Creating Loop Animation Stories
A course by Pablo CuelloGraphic designer and Animator
A course by Pablo Cuello, Graphic designer and Animator
Learn how to animate characters frame by frame using simple designs
You don't need very complex shapes or animations to achieve fun and exciting animation pieces. With simple designs, geometric shapes, and a few tricks, designer and animator Pablo Cuello manages to squeeze the most out of frame-by-frame animation to create his hypnotic pieces.
In this course, he teaches how to animate characters in loop and how to exaggerate their movements using animation principles, so that they perform different actions over and over again.
If you want to animate using vectors in Adobe After Effects, you can also sign up for Vectorial Animation Frame by Frame Style with After Effects, Pablo's first course in Domestika.
What will you learn in this online course?
21 lessons & 20 downloads
What will we do in the course?
1 minute, 37 seconds
Presentation
2 minutes, 51 seconds
Time
12 minutes, 32 seconds
Space
11 minutes, 53 seconds
Give it life
8 minutes, 27 seconds
Present the idea
8 minutes, 58 seconds
What's included in this course?
Start the course by exploring some essential concepts and tools for making frame-by-frame animations, keyframes, and inbetweeners, and some basic animation principles that will help you give more personality to your animations.
In this course, you will mainly use Adobe Animate, but any frame-by-frame animation software will do, such as Toon Boom Harmony, TVpaint, or Krita, among others.
Start your project with a simple idea, and see what aspects you need to take into account for a loop animation.
Based on this idea, design the characters that will be the protagonists, exploring different styles and ways to keep them simple but charming.
To start with the animation, go through the essential stages of frame-by-frame animation: start by proposing the key moments in a quick and simple animatic. Then, based on this, go to the rough stage, see the concept of assistance to finish defining your animation and finally, do the clean-up process in Photoshop to give it a defined gestural look.
Finish the project by sewing the animation so it can loop smoothly, and make a simple composition in After Effects to get the final render.
Also, Pablo gives you some tips to give additional textures, and to add sound to your animation, thus achieving a complete and impactful piece.
Lastly, learn how to export a GIF of your animation, so you can publish it anywhere you want.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Create a short animated story in a loop of approximately 10 seconds, in which one or more simple characters interact.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
For animators, designers, illustrators, and anyone who wants to create simple, frame-by-frame character animations full of personality.
Requirements and materials
You'll need basic animation skills and a computer with Adobe Animate or any frame-by-frame animation software. During the course, the teacher will also use Adobe After Effects and Photoshop, but these are not essential. A graphics tablet is also recommended.
Reviews
- 6 months ago
molto utile e mi sono divertito
- 10 months ago
Molto bello e ben fatto, sono molto contento
- 10 months ago
It was a great help to me.
- 10 months ago
bueno
- 1 year ago
Excelente curso
The quality of his work led him to work for the production company MediaMonks, where he developed projects for major brands such as Google, Red Bull, or Amazon. He explores traditional animation to add a more personalized touch to his work.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Hello!
- Influences
- What will we do in the course?
- Presentation
- U2
Tools
- Time
- Space
- Give it life
- U3
Movement
- Present the idea
- Design the characters
- Animatic
- Rough pass I
- Rough pass II
- Assistance
- Sew the loop
- Clean up I
- Clean up II
- Composition and post
- U4
Additional features
- Textures
- Sound
- Create a gif
- Closing
- FP
Final project
- Frame-by-frame loop animation
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
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FAQs
Frame-by-frame animation is a technique where each image is drawn individually to create smooth, expressive movement. It’s perfect for making animated loops, original characters, and visual stories with a high level of artistic control.
The course is aimed at people with intermediate skills in digital animation or design, but motivated self-taught learners eager to try new techniques are also welcome.
You’ll need access to software like Adobe Animate, After Effects, Photoshop, Krita, OpenToonz, or Toon Boom, depending on the module and your preferences. A graphics tablet is recommended but not required.
You’ll learn how to design characters, create looping animations, apply key animation principles, and export your loops to share on social media or add to your portfolio.
The course teaches you how to integrate these principles to create more expressive, natural, and engaging movements, enhancing the flow and visual impact of your loop animations.
Yes, you’ll explore different visual styles, from geometric designs to organic animation, and learn how to pick the best fit for your story or character.
Yes, you’ll learn how to export your animations as optimized GIFs and prepare them for posting on social media, balancing quality and file size.