Table of Contents
Welcome to my Animation Resource Page!
On this animation resource page, you will find all of my recommendations to help you learn animation. I am a professional animator who has been working in the animation industry for over 28 years. Everything that I recommend on this page I either have or use, and was motivated to put this resource page together from questions that I had received from students, parents and colleagues over the years. I hope that you find this page useful. Please feel free to bookmark or share with others. -Gregg
Disclosure: I’m proud to be an Amazon affiliate for some of the animation tools and books I recommend here. When you make a purchase through one my links, I earn from qualifying purchases with no extra cost to you! My recommendations are backed by years of experience and knowledge – so rest assured that these items will be genuinely helpful in furthering your learning journey. Every click means supporting this page – thank you in advance for your support.
Tools That I Use
One question I often get is about drawing tablets. People want to know which one is the best. Personally, I bought a HUION drawing tablet. I use it every day for teaching, animating, and drawing with Photoshop. It’s much cheaper than a Wacom and it has been a reliable addition to my home studio. I own a 27 inch Wacom Cintiq, but I can’t use it because the LED screen went out right after the warranty expired. I will never go back to using one again. Here is the model of Huion that I have, but there are other sizes to choose from depending on your budget.
Animation Schools
Animation schools are a great way to jump-start your animation career. Whether you’re looking for an animation degree, certificate, or just some classes to help you master the craft of animation, choosing the right animation training can provide you with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the industry
Online Animation Schools
Online animation schools are becoming increasingly popular as a great way to learn animation from the comfort of your own home. Plus with online animation schools, you get the added benefit of being able to work at your own pace and schedule so you can focus on your craft without worrying about attending classes or scheduling commitments.
- Schoolism-Great courses to hone your character design, storyboarding, and concept artist skills, to stay ahead of the curve in this rapidly changing field! With step-by-step tutorials from top animation professionals, you’ll be ready to tackle any animation project with confidence.
- CG Spectrum
- CG Master Academy
- iAnimate
- Animation Mentor
- Anim School
- Skillshare
Brick and Mortar Animation Schools
Many animation programs offer special placement rates so you can get hands-on experience and make important connections while learning the ropes. Some animation schools with particularly high placement rates include Ringling College of Art and Design, Savannah College of Art and Design, and California Institute of Arts. All three have an excellent track record in terms of helping students land jobs as animators after graduation. The following schools are “on campus”, have strong animation programs, and are heavily scouted by animation studios.
Online Animation Courses and Classes
Animation Software
Animation software has made animation more accessible than ever before. Whether you’re a professional animator or just getting into animation, there’s an animation program out there that can help bring your ideas to life. Here is a list of programs that I use and tutorials that will help you learn them. I have also added some alternate software suggestions for different budgets.
2d Animation Software
- Toon Boom – This 2D Animation Software is the industry standard for traditional and rigged 2d animation. There are a number of options for this software from beginners to animation industry professionals.
- TV Paint- 2D animation software that is widely used in the animation industry for its powerful features and flexibility. With its wide range of tools and functionalities, TV Paint allows animators to create high-quality hand-drawn animations for a variety of projects. To learn more about TV Paint, you can visit their website at https://www.tvpaint.com/.
- Adobe Animate – Adobe Animate is not free, but offers a free trial version of its 2D animation software, which allows you to create vector-based animations and interactive content. It has features like a timeline editor and a library of pre-made assets. (https://www.adobe.com/products/animate.html)
- Spine-“Spine is dedicated to 2D skeletal animation, providing an efficient workflow both for creating amazing animation and for integrating it into your games.” -Esoteric Software.
- Clip Studio-Clip Studio Paint is an all-in-one digital art software suite that provides artists with a comprehensive range of drawing, illustration, and comic creation tools, as well as intuitive animation features.
Free 2d Animation Software
In recent years, the world of 2D animation has become more accessible than ever before, with a growing number of free animation software options available to aspiring animators. These programs offer powerful tools and features that allow artists to bring their creative visions to life without breaking the bank. The following list includes some of the best free 2D animation software options available today, from basic drawing tools to more advanced animation software.
- Animation Desk (https://www.kdanmobile.com/en/animation-desk) – Animation Desk is a free 2D animation app for iPad that allows you to draw and animate using your tablet. The app provides a range of features, including onion skinning and a user-friendly interface.
- Animation Paper (https://animationpaper.com/) – Animation Paper is a free 2D animation software that allows you to create traditional hand-drawn animation using bitmap graphics. The software provides a range of features, including onion skinning and a user-friendly interface.
- OpenToonz – OpenToonz is an open-source and free 2D animation software that was used to create the Studio Ghibli film “The Red Turtle”. It has a wide range of features for traditional and digital animation, including vector and bitmap drawing tools.https://opentoonz.github.io/e/
- Krita – Krita is a free and open-source digital painting software that can also be used for 2D animation. It has features like onion skinning, animation curves, and brush stabilizers. (https://krita.org/)
- Pencil– This is an open-source bitmap and vector pencil test software. It is completely free! Download it and animate either on paper and scan it old-school style, or use your Cintiq or tablet right in the software.
- Synfig Studio – Synfig Studio is an open-source, free 2D animation software that uses vector graphics to create smooth and fluid animations. It has a powerful bone system for character rigging and can be used to create complex animations. (https://www.synfig.org/)
- Piskel – Piskel is a free online tool for creating pixel art and animated sprites. It has features like onion skinning, frame management, and exporting to various formats. (https://www.piskelapp.com/)
3d Animation Software
- Autodesk Maya -Maya is the animation industry standard for 3D animation. As a student, you can get FREE access to the Maya student edition. In addition, there is no shortage of free online 3d animation tutorials for you to get things started.
Free 3D Animation Software
If you’re looking to get started in 3D animation but don’t want to spend a fortune on software, this list of free 3D animation software options can help you bring your creative ideas to life.
- Blender – (https://www.blender.org/) – Blender is a popular and powerful 3D animation software that is widely used by artists and animators. It offers a range of features, including modeling, texturing, rendering, and animation tools. Blender has been becoming more and more of an industry animation package in the last year or so.
Clara.io (https://clara.io/) – Clara.io is a free, cloud-based 3D modeling and animation software. It includes a range of features, including modeling tools, real-time collaboration, and rendering capabilities.
Houdini Apprentice (https://www.sidefx.com/products/houdini-apprentice/) – Houdini Apprentice is a free version of Houdini, a 3D animation software used in the film and gaming industry. It includes a range of features, including modeling, texturing, and animation tools.
Anim8or (http://www.anim8or.com/) – Anim8or is a free 3D animation software that is designed for beginners. It includes a range of features, including modeling, texturing, and animation tools.
Learn 2D Effects Animation
Learning to create amazing and eye-catching 2d effects animation does not have to be difficult. With the right resources, you can learn how to start your own project from scratch and make your visuals stand out from the competition. There are many useful websites with tutorials, templates, and tips to learn 2d effects animation quickly and effectively. Not only will you learn the fundamentals of animation, but also learn about advanced techniques that can give your visuals a professional touch. All you need is some dedication and commitment, as well as access to the right resources, and you can learn how to make amazing 2d effects animation in no time!
Quentin Cordonnier is a 2D FX animator with experience in television series, video games (Riot), and feature films such as Klaus, Space Jam 2, and Summit of Gods. His tutorials focus on the technical aspect of animation, exploring ways to simplify reality for easier animation.
These books are jam-packed with rich, original illustrations from the author himself which help explain and illuminate the technique, philosophy, and approach behind classical hand-drawn animated effects and how to apply these skills to your digital projects. Animation guru Joseph Gilland breaks down the world of special effects animation with clear step-by-step diagrams and explanations on how to create the amazing and compelling images you see on the big screen.
Elemental Magic, Volume I: The Art of Special Effects Animation-
My Top Animation Book Recommendations:
Tired of sifting through the countless animation books out there only to find they don’t meet your needs? Don’t worry! I’ve done all the work for you. After a great deal of study and experimentation, I’m proud to bring together my collection of absolute must-owns when it comes to animation, story boarding, character design and drawing.
Learn Animation Principles
The principles of animation are the foundation of animation and help animators create believable characters, natural motion, and dynamic scenes. By having a fundamental understanding of animation principles like timing, squash and stretch, anticipation, follow-through, overlapping action, slow in/slow out, and more, animators can create high-quality animation that captivates viewers. So if you’re looking to get into animation or take your animation skills to the next level, it’s important to learn the Principles of Animation!
The Illusion Of Life-This book is considered “the animation bible” by many in the industry. It provides a brief history of Disney Animation, and a fantastic overview of what character animation is all about.
The Animator’s Survival Kit-This animation book is packed with the principles of animation that every animator needs to know in order to create animations that look believable. It takes you from how to approach animation as simple as a bouncing ball, to walk cycles, and more complicated animation such as how to animate a quadruped. With over 1,000 drawings and illustrations, this book is a comprehensive guide for professionals and students. I require all of my 2d and 3d students in the beginning classes use this book because it will serve as a reference book for the rest of their careers.
Learn Animation Acting and Performance
Acting For Animators– I was fortunate enough to have classes with the author Ed Hooks when I was at Disney. He is an acting coach that is great at taking classic acting techniques and teaching them in a way that relates to animators. I use this book for my character animation performance classes.
Writing for Animation
Save The Cat! – This is my absolute favorite book on story development! Some may think it can be a bit formulaic, but it provides an excellent approach to finding the beats and overall structure of your story.
Storyboarding for Animation
Directing the Story: Professional Storytelling and Storyboarding Techniques for Live Action and Animation-This author is an industry vet that provides a clear understanding of what storyboarding for feature films is all about.
Framed Ink: Drawing and Composition for Visual Storytellers- A fantastic book on understanding how to get more dynamic imagery into your storyboarding skills.
Character Design
The Silver Way: Techniques, Tips, and Tutorials for Effective Character Design- An absolute go-to book for the foundations of character design by industry veteran Stephen Silver. I use this book in my character design classes.
Animation Layout
Layout and Composition for Animation
Figure Drawing
FORCE: Drawing Human Anatomy – This book as well as others in the series by Mike Mattesi are excellent because he’s able to relate figure drawing techniques directly to what animators would benefit from the most to get stronger poses in their animation. Some of these books are hard to find and a bit expensive now unfortunately.
Gesture Drawing
These two books by the amazing Walt Stanchfield are a must have! Walt was hired at Disney to help the Animator draw and pose their animation to communicate a stronger story. More importantly, he teaches you how to “see” differently as an animator, by showing you what to look for in a gesture to tell a better story. When I was at Disney, Walt’s notes were always highly anticipated whenever he was teaching a session. These two book volumes are essentially his notes that were coveted Disney secrets!
Animation Business
Producing Animation-Packed with with useful information on the tools and skills that one would need to manage/produce an animated film/show. This was my go-to book to learn the production pipeline.
Film Making and Directing
Film Directing Shot by Shot: Visualizing from Concept to Screen (Michael Wiese Productions)
Art Direction for Film
The Visual Story: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV, and Digital Media-The Visual Story will help you turn your productions into films or TV shows that look great. Author Bruce Block explains how to use the basic visual elements of space, line, shape, color, movement, and rhythm to make your scenes more powerful visually.
The Visual Story is a great resource to help you learn about camera angles and lenses, set design, lighting schemes, storyboard planning, and more. With 700+ full-color illustrations for reference plus guidance on actor(character) staging, camera coverage and editing techniques. The author used to give us talks at Disney about good design in film, and has left an impact on me throughout my career. Extremely valuable book!
Essential Animation Teaching Resources for Educators
Animation is an engaging and fun way to teach students about storytelling, visual communication, and technology. If you’re an educator looking for resources to teach animation to your students, you’re in luck. Here is a list of essential animation teaching resources that can help you get started, improve your skills, inspire your students, and help them learn animation.
Animation Chefs (https://www.animationchefs.com/) – Animation Chefs offers lesson plans and resources for teaching animation to children, including video tutorials and printable worksheets.
Pixar in a Box (https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/pixar) – Pixar in a Box is a collaboration between Pixar and Khan Academy, offering free online lessons on animation, including character design and storytelling.
Stop Motion Studio (https://www.cateater.com/) – Stop Motion Studio offers resources for teaching stop-motion animation to students, including lesson plans and a step-by-step guide to making a stop-motion film.
Toon Boom (https://learn.toonboom.com/) – Toon Boom offers a range of classroom resources for teaching animation, including lesson plans, video tutorials, and project ideas.
Adobe Education Exchange (https://edex.adobe.com/) – Adobe Education Exchange offers resources and tutorials for teaching animation using Adobe software, including After Effects and Character Animator.
Scratch (https://scratch.mit.edu/) – Scratch is a free programming language designed for kids, and offers a range of resources for teaching animation and interactive media to students..
Art of Education University (https://theartofeducation.edu/courses/animation/) – Art of Education University offers an online course on teaching animation, covering the basics of animation principles, character design, and digital animation techniques.
Resources For Animation Jobs
If you are an aspiring animator or a seasoned professional looking for new opportunities in the animation industry, there are several online resources available that can help you find your dream job.
From job search engines to specialized job boards, there are many websites that offer job postings for animators, both 2D and 3D, as well as information and resources to help you build your animation career. In this list, you will find a collection of some of the best animation job resources on the web, each offering unique features and job opportunities to help you find the perfect animation job.
- Animation World Network Jobs -Animation World Network is an online animation resource that provides news, information, and job listings for professionals in the animation industry. https://jobs.awn.com/
- CreativeHeads.net Animation Jobs -CreativeHeads.net is a comprehensive online resource for job listings and career information in the creative and technology industries. https://www.creativeheads.net/
- Indeed Animation Jobs -Indeed.com is a popular job search engine that aggregates job postings from multiple sources, making it a useful resource for animators looking for employment opportunities. https://www.indeed.com/q-Animation-jobs.html
- Glassdoor Animation Jobs -Glassdoor.com is a website that offers company reviews, salary information, and job postings, including 2D animation jobs, to help job seekers make informed decisions about potential employers. https://www.glassdoor.com/Job/animation-jobs-SRCH_KO0,9.htm
- LinkedIn Animation Jobs -LinkedIn is a social networking platform for professionals that provides opportunities for 2D and 3D animation job seekers to network, showcase their work and connect with potential employers in the industry. https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/animation-jobs/
- SimplyHired Animation Jobs -SimplyHired is a job search website that aggregates job postings from multiple sources to help job seekers find jobs in animation and other fields. https://www.simplyhired.com/search?q=animation
- CareerBuilder Animation Jobs -CareerBuilder is an online employment platform that offers a wide range of job postings, including opportunities for individuals looking to pursue an animation career. https://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs-animation
- ProductionHub Animation Jobs -ProductionHub is a job search website that offers opportunities for remote animation jobs, as well as resources and information for professionals in the film, video, and television industries. https://www.productionhub.com/jobs
- ArtStation Jobs -ArtStation is an online portfolio platform for digital artists that also features job postings, including opportunities for junior animator jobs. https://www.artstation.com/jobs
Useful Links
There are a ton of great animation resources here to check out!
Character Animation
Living Lines Library– This is one of my favorites! It is an online library of pencil tests, model sheets, and the production of animated films. A must-visit for inspiration!
Animation Stop-Watch-Use this accurate free stopwatch to time the events you wish to animate. This is great for getting the timing for your scenes or pacing out an animatic.
11 Second Club-Is a monthly character animation competition open to both 2d and 3d animation.
Animator Island-Another free resource for animators and animation fans to learn animation is Animator Island. It provides tutorials, animation exercises, and interviews with artists.
Character Design:
- Character Design References-This site has a ton of uploaded artwork by various artists that will inspire you. In addition, the community hosts character design challenges to help improve your skills.
Animation Industry News
- Animation World Network– A popular animation industry-related site with the latest news, events, and animation job postings.
- Cartoon Brew– I use this site every morning to check up on the latest industry scoop.
Game Industry
GameDevMap-Is a living map and catalog of game development organizations. Very useful for job hunting!
Animation Reference:
Are you looking for more resources on animation reference? I’ve compiled a list of must-see animation reference websites that are sure to give you the reference needed to help bring your animation to life. Check out this list of animation reference links below!
1.http://kylekenworthy.blogspot.com/search/label/Acting%20Reference-a collection of videos and analysis of acting performances.
2.https://www.youtube. www.movieclips-The YouTube channel “Movieclips” offers a wide range of movie clips from different genres and eras.
3.https://anilyzer.com/-The Anilyzer is a free service that allows users to view videos frame by frame and in slow motion.
4.https://endlessreference.com/-Endless Reference is a website that provides a collection of high-quality reference photos and videos for artists and animators, covering a variety of subjects.
5.http://www.rhinohouse.com/-Rhino House is a subscription-based website that provides access to a vast library of animation references of animal locomotion and behavior for industry professionals.
6.https://www.bodiesinmotion.photo/-Bodies in Motion is a website that offers a vast library of high-resolution motion reference images of athletes and dancers in action, captured from multiple angles, which can be used by artists and animators to study human movement and create more realistic animation.
7.https://www.dvarchive.com/-DVArchive is a comprehensive animation resource for aspiring animators with a vast library of tools, tutorials, and references.
8.https://www.gettyimages.com/footage/bbcmotiongallery-BBC Motion Gallery is an extensive archive of stock video footage from world-renowned broadcasters and producers on Getty Images.
Sketching Resource Links
Animals
Here are a few of great live Tiger Cams for reference sketching: (If you are lucky to catch them 😉
Figure Drawing Resource Links
- Croquis Cafe’
- Adorkastock
- SketchDaily
- Love Life Drawing
- Bodies In Motion
- Quick Poses
- Line Of Action-This site is excellent for figure drawing! It is an online site with a large collection of timed male/female, nude/clothed poses.
- New master’s Academy
- Glen Vilppu
3D Rigs
3D Animation Rigs
These are excellent resources to browse through free and paid 3D rigs, props, and scripts:
Animation Buffet- This is an excellent resource for free and paid rigs for 3d animation.
High End 3D– This useful site has animation rigs, Maya scripts, and 3d models for your projects.
The following are all 3d rigs that either myself or my students have used for animation tests and have proven to be solid, problem-free rigs with great performance capability:
Leo– By Wonderwell studios, has the ability for some very appealing facial expressions. This is a great rig that is used by quite a few of my 3d animation students.
Body Mechanics Rigs- by Joe Daniels. This is a great set of simple buy reliable 3d rigs for beginners to practice the basics of body mechanics.
These rigs by Gabriel Salas have been used by my more advanced 3d animation students:
Neka– I have the students use this Neka rig for my more advance facial and dialog tests because of the excellent facial controls.
2D Rigs
Do you have any recommendations to share?
If you have any favorite YouTube sites, books, websites, notes, or other resources that helped you learn animation, then please share. It would be greatly appreciated! I’ll keep adding to this list as I run across or learn new things. I recommend bookmarking this page for your reference and convenience. Please share this page with others as well. I am a big believer that you always are learning,
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