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2D Animation Diploma

Learn 2D animation online from industry experts and kickstart your career in film and TV

Overview

Learn 2D animation from top animators

Progress faster with expert career training and mentorship

Discover what it takes to become a professional 2D animator! In this comprehensive course, you’ll learn how to use Toon Boom Harmony to create hand-drawn style character animations from scratch, and be guided every step of the way by your industry mentor.

Why study 2D animation at CG Spectrum:

  • Learn hand-drawn style character animation
  • Train on industry software Toon Boom Harmony
  • Be mentored by a world-class animator
  • Flexible study and payment options

[more]More[/more]

CG Spectrum’s 2D animation classes are conducted online, meaning they’re available to you, wherever you are in the world. You’ll be personally mentored by former Disney and DreamWorks artists with decades of experience working on TV shows, and feature films. Your mentor will guide you through exercises, offering insightful feedback to help you progress faster as an artist.

Get expert career training and kick-start your journey as a 2D animator!

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Industry Qualification

Diploma

Duration

9 months

Commitment

20 hrs weekly

Skill level

Intermediate

Prerequisites

Basic computer and drawing skills

Delivery

Weekly online classes, feedback and support

Included software

Toon Boom Harmony

Start date

Dec 7, 2020

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Why study with us

Learn 2D animation from industry pros who have worked on major films and TV shows

Whether straight out of high school, changing careers, or upgrading skills, our specialized expert-led 2D programs help you build practical job skills that serve throughout your career

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Flexible Scheduling

Plan your studies around your work and family commitments

Industry Mentors

Learn from experts who have worked on major feature films

Job-Ready Skills

Build practical, hands-on job skills that studios are looking for

Payment Plans

Pursue your passion and start working sooner with flexible payments
Curriculum

An industry-approved curriculum to get you started in the exciting world of animation

Term 1: 12 weeks
Fundamentals of 2D Animation

Starting with the 12 Principles of Animation, you'll learn 2D animation fundamentals and begin putting them into practice with your first 2D pieces: the bouncing ball, flour sack jump and a walk cycle.

You'll discover how to add personality and emotion to your work while creating the illusion of three-dimensional space; learn key features of Toon Boom; and get familiar with drawing tools, posing, timing, spacing, the timeline and X-sheet. 

Learn how to:
  • Make your own 2D animations from scratch
  • Use Toon Boom Harmony software
  • Apply the 12 Principles of Animation
  • Set up efficient workflows
  1. The Principles of Animation
  2. Bouncing Ball Exercise 01
  3. Bouncing Ball Exercise 02
  4. Drawing Fundamentals
  5. Flour Sack Exercise 01
  6. Flour Sack Exercise 02
  7. Flour Sack Exercise 03
  8. Walk Cycle Contact Poses
  9. Walk Cycle Inbetweens
  10. Walk Cycle Follow-through
  11. Character Take Key Poses
  12. Character Take Inbetweens
Term 2: 12 weeks
Acting and Creature Animation

This term focuses on drawing skills, advanced physical human and quadruped animation, plus animating pantomime and simple dialogue scenes. You'll study the greats and discover what makes their work so captivating, learn the importance of silhouettes, how to use a variety of timing in your story, and gain speed creating thumbnails and key poses.

Learn how to: 

  • Identify what makes or breaks a scene
  • Leverage anatomy principles in your work
  • Create your own compelling pantomime animation
  • Bring creatures to life with believable movement
  1. Anatomy for Animators
  2. Anatomy with Volume
  3. Quadruped Walks 01
  4. Quadruped Walks 02
  5. Runs in Perspective 01
  6. Run in Perspective 02
  7. Acting for Animators
  8. Pantomime: Key Drawings
  9. Pantomime: In-betweens
  10. Study of Animation Greats
  11. Character Monologue 01
  12. Character Monologue 02
Term 3: 12 weeks
Advanced Acting for 2D Animation

By this stage, you’re ready for more advanced aspects of 2D: creating appealing characters, solid drawings, expressive acting and FX animation. Increase your technical skills while working towards creating a polished dialogue scene. Finish the course by polishing your portfolio and exploring next steps with your mentor.

Learn how to:

  • Create successful model sheets
  • Develop a 2-person dialogue scene
  • Add compelling FX and details
  • Finalize projects for your portfolio
  1. Body Language
  2. Dialogue Scene: Planning
  3. Study of Acting Scenes
  4. Dialogue Scene 01
  5. Dialogue Scene 02
  6. Figure Drawing
  7. Dialogue Scene 03
  8. Drawing Quadrupeds
  9. Clean-up Animation
  10. Tradigital FX 01
  11. Tradigital FX 02
  12. Animation Reel Review
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Mentors

Get direct access to professional artists

To be the best, it helps to learn from the best. All 2D animation classes are taught by industry mentors with years of experience working in feature films and TV.

Mike Wiesmeier's Work
Mike Wiesmeier
Mike Wiesmeier

Mike's been animating films and games for 28 years at Disney, Netflix and Eidos Interactive. Credits include Pocahontas, Hercules, Tarzan, Fantasia 2000, and F is For Family.

Read full bio

Dept. Head of 2D Animation

Known for Tarzan

Scott Claus's Work
Scott Claus
Scott Claus

While at Disney and DreamWorks Scott animated classics like Pocahontas, Hunchback of Notre Dame and Road to El Dorado. He later won an Oscar for best special effects for Life of Pi.

Read full bio

Mentor of 2D Animation

Known for Hercules
Study Options

Small Class

The most affordable way to learn from top industry mentors in a fun, collaborative environment, while still getting plenty of personalized feedback.

  • Max. 4 students per course
  • Affordable high-quality education
  • Network while you learn
Study Options

1-on-1 Private

Progress faster and enjoy more flexiblity with private mentorship. Ideal for busy schedules, career-changers, or artists upgrading skills or changing specialties.

  • Maximum level of mentor interaction
  • Greater flexibility to schedule classes
  • Customized learning experience

 

Monthly
$1,185 USD

(9 x payments)

Save 10%

Per Term
$3,199 USD

(3 x payments)

Most popular

Save 25%

Upfront
$7,999 USD

(1 x payment)

Monthly
$1,485 USD

(9 x payments)

Save 10%

Per Term
$3,999 USD

(3 x payments)

Most popular

Save 25%

Upfront
$9,999 USD

(1 x payment)

Study Pathway

Your journey to a successful career starts here

Study duration: 18 months
2D Animation Course Pathway

We've built our animation courses based on industry input and focus on teaching skills studios are hiring for.

The three courses below form a complete study pathway designed to fast track your education so you can land your first job sooner. Each course can also be taken separately depending on your skill level and career goals. 

Overview:

The Introduction to 2D Animation Certificate teaches you solid foundations, giving you an idea of what it takes to pursue a career in this field.

This course serves as the first term of the 2D Animation Diploma, so you’ll already be one-third of the way through the diploma course if you choose to continue your journey.

Prerequisites:

Course Summary:

  • Qualification: Certificate
  • Duration: 3 months
  • Commitment: 20 hours weekly
  • Skill level: Beginner
  • Software: A student educational license of Toon Boom Harmony is provided to all students for free

View Course

Overview:

The 2D Animation Diploma develops your skill level further with a focus on producing the quality of animation expected in film and television production.

Prerequisites:

  • Completion of Introduction to 2D Animation Certificate
    (Note: The Introduction to 2D Animation Certificate is embedded in the 2D Animation Diploma and serves as Term 01. If you have already completed the introductory course, you are one-third of the way through this diploma.)
  • Digital art tablet and a computer that meets the minimum recommended specifications

Course Summary:

  • Qualification: Diploma
  • Duration: 9 months
  • Commitment: 20 hours weekly
  • Skill level: Intermediate
  • Software: A student educational license of Toon Boom Harmony is provided to all students for free

View Course

Overview:

The Advanced 2D Animation Diploma takes your skills to a feature film level and focuses on building your professional portfolio.

Prerequisites:

Course Summary:

  • Qualification: Advanced Diploma
  • Duration: 9 months
  • Commitment: 20 hours weekly
  • Skill level: Advanced
  • Software: A student educational license of Toon Boom Harmony is provided to all students for free

View Course
Student Showcase

High quality student work that speaks for itself

With a focus on portfolio preparation, we help students build their competitive edge with high quality work that gets noticed. See what they are creating.

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Studios that hire our students

With a focus on portfolio preparation, we help students build their competitive edge with high quality work that gets noticed. See what they are creating.

Weta Digital
Ubisoft
Dreamworks
EA
Industrial Light. & Magic
Sony Pictures Animation

I’d take the course again if I could!

I can’t praise CG Spectrum enough for the quality of teaching and dedication to their students. Mark was by far the best mentor I’ve ever had. He really took the time to help design the course around what it is that I wanted to get out of it. I’ve studied other animation courses in the past, but none even come close to the depth and speed of development as CG Spectrum. 

Ned Curwood-Hyde
Ned Curwood-Hyde
Animation

I landed a job immediately after finishing the course.

When I started CG Spectrum's animation program, I wasn't sure what to expect. Now, I can surely tell that choosing CG Spectrum was the best decision I've ever made. My mentors were incredibly knowledgeable, dedicated and supportive. They took the time to introduce new concepts, and the critiques were long and detailed. Nothing was ever rushed. The small classes also allowed the instructors to spend more time with each student, analysing shots to the tiniest detail.

Vanessa Rossi
Vanessa Rossi
Animation

I was hired by Ubisoft!

It’s your career success that matters. I applied to some companies with my updated reel and got hired by a studio named Dwarf-Labs where I did some animations for a CG commercial. Then I was hired by Ubisoft where I worked on one of their biggest franchises, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate!

Sébastien Muller
Sébastien Muller
Animation

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