Adobe After Effects for Character Animation
By Facundo López , Illustrator and Motion Graphics Artist
Joined April 2020
Learn how to animate realistic and expressive characters from scratch
Learn how to animate realistic and expressive characters from scratch
Joined April 2020
Domestika Basics · 5 courses included
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Course 1: Introduction to After Effects
By Facundo López
Discover the software and the essential elements of its interface
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Course 2: Get to Know After Effects
By Facundo López
Learn the workflow and create your first project
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Course 3: Introduction to Character Animation
By Facundo López
Learn the basic animation rules to give life to your characters
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Course 4: Start Animating
By Facundo López
Go from the planning to action and animate in a convincing and expressive way
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Course 5: Make Your Characters Run and Walk
By Facundo López
Learn to animate movement and export your piece
Animating is much more than drawings or shapes with motion: it’s the ability to breathe life into your creations. Learn how to use Adobe After Effects, the leading software for animating characters. Discover the software alongside Facundo López, an Argentine animation artist who has worked with major clients like IBM and Cartoon Network.
Start your learning experience by opening After Effects for the first time, getting to know its interface and main features. Carry out some simple exercises to get familiar with the software, and discover how the pen tool works.
Learn the difference between compositions and precompositions, see how to use masks, mattes, fusion modes, and start using keyframes to animate simple objects.
See the importance of planning when animating. Learn how to manage timing, with the twelve animation fundamentals, and the use of animation curves and shape layers to start animating characters.
Start animating your character, by following an effective workflow while adding movement and acting concepts, so turn your character’s head, and give depth to your 2D space.
In the final course, see how to make your character walk and run, by studying movement fundamentals for feet and arms to create loop animations. Finish the course by exporting the entire animation, and upload your GIF to your social media accounts.
Technical requirements
- ⦁ A computer with Windows 7 (or higher) or macOS 10.11 El Capitán (o higher).
⦁ 8 GB RAM or more
⦁ Adobe After Effects CC o higher. You can download the free 7-day trial version on the Adobe website.
⦁ It is recommended to have basic drawing, illustration, or traditional animation skills.
- 99% positive reviews (181)
- 7,791 students
- 45 lessons (9h 23m)
- 5 courses
- 74 downloads (52 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: Spanish
- English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Spanish · Polish · Dutch
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
Recommended software for this course
Adobe After EffectsNew to Adobe After Effects? In that case, we recommend taking Domestika Basics courses to learn how to use the software: Introduction to After Effects.
Reviews
Facundo López is an Argentine motion graphics artist and illustrator specializing in 2D animation, with over ten years of experience in the industry. He currently works as a motion graphics artist in Le Cube design studio.
As an expert in character design, he has worked on projects for major clients like IBM, Google, and Cartoon Network.
Content
Course 1: Introduction to After Effects
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U1
Presentation
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Presentation
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U2
Opening After Effects
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Opening After Effects
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U3
Project panel and composition options
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Project panel and composition options
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U4
Composition window
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Composition window 1
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Layout window 2
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U5
Working with layers
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Working with layers 1
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Working with layers 2
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U6
Tool panel
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Tool panel
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U7
After Effects top panels
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After Effects top panels
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U8
PRACTICE: Drawing a character in After Effects
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PRACTICE: Drawing a character in After Effects 1
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PRACTICE: Drawing a character in After Effects 2
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Course 2: Get to Know After Effects
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U1
Introduction
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Introduction
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U2
Compositions and precompositions
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Compositions and precompositions
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U3
Masks, mattes, and blending modes
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Masks, mattes, and blending modes
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U4
The timeline and the time factor in After Effects
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The timeline and the time factor in After Effects
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U5
Workflow in After Effects
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Workflow in After Effects 1
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Workflow in After Effects 2
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U6
PRACTICE: I start animating characters
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PRACTICE: I start animating characters 1
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PRACTICE: I start animating characters 2
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Course 3: Introduction to Character Animation
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U1
Introduction
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Introduction
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U2
Introduction to character animation
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Introduction to character animation
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U3
Planning in animation
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Planning in animation
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U4
Animation curves
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Animation curves
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U5
Shape layers
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Shape layers
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U6
PRACTICE: Animation of a bouncing ball
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PRACTICE: Animation of a bouncing ball 1
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PRACTICE: Animation of a bouncing ball 2
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Course 4: Start Animating
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U1
Introduction
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Introduction
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U2
Preparing the animation
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Preparing the animation
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U3
Basic movements
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Basic movements 1
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Basic movements 2
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U4
Change of expression
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Change of expression 1
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Change of expression 2
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U5
Complex movements
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Basic movements
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U6
PRACTICE: Head turn
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PRACTICE: Head turn 1
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PRACTICE: Head turn 2
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Course 5: Make Your Characters Run and Walk
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U1
Introduction
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Introduction
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U2
Walks: Construction and Development
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Walks: Construction and Development
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U3
Foot movement
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Foot movement
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U4
Arm movement
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Arm movement
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U5
Animating a walk
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Animating a walk 1
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Animating a walk 2
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U6
Displacement of the walk
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Displacement of the walk
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U7
Running Motion
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Running Motion
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U8
PRACTICE: Running on a background
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PRACTICE: Running on a background
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PRACTICE: Running on a background 2
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See the content of the 5 courses
About Domestika Basics
Domestika Basics is a series of courses focused on teaching the most commonly used software by creative professionals worldwide.
The content has been meticulously curated and is intended for both students going into a new creative field and more experienced professionals who want to polish their skills.
Learn with the best Domestika teachers through practical lessons, tons of resources, and a progressive difficulty that'll allow you to see results from day one.
Domestika Basics will allow you to step up your professional game and be prepared to score better projects.
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Without prior knowledge.
Domestika Basics gives you everything you need to get started in a new creative field and become an expert in it.
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Focused on the tool.
Discover its main components, techniques, and the tried-and-true methods you need to master it.
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Learn fast
With a straightforward, step-by-step approach, our outstanding professionals will teach you how to get the most out of the program.
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Certificates Plus
If 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.
Adobe After Effects
jeicksongil
Excelente curso
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miglioregerardo
Muy claras explicaciones!
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tomkbhar
!!!
yerobxx
Bastante practico, una explicación realmente entendible que invita a continuar y aprender.
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jmorenostudio
Geniales las técnicas que enseña. Me ha servido de mucho para usar AE como complemento para otros software de anim 2D.
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