles of animation. Learn timing, squash and stretch, anticipation, arcs, staging, solid drawing and more while developing a strong foundation in digital animation and animation design.
Explore 2D animation through engaging projects, including a jumping elephant, cartoony elephant walkcycle and bunny runcycle. Learn character animation by creating frames, refining drawings, adding facial features, colour, shadows and backgrounds, while gaining practical experience with cartoon animation and digital animation workflows.
Develop your animation skills further through dialogue animation, key poses, thumbnails and polishing techniques. Whether you are interested in 2D animation, 3D animation, motion graphics or character animation, this beginner-friendly course helps you understand core concepts and build practical skills for creating expressive, engaging animated content.
After completing the Animation for Beginners course assessment, you will be eligible to receive a CPD-accredited certificate worth £9 from One Education to demonstrate your achievement.
The certificate is also available as a printed hard copy delivered by post for £15.
Animation brings illustrations, characters, and ideas to life through movement and visual storytelling. This beginner-friendly course introduces core animation principles, 2D and 3D concepts, character animation, motion graphics, and creative techniques, helping learners build a strong foundation in digital animation.
Studying animation can develop both creative thinking and practical production skills. Learners can explore timing, movement, storytelling, and animation techniques while gaining confidence creating engaging animated content for cartoons, digital media, personal projects, creative portfolios, and future professional development.
The Animation for Beginners course has a total study time of 5 hours, 9 minutes. Learners can work through the programme at a flexible pace, developing foundational skills in animation, 2D animation, 3D animation, character animation, motion graphics, digital animation, cartoon animation, animation techniques, and creative animation design.
The Animation for Beginners course has no formal entry requirements, making it suitable for newcomers and aspiring animators. An interest in animation, character design, storytelling, and digital creativity is beneficial. Basic computer skills, good English, creativity, and reliable internet access are recommended to help learners practise animation techniques through online lessons.
1. What is the Animation for Beginners course?
The Animation for Beginners course introduces the fundamental principles and techniques used to create engaging animated content. It covers Animation Basics, 2D Animation, 3D Animation, Character Animation, Motion Graphics, Digital Animation, Animation Techniques, Cartoon Animation, Animation Design, and Animation Principles.
2. Who is the Animation for Beginners course suitable for?
The course is suitable for beginners, aspiring animators, illustrators, digital artists, graphic designers, content creators, students, and anyone interested in developing foundational Animation Skills and understanding how animated content is created.
3. What will I learn from the Animation for Beginners course?
You will learn the 12 Principles of Animation and explore fundamental concepts such as Squash and Stretch, Anticipation, Staging, and other techniques that help create convincing movement. The course provides a foundation in Animation Design, Character Animation, and Digital Animation.
4. Do I need previous animation experience?
No. The course is designed specifically for beginners and starts with an Introduction to animation before exploring the 12 Principles of Animation. Previous experience with animation software or professional animation is not required.
5. What are the 12 principles of animation?
The 12 Principles of Animation are fundamental guidelines developed to help animators create convincing movement and expressive animated sequences. They include principles such as Squash and Stretch, Anticipation, Staging, Timing, Follow Through, and others.
6. What is squash and stretch in animation?
Squash and Stretch is an Animation Principle used to communicate an object’s weight, flexibility, impact, and movement. It can make characters and objects appear more dynamic and believable while maintaining their overall volume.
| INTRODUCTION | |||
| Introduction | 00:02:00 | ||
| THE 12 PRINCIPLES OF ANIMATION | |||
| Introduction of the 12 Principles of Animation | 00:02:00 | ||
| Squash and Stretch | 00:03:00 | ||
| Ease In and Ease Out | 00:02:00 | ||
| Timing | 00:02:00 | ||
| Anticipation | 00:04:00 | ||
| Follow Through and Overlapping Action | 00:02:00 | ||
| Exaggeration | 00:02:00 | ||
| Arcs | 00:04:00 | ||
| Secondary Action | 00:02:00 | ||
| Pose to Pose and Straight Ahead | 00:02:00 | ||
| Appeal | 00:01:00 | ||
| Staging | 00:01:00 | ||
| Solid Drawing | 00:01:00 | ||
| JUMPING ELEPHANT | |||
| Jumping Elephant Part 1 | 00:15:00 | ||
| Jumping Elephant Part 2 | 00:18:00 | ||
| WALKCYCLE | |||
| Introduction | 00:10:00 | ||
| Overview of The App Flippa Clip | 00:05:00 | ||
| Walkcycle of Cartoony Elephant – Part 1 | 00:23:00 | ||
| Walkcycle of Cartoony Elephant – Part 2, Overlapping Action | 00:07:00 | ||
| Walkcycle of Cartoony Elephant – Part 3, Adding The Ears | 00:06:00 | ||
| Walkcycle of Cartoony Elephant – Part 4, Outlines | 00:15:00 | ||
| Walkcycle of Cartoony Elephant – Part 5, Clean up | 00:06:00 | ||
| Walkcycle of Cartoony Elephant – Part 6, Adding the eyes | 00:08:00 | ||
| Walkcycle of Cartoony Elephant – Part 7, Adding the Pupils | 00:04:00 | ||
| Walkcycle of Cartoony Elephant – Part 8, Coloring | 00:06:00 | ||
| Walkcycle of Cartoony Elephant – Part 9, Adding Shadows | 00:16:00 | ||
| Walkcycle of Cartoony Elephant – Part 10, Adding Background | 00:14:00 | ||
| Walkcycle of Cartoony Elephant – Part 11, Coloring the Background | 00:15:00 | ||
| RUNCYCLE | |||
| Runcycle – INTRODUCTION | 00:05:00 | ||
| RunCycle of a Cartoony Bunny – Part 1, Draw the frames | 00:17:00 | ||
| RunCycle of a Cartoony Bunny – Part 2, Refining the Drawings | 00:11:00 | ||
| RunCycle of a Cartoony Bunny – Part 3, Adding the Ears | 00:07:00 | ||
| RunCycle of a Cartoony Bunny – Part 4, Front Run | 00:28:00 | ||
| RunCycle of a Cartoony Bunny – Part 5, Adding the Facials | 00:08:00 | ||
| DIALOGUE | |||
| Dialogue – Drawing Thumbnails | 00:05:00 | ||
| Dialogue – Timing the Key Poses | 00:21:00 | ||
| Dialogue – Polishing the Animation | 00:09:00 | ||
| Order Your Certificate | |||
| Order Your Certificate Now | 00:00:00 | ||
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