7 Best Animation Courses and Classes with Certificate Online

We’ve compiled a list of the best animation online courses, tutorials and classes that allow you to earn an animation certificate. Become an animation expert today!

Every teacher has a different style. So make sure you check out different animation course previews to find a good fit. Our team chose these animation online programs based on different factors including the instructor, price (free vs paid), duration, difficulty level and the number of students. Don’t forget to share your success with us!

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Best Animation Courses With A Certificate

1. Maya for Beginners: Complete Guide to 3D Animation in Maya
2. Basic 3D Animation using Blender
3. Learn 3D Animation – The Ultimate Blender Guide
4. Animation and CGI Motion
5. Learn Animation Production with Blender
6. 2D Animation: Tips and Tricks
7. Simple Character Animation

Maya for Beginners: Complete Guide to 3D Animation in Maya

A beginner’s guide to using Maya to create 3D animations. By the end of this course, you will be able to create 3D models with a variety of textures, dynamics, and lightings.

The Maya for Beginners: Complete Guide to 3D Animation in Maya course is available on Udemy and taught by Video School Online Inc. and Lucas Ridley, an award-winning animator. There are currently 5,501 students enrolled in this online class.

Skills you will learn

• Explore Maya and understand the basics of the program
• Practice making 3D animations and modeling
• Experiment with the elements of look development
• Practice creating dynamic effects
• Render your projects
• Learn to put together an entire 3D animated scene

This course is intended for complete beginners who want to learn 3D animation using Maya. If you are hoping to pursue a career in professional animation, or if you are simply interested in graphics and design, you will not be disappointed with this course.

Basic 3D Animation using Blender

A basic introduction to the key elements of 3D animation. You will be comfortable with making a variety of animations using Blender by the end of this online class. This class focuses on animating and modeling non-organic objects. You could always do a deep dive into the subject with a Blender online course.

Basic 3D Animation using Blender is available on edX and is taught by Sameer Sahasrabudhe, a Senior Research Scientist at IT Bombay, and Sneha Sanglikar, a Senior Animator at IT Bombay, as well as other professionals in the field.

Skills you will learn

• Learn the basics of 3D visualization
• Understand the principles of animation
• Explore animation techniques using Blender
• Practice motion and timing to create 3D animation projects
• Learn about key-framing and timing
• Create realistic 3D models and animations

This course is intended for those who are interested in pursuing a career in digital animation. If you are generally interested in 3D animation on a personal level, this class would also be a good fit for you.

Learn 3D Animation – The Ultimate Blender Guide

Using Blender, learn to create 3D models and animations. By the end of this class, you will know the basics of 3D modeling so that you can practice more advanced skills in the future.

The Learn 3D Animation – The Ultimate Blender Guide course is available on Udemy and taught by Alex Cordebard, a 3D artist and instructor. Currently, 13,575 students are enrolled in this class.

Skills you will learn

• Explore Blender basics and techniques
• Learn intermediate skills within Blender
• Practice Ball Animation
• Learn to create 3D models
• Use Blender to sculpt animations
• Create a full 3D animation project

We recommend this course for beginners who want to know more about 3D arts, or for those who have some basic knowledge but want to learn more about how Blender operates. You should take this course if you are completely new to Blender software. If you are generally looking for more basic animation courses we’d still recommend this one.

Animation and CGI Motion

A scientific look at movie animation and CGI techniques. This course provides an introduction to basic 3D skills while teaching students about physics simulations, coding, and important algorithms. You should have a basic understanding of C or C++ programming, algebra, and calculus before entering this course.

The Animation and CGI Motion class is available on edX and is taught by Eitan Grinspun of the Department of Computer Science at Columbia University.

Skills you will learn

• Practice coding a physics simulator
• Learn basic algorithms associated with realistic animations
• Practice equations of motion in animation
• Learn to formulate mechanical systems using mathematics
• Use Lagrangian and Eulerian representations
• Create realistic and life-like models and animations

Because this course focuses heavily on the math and science equations associated with animation, this course is not ideal for beginners. If you have a basic yet solid foundation in programming, animation, math, and science and want to challenge yourself to develop your skill set, this class is perfect for you.

Learn Animation Production with Blender

This animation course will teach you to create your own 3D animations using Blender. You will receive a certificate of completion when you finish this class, which you can show to potential employers and professional connections.

The Learn Animation Production with Blender course is available on Udemy and taught by Darrin Lile, a Blender Foundation Certified Trainer. There are currently 3,127 students enrolled in this online class.

Skills you will learn

• Explore the basic functions of Blender
• Practice modeling items and the environment
• Use UV mapping
• Understand animation, lighting, and physical effects
• Render your own 3D projects
• Experiment with different materials and textures
• Understand physics associated with animation

You should take this course if you are completely new to using Blender. This is an ideal class for those who are just beginning to learn about animation in general.

2D Animation: Tips and Tricks

This animation class provides a look at the basics of 2D animation. You will practice animation skills that will be useful in a professional setting while taking this course.

2D Animation: Tips and Tricks is available on Lynda. It is taught by Dermot O’Connor, an animator and author.

Skills you will learn

• Learn a variety of animation tips and tricks to improve your efficiency and style
• Practice delays and gestures of characters
• Create realistic movement of characters
• Develop realistic characters by focusing on animation details
• Gain professional animation experience

We recommend this class to anyone who is interested in pursuing a career in animation. As this course focuses on basic animation skills, it is ideal for beginners in the field.

Simple Character Animation

Focus on creating realistic characters in this basic animation course. This class will allow you to expand your knowledge of animation while improving your skills and techniques through exploration and experimentation.

Simple Character Animation is available on Skillshare and taught by Fraser Davidson, a designer, animator, and director. There are 26,190 students in this online class.

Skills you will learn

• Learn the basics of animation
• Practice animation using Adobe Illustrator (or take an Adobe Illustrator course)
• Focus on key elements of character design and animation
• Learn about after effects
• Understand how to animate a walk cycle
• Render your own animation models and projects
• Create your own animated characters

Intended for beginners, this course is ideal for those who are just starting their career or hobby in animation. This class will be helpful if you want to focus on the specifics of creating and animating realistic characters.

We hope you found the course you were looking for. Did you enjoy our favorite animation online courses, programs and classes with certification? What course did you choose? Let us know. Thanks for checking out the list!