Character Animation Basics: Create a Dance Loop with After Effects and Photoshop

Looking to learn animation, but don’t know where to start? Create a dance loop from start to finish and learn After Effects along the way in this fun, comprehensive class!

Join Bee Grandinetti, an illustrator and animator known for her iconic hand-drawn style and analog approach to animation planning, for an introduction to animation that goes beyond bouncing balls and walk cycles to inspire the animator in you.

Bee’s holistic approach to animation will help you understand the foundational principles of effective animation in addition to the technical skills every animator needs to know. From sketching with pencil and paper to final tweaks to your finished animation, you’ll follow along with every step of Bee’s tried and true process, creating a dancing character as you go.

With Bee’s fun, accessible and clear approach, you’ll learn how to:

• Use Adobe After Effects, from setting up a canvas to animating a character
• Create interesting-looking motion through speed graphs and easing in and out
• Speed up the process of animation with Bee’s shortcuts and tips
• Adapt the traditional onion skin animation approach to your digital process

Whether it’s your first time experimenting with After Effects or you’re looking to sharpen your existing animation skills, this class will unlock your ability to plan your animation, create natural movement in your work, and bring your art to life like never before.

• Introduction
• Animation is For Everybody
• Recording a Video Reference
• Choosing a Reference
• Sketching Thumbnails
• Designing Your Character
• Refining in Photoshop
• Adding Color and Detail in Photoshop
• Introduction to Adobe After Effects
• Understanding Adobe After Effects
• Building Your Character in After Effects
• Animating the Body
• Animating the Arms
• Finishing Your Animation
• Outlining in Photoshop
• Adding Color and Texture in Photoshop
• Exporting for Social Media
• Final Thoughts
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