Whether pursuing a new career path or updating your skills, our 3D animation online courses support you with career training and mentorship from professional animators. Learn to animate from scratch using Maya and graduate with a professional portfolio.
Why study 3D animation at CG Spectrum:
Get the highest quality education and learn the latest techniques from established 3D animators at CG Spectrum - the only 100% online 3D animation school.
Kick-start your career and become a professional animator. These animation training courses are designed to give you the necessary skill set to prepare you for your animation career.
Peek inside the world of animation! Choose this course if you want to pick up a new hobby, learn 3D animation online and start animating your first smaller pieces using Maya and Toon Boom Harmony industry softwares.
Dive right into the full study pathway and be industry ready in 18 months.
Not quite ready to commit? Start with the intro course and graduate with the option to continue to term 2 of the foundations course.
Delivery
Online classes, feedback and support
Software
Autodesk Maya and animation rigs
Classes
1-on-1 or small group classes (4 students)
Community
Lifetime access to online community of mentors, alumni and students
Get expert feedback and support from your industry mentor in a live Q&A call each week. All CGS mentors are established artists with years of experience creating films, TV shows, and games at top studios.
With 20+ years in the industry, Michael has worked on countless feature films for just about every major studio around the world including DNEG, Cinesite, MPC, Weta Digital, Pixomondo and Lucasfilm.
Read full bioMentor of 3D Animation
Known for Pacific Rim Uprising
Jacob is an award-winning director, writer, and animator who now works at Walt Disney Imagineering. Credits include Red Dead Redemption, God of War III, Batman: Arkham Origins, The Jungle Book, and The Flash.
Read full bioMentor of 3D Animation
Known for Batman: Arkham Origins
Mentor of 3D Animation
Known for Planet Blue: Journey to Eco
Mentor of 3D Animation
Known for Ted
Spectra has been animating for almost a decade at Playstation, Digital Domain and Ubisoft on projects such as Far Cry 6, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, and Advantageous.
Read full bioMentor of 3D Animation
Known for Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
Mentor of 3D Animation
Known for Spider-man 3: Homecoming
Mark has held lead positions at Rainmaker, Sony and Weta Digital working on films like Avatar, The Adventures of Tintin, and Night at the Museum.
Read full bioDept. Head of 3D Animation
Known for Avatar
Roland has worked his way across the globe at major studios like Weta Digital, where he worked on two Planet of The Apes movies, The Hobbit Trilogy, and Avengers: Infinity War.
Read full bioMentor of 3D Animation
Known for Avengers: Infinity War
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 bioManager of Animation
Known for Hercules
Nick's held lead positions at major game studios Relic Entertainment and Phoenix Labs. Credits include Dauntless, Dawn of War 3 and Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City.
Read full bioMentor of 3D Animation
Known for Dauntless
Ambre has worked as an animator in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, USA, and Canada on projects like LEGO Avengers, Happy Feet Two, Avatar and Where the Wild Things Are.
Read full bioMentor of 3D Animation
Known for Avatar
Delano's credits include Ready Player One, The Walking Dead, Deadpool and Independence Day: Resurgence from his time at top studios Zoic, Digital Domain and Mill Film.
Read full bioMentor of 3D Animation
Known for Deadpool
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.
I learned more in 9 months than other students do in 2 years.
The level of education I have received is unlike any other school I've come across. What separates CG Spectrum from other schools is that the mentors are not only talented professionals in their own right, but they also care about your success as an artist both in school and after you graduate. CG Spectrum is incredible, I cannot recommend it enough.
Absolutely amazing school!
I recommend it for complete newbs like I was who want to become animators. Mark Pullyblank was an amazing, kind, and helpful mentor who made sure I always knew what I was doing. He's probably one of the most dedicated teachers I know, and made sure he went over everything thoroughly with me and was quick to answer my questions. Definitely 10/10.
Our students create high quality work that speaks for itself. We provide you with the tools and resources to help you build a portfolio that gets noticed.
We're proud to say that the majority of our advanced graduates are now working in the highly competitive film and games industry.
Our courses and in-house career services are created to give you the essential skills to be job-ready after graduation. Still wondering if CG Spectrum is right for you? Chat with our student ambassadors.
Get a more hands-on education with mentorship from top film and game experts, an industry-approved curriculum and a thriving creative community cheering you on.
By giving you access to the most talented artists in the industry, we help you to become well connected, trained and prepared for life beyond school.
What you get when studying at CG Spectrum:
Progress faster with expert feedback from mentors and join an inspiring and supportive community of industry experts and peers.
Our mission is to make sure our students are best prepared for a successful career when they graduate.
We strive to provide affordable, high quality and personalized education and believe in the power of learning first-hand from industry experts who already established a fantastic career.
What makes CG Spectrum unique:
As an online school with students and mentors in 90+ countries, we're proud to bring the industry to you - wherever you are in the world!
Discover free 3D animation resources and articles to inspire you on your journey into the film and games industry.
Should I study 2D or 3D animation?
Choosing between 2D and 3D animation comes down to personal preference. 2D animation tends to suit people who are more artistic in nature, whereas 3D animation often suits those with a more technical mind.
2D requires a large amount of illustration, as every frame needs to be drawn, either on a digital tablet or hand drawn. 3D Animation requires creating movement via 'rigs', where a 3D model is essentially given a skeleton that can be manipulated in a virtual 3D space.
Can I learn both 2D and 3D animation?
Yes you can. CG Spectrum offers beginner animation courses in both 2D and 3D animation, however it is not recommended to do both at the same time, unless you can dedicate a minimum of 20 hours per week for each course.
What 3D animation careers can I explore post graduation?
Learning 3D animation can prepare you for jobs as a 3D Animator, Character Rigger, Character Animator, Creature Animator, Previs Animator or Layout Artist. Explore other animation jobs.
Do I need to be good at drawing to be a 3D animator?
No, you don't need to know how to draw to do 3D animation. Many professional 3D animators don't consider themselves particularly good at drawing. What you do need is a strong understanding of the principles of animation and how they can be applied in a three-dimensional environment. You also need to be able to think creatively to come up with original ideas for your animations, and know how to use software like Autodesk Maya to bring your animations to life.
Does 3D animation require coding?