Teach Yourself Animation at Home for Free | Self Teach Animation Curriculum + Resources

RobynO・24 minutes read

Learning animation at home for free requires dedication and determination, with structured guidelines provided to help individuals become professional animators independently. Recommended resources and books focus on understanding body mechanics, color theory, and mastering the 12 principles of animation to convey personality and emotions effectively.

Insights

  • Dedication and determination are key when learning animation at home for free, with structured guidelines available to aid in becoming a professional animator independently.
  • Understanding essential elements like color theory, line, form, perspective, and shape language, along with mastering the 12 principles of animation through resources like recommended books and online tutorials, is crucial for creating compelling art and animation.

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Recent questions

  • How can I learn animation at home for free?

    By dedicating time, following structured guidelines, and practicing regularly.

  • What are some recommended books for learning animation?

    "The Animator's Survival Kit" and "The Illusion of Life."

  • How can I practice animation principles effectively?

    Start with simple objects like a ball and a brick.

  • What software is recommended for beginners in animation?

    OpenToonz for 2D animation and Blender for 3D animation.

  • How can I convey personality and emotions through animation?

    Start with basic actions like blinking and lifting an arm.

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Summary

00:00

Master Animation at Home for Free

  • Learning animation at home for free requires dedication and determination.
  • Structured guidelines are provided to help individuals become professional animators independently.
  • Recommendations include practicing gesture drawing to understand body mechanics and poses.
  • Understanding color theory, line, form, perspective, and shape language is crucial for good art and animation.
  • Recommended books for learning animation include "The Animator's Survival Kit" by Richard Williams.
  • "The Illusion of Life" by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston covers the 12 principles of Animation.
  • "Animated Storytelling" by Liz Blazer focuses on story structures and design in animation.
  • Learning the 12 principles of animation is essential, with resources like Ellen Baker's tutorials on YouTube.
  • Practice the principles with simple objects like a ball and a brick to master concepts like squash and stretch, timing, and more.
  • Free software like OpenToonz for 2D animation and Blender for 3D animation are recommended for beginners.

11:10

Mastering Animation: Conveying Emotion Through Movement

  • Animation is about conveying personality and emotions through simple movements.
  • Start with basic actions like blinking and lifting an arm to practice conveying emotion.
  • Before delving into full body mechanics, focus on understanding how each part of the body works in isolation.
  • Follow a structured process for animation, starting with thumbnailing and storyboarding.
  • Use reference videos to understand body movements and actions accurately.
  • Progress from key poses to blocking, then splining for smoother movements.
  • Incorporate principles like offset, follow through, and secondary animation for a polished result.
  • Seek feedback on your work through social media or online communities.
  • Once comfortable with body mechanics, move on to learning about acting and body language.
  • Focus on one character interactions before tackling more complex scenes with multiple characters.
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