3D Animation Principles
Online 3D animation course taught by professional film and game animators
Learn 3D animation principles with guidance from industry pros
Become a 3D animator for film and games! Explore the 12 Principles of Animation using industry-standard software Autodesk Maya. You'll learn how to make your 3D characters walk, talk, and interact with their environment as you build your understanding of body mechanics.
Why study animation with us:
- Build important animation foundation skills
- Start creating professional-quality animation shots
- Learn animation from world-class professional animators
- Get personalized training to help you progress faster
This course will teach you how to bring scenes to life, infusing emotion, personality, and movement into your 3D characters through technical and creative techniques used in the film and game industry.

Master Your Skills. Master Your Future.
Our mission is to ensure graduates are the best trained and best prepared for a successful career in their chosen field.
Same Course. Same Mentors. Two Ways to Train.
1:1 Career Mentorship
Train with a working professional focused entirely on you, reviewing your work every week the way a supervisor reviews a junior artist. Immediate, specific, tailored to exactly where you are. You set the pace, push past the set curriculum where you need to, and start the month you are ready.
WHO IS THIS FOR
- Working professionals looking to upskill or pivot without leaving their job
- Experienced artists who need targeted training in a specific tool or technique
- Students who benefit from personalised instruction due to additional learning needs
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Private 1-hour weekly sessions with a dedicated mentor |
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Flexible scheduling and pacing that fits around your life |
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Personalised feedback on your portfolio and career direction |
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Start any month, no waiting for a cohort |
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No prerequisites, assessments, or fixed cohort schedule |
Group Class
Learn in a small group led by a working professional, with everyone's work reviewed every week the way a studio team operates. You grow alongside people chasing the same goals, sharpening your eye on their work as well as your own, and keep the momentum that comes from not working alone.
WHO IS THIS FOR
- Students who learn better in collaborative, social environments
- Career changers who want structure and accountability while they transition
- Recent school leavers looking for an alternative to a traditional university degree
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Weekly 3-hour live classes with a small cohort of peers |
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Collaborative group projects that simulate studio team workflows |
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Structured curriculum with assessments and deadlines that keep you on track |
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Watch your work reviewed next to your peers', and learn from their feedback |
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Credits transfer directly toward a CGSI degree |
Course Curriculum
3D Animation Mechanics
Start by learning the basics of 3D animation, then dive head-first into animation software Maya where you'll learn how to create believable animations using the classic principles of animation. You'll put theories into practice, giving you a better understanding of body mechanics and locomotion.
- Animate from scratch using the 12 principles of animation
- Set up professional workflows using Autodesk Maya
- Create progressively more complex animation pieces
- Work with character rigs to create animation cycles
- Introduction to Animation and Rigs
- Posing a Character
- Timing and Spacing
- Overlapping Action
- Pose Transitions 01
- Pose Transitions 02
- Lower Body Walk Cycle 01
- Lower Body Run Cycle 02
- Full Body Walk Cycle 01
- Full Body Run Cycle 02
- Walk with Prop 01
- Walk with Prop 02
Body Mechanics
Let's get physical! Learn 3D animation tips and tricks from your mentor while building on your foundation skills. Discover how to get characters to interact with their surrounding environment and see how they deal with external physical forces. Finish the term by learning how to design combat animations for games.
- Convey realistic force & weight
- Animate combat action scenes
- Create animation cycles for video games
- Build a believable fight scene
- Run and Jump Blocking
- Run and Jump Polish
- Parkour Blocking
- Parkour Polish
- Forces & Weight Blocking
- Forces & Weight Polish
- Weight Lift Blocking
- Weight Lift Polish
- Combat Actions Blocking
- Combat Actions Polish
- Fight Scene Blocking
- Fight Scene Polish
Storytelling for Animation
Master the subtleties of adding personality to a character walk. Then develop a backstory for your character and have a go at conveying emotions using body language by creating a pantomime piece. You'll finish with a polished character dialogue piece, complete with lip sync and facial and body expressions, which you can use in your demo reel.
- Gather & analyze reference
- Create unique character performances
- Stage & animate emotional action
- Convey realistic expressions
- Introduction & Overview
- Personality Walk 01: Keying
- Personality Walk 02: Breakdowns & Cycles
- Personality Walk 03: Polish &
Progressive Walk - Pantomime 01: Setup & Keying
- Pantomime 02: Breakdowns
- Pantomime 03: Polish Pass
- Drama Monologue 01: Setup & Keying
- Drama Monologue 02: Keys & Breakdowns
- Drama Monologue 03: Overlap & Follow-through
- Drama Monologue 04: Polish Pass
- Character Acting: Review & Final Pass
Download the Course Guide
Your creative journey begins here! Download our comprehensive course guide and discover the exciting educational opportunities that await you.Learn Directly From Film & Game Mentors
To be the best, it helps to learn from the best. All 3d animation classes are taught by professional 3d animators with years of experience.

Abdel Pizzaro
Hailing from Puerto Rico and residing in the US, Abdel Pizarro has experience in both 2D and 3D animation. Abdel has also worked with clients like Nickelodeon, Marvel, Big Ideas, Sesame Street and many others.
Known for Planet Blue: Journey to Eco

Amita Sahgal
Amita has worked as an Animator and Animation Supervisor for two decades. She is also an experienced mentor, teaching at Mages Institute of Excellence and Supinfocom International Animation School.
Known for Ted

Carlos Rosas
Carlos Rosas has spent 18 years animating at Weta Digital, DreamWorks Animation, Framestore, MPC, DNEG, and Damn FX. His credits cover both feature animation and visual effects, including Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar, Bee Movie, Megamind, How to Train Your Dragon, The Jungle Book, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Venom, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Stranger Things, and Deadpool & Wolverine. He mentors CGSI 3D Animation students on the performance and pipeline craft that holds across both worlds.
Known for Venom

Mark Pullyblank
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.
Known for Avatar

Rodrigo Costa
Rodrigo Costa has spent 14 years animating across film, games, and stylised feature work. Five years in London VFX at Framestore, ILM, MPC, and DNEG, then Fortiche on Arcane, and eight years at Polyarc shaping the performances in Moss. He mentors CGSI 3D Animation students on the acting, weight, and shot polish that production studios expect.
Known for Arcane

Roland Vallet
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.
Known for Avengers: Infinity War

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.
Known for Hercules

Spectra
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.
Known for Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
Get The Education You Deserve
"One of the best decisions I've ever made for my career.
I've learned and grown so much throughout this program and I loved the resources in the CG Spectrum community, such as finding new job opportunities and meeting other students and mentors. I took advantage of everything CG Spectrum had to offer and as a result, I landed my dream job at my dream company (Dreamworks). Thank you CG Spectrum!"
Tiffany L | 3D Animation
"The career program was invaluable!
I knew changing careers would have included things such as resumes, applications, networking, etc. The biggest thing I needed to understand was the nuances of the animation industry, etiquette for approaching recruiters, and what type of roles there were. These sessions really helped guide me, and explained how to approach my showreel and the subsequent application processes."
James B | 3D 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 C | 3D Animation
"To better understand the industry, I enrolled at CG Spectrum.
There I was able to create a demo reel and build connections with professionals that ultimately led me to my first opportunity as an animator at Sony Imageworks. I have to give a HUGE shout-out to CG Spectrum’s Career Development Manager. She was the person who guided me through the entire application process. I honestly believe I would not have gotten this opportunity without her help."
Jasmeet S | 3D Animation
"CG Spectrum has been an instrumental part of my growth.
CG Spectrum has helped me sharpen my skills, acquire new ones and strengthen my character animation abilities. This is an invaluable experience for anyone looking to take their skills to the next level."
Phil M | 3D Animation
"It's been extremely helpful for my portfolio and my confidence as an artist!
I've learned so much about not only animation, but the thought process an artist goes through when creating a piece."
Shravani K | 3D Animation
"Getting access to industry mentors is huge.
There's a world of information out there, but nothing compared to talking to someone in the know. CG Spectrum was one of those places. I really liked the 1-on-1 format. It was the first time I had an experienced animator open my scene file. It was what I needed to get over some technical hurdles."
Kyle D | 3D Animation
"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."
David N | 3D Animation
Join Our Alumni at World Class Studios
Our mission is to train highly skilled graduates ensuring they are prepared for a successful career. Take the first step towards joining our alumni at world-class studios creating work that inspires.












Questions? We Have Answers
Age Minimum
The general minimum age to be able to enroll in our industry certificate courses is 16. We require parent or guardian consent during the enrollment process for applicants under 18.
Students under 16 will require a further assessment before they can officially enrol. This may include an interview with a course advisor and the creation of a study plan to ensure they have considered how they will manage a college-level workload.
English Proficiency
We expect our students to have a good understanding of written and spoken English. There’s no specific ’level'; however, you must be able to understand video tutorials in English (no subtitles) and speak with your mentor in English during your live Q&A session.
Computer Literacy
To be successful in this program, you will need basic computer skills and a computer that meets the minimum specifications (see next question).
Software:
Students can sign up for an educational license for Maya. Instructions for how to obtain an educational license for this software will be provided upon enrollment.
Hardware:
You will need a dedicated graphics card and a computer that meets the minimum requirements for Autodesk Maya.
This course gives you an excellent understanding of 3D animation fundamentals. Depending on your level of commitment, skills, and portfolio pieces, you may be ready to start applying for entry-level artist positions.
To further hone your skills and increase your hiring potential, 3D Animator Specialization is recommended. It covers more complex techniques and includes an entire term dedicated to career development and portfolio preparation to get you industry-ready.
Some of the junior 3D animator jobs you could pursue after completing the full study pathway include:
Students also gain access to additional career services to support them in their job search. The CG Spectrum community is another great resource. Through graduates and mentors already working in the industry, you can network and learn about relevant job vacancies.
Discover more about these 3D animator jobs, tips, and salary expectations on our careers page:
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