Animation Learning Resources
Books - Library for free, Ebay/used for cheap. Support your local bookstore!
Movies - Hooplah or Kanopy apps, libraries, or streamers for a premium price.
YouTube
Websites/Resources
Apps & Programs
Habits
Goals
Animation Schools
- The Animator’s Survival Kit by Richard Williams (animation director of Who Framed Roger Rabbit)
- Character Animation Crash Course! By Eric Goldberg (genie animator in the first Aladdin)
- The Art of __________ (insert your favorite Pixar, Star Wars, or animated movie title here–there are many!)
- How to Think When you Draw series by Lorenzo Etherington
- Game Anim by Jonathan Cooper
- How to Create Animation in 10 Easy Lessons by Will Bishop-Stephens
- Stop Motion Animation: How to Make & Share Creative Videos by Melvyn Ternan
- The Lego Animation Book: Make Your Own LEGO Movies! By David Pagano and David Pickett
- Introducing Character Animation with Blender by Tony Mullen
- Animation from Pencils to Pixels by Tony White
- Animating Your Career by Steve Hickner
- Your Career in Animation: How to Survive and Thrive by David B. Levy
Movies - Hooplah or Kanopy apps, libraries, or streamers for a premium price.
- 2D/Classical: The Lion King (‘94), The Iron Giant, Secret of Kells, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Aladdin, The Red Turtle, Lilo & Stitch, 101 Dalmatians
- Stop-Motion: The Nightmare Before Christmas, ParaNorman, Coraline, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, Shawn the Sheep, Chicken Run, Pinocchio
- 3D: Inside Out, Tangled, How to Train your Dragon, The Peanuts Movie, Big Hero 6, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Toy Story 3, Zootopia, The Lego Movie, Encanto, Ratatouille, WALL-E, Turning Red, Frozen, Moana, Encanto, Kung Fu Panda, The Incredibles, Wreck-It Ralph
- Hybrid: Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, The Prince of Egypt, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Little Prince, The Lion King (‘19)
YouTube
- Jean-Denis Haas (lots of great animation learning playlists with tips for all levels)
- AndyMation (flipbook expert)
- Justin Rasch Animation (stop-motion Laika animator)
- VFX Artists React (fun breakdown videos on how movie VFX were done)
- Blender Guru (how to learn Blender)
- The Odd 1s Out (funny animation to share a worldview. Oddballs show is on Netflix)
Websites/Resources
- https://www.rokoko.com/insights/the-right-tools-for-the-job-getting-started-in-3d-animation
- 12 Principles: https://idearocketanimation.com/13721-12-principles-of-animation-gifs/
- https://youneedchannels.com/lego-youtubers
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6A387C8390E582D1 (Animation Mentor Student Showcase)
Apps & Programs
- FlipAClip (Free digital flipbook program)
- ProCreate (iPad drawing app)
- Pencil2D (animation app)
- Blender (free 3D program, many YouTube tutorials)
- Gimp (free image editor) or Adobe Photoshop (paid) or Canva.com or Pixlr.com
- Cinema4D (3D program, paid)
- Mixamo https://www.mixamo.com/#/
Habits
- Draw every day! Make stick-figure flipbooks in the corners of your sketchbook, or stapled scratch-paper
- Draw your favorite animated characters as you watch them in movies
- Use tracing paper and trace pictures on books or tablets of characters you enjoy. Create action poses!
- Make your own characters and write your own stories–collaborate with friends! (one writes, one draws)
Goals
- Find like-minded kids at school. Share your work, inspirations, books, tutorials, etc. Encourage each other and find ways to collaborate! The more you build yourself up and those around you, the more you can all help each other improve and stay focused.
- Create instead of consume. Remove electronics if they distract you too much.
- Make your first flipbook (paper or digital)
- Don’t get down on yourself when a drawing or piece doesn’t end up how you wanted it to. No one piece defines an artist. Remember that you are always learning and I’m sure the you from a year ago would be blown away by what you’re doing now. Take those lessons and move on.
- Develop a good attitude. This is the #1 advantage when it comes to getting future opportunities.
Animation Schools
- How to learn more about animation https://academyofanimatedart.com/3d-animation-courses/
- Vancouver Film School - 3D Animation & Visual Effects Program (Canada)
- DigiPen (Washington)
- Gnomon (Los Angeles)
- Ringling College (Florida)
- Sheridan College (Canada)
- Academy of Art College (San Francisco)
- CalArts (Southern California)
- AnimSchool.com (online)
- AnimationMentor.com (online)
- iAnimate.net (online)