Industry overview

Online 3D animation courses led by industry pros

Join the booming film and games industry with career training and mentorship from professional animators. 

Whether pursuing a new career or updating skills, our 3D animation courses are a complete study pathway to help launch your career as an animator. Learn to animate from scratch using Maya, and graduate with a professional portfolio.

Why choose CG Spectrum's 3D animation course:

  • Progress faster with mentorship from world-class animators
  • Support and industry insights from the CGS community 
  • 1-on-1 or small group classes (max 4 students)
  • Flexible schedules, 100% online. Learn from anywhere!
3d-animation-course-overview

$70K

Average expected salary for trained film and game animators

$270B

Global value of the animation, VFX & games industry

2Yrs

Average time it takes to become job ready with CG Spectrum

CG Spectrum graduates can be found working at film and game studios all over the world

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3D animation course led by industry mentors

Learn from an industry mentor, and graduate with the skills and confidence to pursue your dream career. See how our 3D animation courses work in the video below.

how-it-works
Flexible scheduling

Plan studies around your work and family commitments

Industry mentors

Learn from experts who have worked on major films and games

Job-ready skills

Build practical and relevant job skills studios are hiring for

Payment plans

Pursue your passion and start working sooner

Learn 3D animation with specialized courses

Get more out of your education! Live weekly sessions with your industry mentor, personalized feedback on assignments, plus a supportive online community cheering you on. Private 1-on-1 or small group classes available. 

3D Animation Courses

CG Spectrum's online 3D animation courses are a complete study pathway to help you become a 3D animator for films and video games! From charismatic characters to captivating creatures, you'll learn how to animate with Autodesk Maya, build original portfolio pieces, and graduate with a strong portfolio to show employers! 

3 MONTHS

Course summary:
Learn how to animate from scratch with this fun short course - perfect for beginners! Using the 12 Principles of Animation, you'll lock down the fundamentals, then jump into Autodesk Maya to learn about character rigs and posing. Finish with your first walk cycle!

Note: This short course is also the first term of the Foundations of 3D Animation Course, so you’ll be one-third of the way through if you choose to continue!

6-9 MONTHS

Course summary:

Once you've mastered your 3D foundations, you'll learn body mechanics and how to use force and weight to create a believable combat scene in Maya. Next you'll learn storytelling for animation, develop a backstory for a character and have a go at conveying emotions using body language by creating a pantomime piece. Finish with a character dialogue scene complete with lip sync, facial and body expressions - and have a polished piece for your demo reel.

Note: The Introduction to 3D Animation Certificate is embedded in this course. If you complete the 3-month introductory course, you'll be one-third of the way through this course.

9 MONTHS

Course summary:

Time for advanced character acting and creature animation to level-up your portfolio with high-quality work to show employers!

Learn how to get two characters interacting in a fun and realistic way. Discover how to analyze dialogue, shoot reference video and set up scenes using professional workflows. Watch your animation come alive as you apply your new knowledge of shot composition, cinematography, layering, acting beats and body mechanics to your scene.

In the creature animation class, you'll expand your versatility as an artist with everything from quadruped walks, runs and jumps, to animating winged creatures. With your industry mentor offering time-saving tips and tricks throughout the course, you’ll gain a solid understanding of creature animation, and have a great time breathing life into your creatures.

This advanced 3D animation course includes a whole term dedicated to career and portfolio development to ensure you graduate ready to hit the ground running at your next job.

2 YEARS

Course summary:

Specialise in 3D animation and learn how to breathe life into digital characters using Autodesk Maya. With instruction and support from professional film and game industry animators, you'll master complex creature and character animation techniques to create compelling 3D scenes. Your characters and creatures will walk, talk, run, jump, and fly as you gain a comprehensive understanding of body mechanics.

Balance your more technical skills and knowledge with storytelling and character acting, applying elements like shot composition, cinematography, layering, and acting beats to enhance your animated performances. Graduate with an impressive 3D animation showreel coupled with essential career and industry knowledge.

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Mentors

Learn animation from the best in the business

Learn from passionate industry veterans with years of real-world experience working at major studios on blockbuster films and best-selling video games.

Student Showcase

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 recent graduates have created.

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