A Masterclass in Animation

Bring a character to life with the power of 3D design in Unreal Engine. In this class, your instructor, Lucas Ridley, will teach you how to use Unreal Engine for the first time and leverage the software to create your own custom character. From recording a personalized facial capture to customizing a Metahuman character, you’ll discover that creating a playable character within Unreal Engine isn’t as intimidating as you might think. With Lucas as your guide, you’ll: - Discover Unreal Engine and how to navigate the software - Use the Metahuman app to create a customized character - Import your character into Unreal Engine - Play your character within a template level - Plus, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at Lucas’ work process as a full-time animator. Whether you dream of working as an animator in films or video games or you are just curious about 3D character animation, you’ll leave this class knowing how to create your own unique character that your audience can connect to. To take this class, you don’t need any Unreal Engine experience. All you need is an interest in creating your own 3D films or video games as well as the Unreal Engine software, a computer, and a three button mouse. To record your own facial capture you’ll need an iPhone and the Live Link App but you can also download free motion capture data online if you don’t have an iPhone. Instructor bio: Lucas Ridley is a professional animator whose work has appeared in films by directors like Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis, as well as in major game studios. Originally from Kentucky, his career has taken him around the world, from Los Angeles to London, contributing to blockbuster projects while also pursuing personal creative work. Lucas brings that industry experience into teaching, where he focuses on making animation approachable and frustration-free. His goal is to give learners clear, practical guidance to help them build confidence and create with independence.

Bring your character to life with believable and customizable 3D animations. In this class, your instructor, Lucas Ridley, shares how to animate a 3D character within Unreal Engine. You’ll follow along as Lucas shows how to use motion capture data to personalize your character’s movement and infuse your character with life. With Lucas as your teacher, you’ll: - Create your own motion capture animation - Apply any motion capture animation to your character - Customize your character’s movements through data and layer adjustments - Render out your animation within a shareable, cinematic movie file Plus, Lucas will share how he uses the Move One app to create motion capture animations on his iPhone as well as how to download pre-made animations if you don’t have access to the Apple App Store. Whether you’re an experienced animator who wants to explore character animation or you’re getting started in Unreal Engine and want to learn more advanced animation skills like applying and editing motion capture data, you’re going to gain the expertise you need to create a believable and authentic animated performance for any 3D character. To take this class, you should have a basic understanding of Unreal Engine and how to navigate around it. In addition to the Unreal Engine software, you’ll also need a computer and a three button mouse. To record your motion capture, you’ll need the Move One app, an iPhone and a tripod. Instructor bio: Lucas Ridley is a professional animator whose work has appeared in films by directors like Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis, as well as in major game studios. Originally from Kentucky, his career has taken him around the world, from Los Angeles to London, contributing to blockbuster projects while also pursuing personal creative work. Lucas brings that industry experience into teaching, where he focuses on making animation approachable and frustration-free. His goal is to give learners clear, practical guidance to help them build confidence and create with independence.

Hi! My name is 'Harry Helps' and in this class, I’ll walk you through the simple and beginner friendly process of creating a Vaporwave style animation in Blender. Vaporwave is both a musical and a visual genre of artwork. The visual aesthetic is defined as “incorporating early Internet imagery, late 1990s web design, glitch art, and cyberpunk tropes, as well as anime, Greco-Roman statues, and 3D-rendered objects”. In this class we’ll be focusing on the visual aesthetics of Vaporwave to create our animation. I specialize in clear, easy to follow beginner’s classes. We’ll go through each process, step-by-step, to prevent as much confusion as possible. We’re using Blender for this tutorial, which is an amazing and totally free 3d software. The only barrier to entry is having a computer to run the software on. Creating a heavily stylized animation loop is a really desirable skill to have as a 3d artist, however it doesn’t need to be difficult. We’ll go through the entire process of creating this animation from a beginner’s perspective to avoid as much confusion as possible. In this class you can expect to learn: - Blender Interface and Tools: We’ll learn about many basic tools and interface elements within Blender while building and animating our statue. - Modeling: To achieve our Vaporwave aesthetic, we’ll be altering a 3d scanned Greco-Roman statue. - Lighting: We’ll set up a stylized lighting scheme including volumetric lighting. - Shading: Which can give objects the appearance of glowing neon lights, or golden metal. - Animating: We’ll create a subtle looping animation featuring our Vaporwave statue. - Rendering: Lastly, we’ll render our final animation in Blender so you can share it with your friends and family on social media. When we’re done you’ll have all the skills you need to create a Vaporwave animation loop of your very own! Instructor bio: 'Harry Helps' is a 3D artist and educator with over a decade of professional experience in modeling, texturing, animation, and post-production. Throughout his career, he has worked across diverse industries—from MMORPG game studios and video production companies to award-winning architectural visualization firms—holding roles such as Studio Director, Lead 3D Artist, and Greenscreen Editor. His work has been featured in 3D Artist magazine, where he also contributed tutorial content. With extensive expertise in Blender, 3ds Max, V-Ray, and Photoshop, Harry is passionate about sharing his knowledge and inspiring the next generation of 3D creators.

Hi, my name is 'Harry Helps'! In this class, we’ll learn everything we need to know to get up and running in Blender! > This class has been updated for the release of Blender 4.1! < We’ll be going through the entire process of learning Blender from a complete beginner’s perspective to avoid as much confusion as possible. Every topic covered builds upon previous lessons to form a solid foundation as we progress through the class. I designed this entire class to follow a premade starter file. You’ll have access to every single model that I’m using in class, so you’ll never need to worry about missing out on an important feature or tool! Please note, Blender 4.1 or newer is required to use this starter file! I’ve also included a handy cheat sheet filled with important keyboard shortcuts, that you can reference during the class and in the future! This class is meant to teach you the basics of Blender, and as such won’t focus heavily on version specific features. That means, even if you watch this class and the current version is Blender 4.0, 4.5 or even higher, you can still gain a solid foundation! Throughout this class, we'll get a basic understanding of almost every important aspect of 3d artwork during your time with me. You'll learn topics like: - Downloading and Installing Blender - Interface Navigation - Editing Objects - Organizing Your File - Common Modeling Tools - Materials - Modifiers - Lighting - Animation Basics - Camera Placement and Settings - Saving Your Final Image And much more! You'll create: After we've set up a solid foundation, I'll lead you through our class project, where you'll assemble and customize your very own cozy campsite utilizing a premade project file! I hope you'll join me on this exploration of the wonderful world of Blender! See ya in the first lesson! Instructor bio: 'Harry Helps' is a 3D artist and educator with over a decade of professional experience in modeling, texturing, animation, and post-production. Throughout his career, he has worked across diverse industries—from MMORPG game studios and video production companies to award-winning architectural visualization firms—holding roles such as Studio Director, Lead 3D Artist, and Greenscreen Editor. His work has been featured in 3D Artist magazine, where he also contributed tutorial content. With extensive expertise in Blender, 3ds Max, V-Ray, and Photoshop, Harry is passionate about sharing his knowledge and inspiring the next generation of 3D creators.

Are you ready to join instructor Lisa Bardot and make animation magic with Procreate Dreams? Introducing Procreate Dreams, a new 2D animation app from the makers of Procreate! Its powerful yet user-friendly tools make anyone an instant animator capable of crafting joyful moving artwork. With Procreate Dreams, you will find exciting new ways to express your creativity -- the best part is you don't need any animation experience to get started! This course starts from the ground up, acquainting you with the Procreate Dreams interface before diving into a series of engaging, hands-on animation projects. In this course, we're not just scratching the surface – we're diving deep into the Procreate Dreams universe as we: * Navigate the app's interface * Get familiar with tools * Master gestures * Explore the three essential animation techniques: handcrafted frame-by-frame animation, precise keyframing, and expressive Performing You'll embark on a series of follow-along animation projects that will have you creating diverse movements like looking, blinking, twirling, falling, driving, flying, swaying, spinning, and more. You'll learn how to: * Animate subjects like balloons, cars, leaves, trees, birds, and more * Animate over video * Create animations with audio * Bring your past Procreate artwork to life with movement * Master essential animation tools like keyframes, anchor points, onion skins, timing, and easing Additional skills to learn include: * Interface & Gestures - I'll guide you through a tour of the Procreate Dreams interface so you can zip around, utilizing all the features and tools Procreate Dreams has to offer! * Animation Essentials - Master the three essential animation techniques: frame-by-frame animation, keyframing, and the innovative Performing feature. * Advanced Techniques - Animate with live filters for effects like opacity, blur, and color changes. Using clipping masks and blend modes in your animations. As a student of this class, you'll receive my Procreate Dreams Resource Pack, complete with ready-to-animate .dreams files, a Procreate file for easy import into Dreams, and a video file to enhance with exciting animations. There's even a fully animated example piece for you to explore, giving you insight into my animation process. Grab your iPad and let's dive deep into the Procreate Dreams universe. Together we'll make some movement magic! Instructor bio: I'm Lisa Bardot, an illustration artist, teacher, and creative adventurer based in California, USA. With the iPad and Procreate as my go-to tools, I've developed digital brushes, tutorials, and art resources that help both beginners and seasoned artists find joy in making art. My tutorials and classes have reached millions, and I’m known for my thorough, concise, and fun teaching style. have been viewed millions of times, and I've received high praise for my thorough, concise, and fun teaching style. I own Bardot Brush where I design Procreate brushes and tools loved by artists. I also run Making Art Everyday, offering drawing prompts and challenges to help people conquer creative fears and build a consistent art practice. Additionally, I lead Art Maker's Club, a joy-filled creative community and learning hub for digital art-makers. When I'm not making things, I like to indulge in long romantic walks through IKEA, making up songs for my three young kids, and dipping french fries in ice cream.

Take your logo animation skills to the next level by exploring dynamic 2D motion design. In this course, Valeri Visuals will teach you how to create a variety of polished, professional logo animations using advanced 2D techniques in Adobe After Effects. You’ll discover how to integrate animations seamlessly into videos, apply creative transitions, and bring brand identities to life. By the end of this course, you will be able to: * Design multiple styles of animated logos for diverse branding needs. * Integrate animations with photos and video footage. * Use timing, easing, and effects to make animations feel fluid and engaging. This course is designed for learners with basic After Effects knowledge, such as completing Premium Logo Animation: Fundamentals or equivalent experience. Through project-based lessons, hands-on tasks, and Valeri’s practical tips, you’ll leave with a versatile collection of 2D logo animations to use in your own work or for clients. Instructor bio: Valeri Visual is a freelance Motion Graphics Designer and educator specializing in Adobe After Effects. With a background in visual communication—spanning graphic design, illustration, and animation—Valeri brings both professional and teaching experience to his courses. After working in an animation studio and later as a full-time freelancer, Valeri discovered a passion for teaching. He has since taught at branding companies, mentored students, and built a global audience through tutorials on YouTube and Instagram. Over the past two years, he has developed digital courses designed to help graphic designers, illustrators, and aspiring motion designers expand their skills and grow their careers. Valeri’s mission is to empower creative professionals and entrepreneurs to increase their opportunities and income by mastering motion design with After Effects.

Bring your logo animations into a whole new dimension with immersive 3D effects and cinematic motion graphics. In this advanced course, Valeri Visuals will guide you through professional-level techniques in Adobe After Effects, from creating realistic 3D logo animations to adding special effects that make your work stand out. By the end of this course, you will be able to: * Create 3D logo animations using After Effects tools and workflows. * Add advanced effects, lighting, and camera movement for depth and drama. * Combine animation techniques for high-impact visual results. This course is for learners with beginner to intermediate After Effects skills, ideally after completing the first two parts of the Premium Logo Animation series. You’ll work on challenging, portfolio-ready projects while benefiting from Valeri’s clear explanations, in-lesson guidance, and real-world tips for achieving a premium finish in your animations. Instructor bio: Valeri Visual is a freelance Motion Graphics Designer and educator specializing in Adobe After Effects. With a background in visual communication—spanning graphic design, illustration, and animation—Valeri brings both professional and teaching experience to his courses. After working in an animation studio and later as a full-time freelancer, Valeri discovered a passion for teaching. He has since taught at branding companies, mentored students, and built a global audience through tutorials on YouTube and Instagram. Over the past two years, he has developed digital courses designed to help graphic designers, illustrators, and aspiring motion designers expand their skills and grow their careers. Valeri’s mission is to empower creative professionals and entrepreneurs to increase their opportunities and income by mastering motion design with After Effects.

Unlock the world of premium logo animation and start building your motion design skills from the ground up. In this course, Valeri Visuals, a professional Motion Designer, will guide you step-by-step through the essentials of Adobe After Effects while you create your first set of animated logos. You’ll learn how to prepare a logo for animation, apply foundational motion techniques, and enhance designs with additional graphics. By the end of this course, you will be able to: * Set up and organize projects in Adobe After Effects. * Prepare and edit logo files for smooth animation. * Create simple yet professional-looking animated logos. This course is perfect for beginners or creatives new to motion graphics. No prior After Effects experience is required, but basic familiarity with design tools is helpful. With Valeri’s clear, engaging teaching style, mid-lesson checkpoints, and practical tasks, you’ll gain both confidence and a portfolio-worthy first project—ready to apply in your personal or professional work. Instructor bio: Valeri Visual is a freelance Motion Graphics Designer and educator specializing in Adobe After Effects. With a background in visual communication—spanning graphic design, illustration, and animation—Valeri brings both professional and teaching experience to his courses. After working in an animation studio and later as a full-time freelancer, Valeri discovered a passion for teaching. He has since taught at branding companies, mentored students, and built a global audience through tutorials on YouTube and Instagram. Over the past two years, he has developed digital courses designed to help graphic designers, illustrators, and aspiring motion designers expand their skills and grow their careers. Valeri’s mission is to empower creative professionals and entrepreneurs to increase their opportunities and income by mastering motion design with After Effects.

I'm Dave Reed and welcome to my 3D Character Workshop in Nomad Sculpt! The ability to design characters in 3D has been a game-changer for me and has been a joy to learn with Nomad Sculpt. I’ve been able to export my 3D Sculpts to Blender for more in-depth work, and also create physical art that I can hold in my hands with resin 3D printing. This type of character lends itself well to 3D printing, so it's perfect if you're looking to sculpt things you can print! This class is geared towards those of you who are familiar with the basics of Nomad Sculpt, and are interested in getting better at 3D character design. This little character isn’t too complex, but still has a lot of elements working together to be a good challenge if you’re looking to improve your skills. I’ll go over each step I'm making and why I'm making it.. There are also multiple ways to achieve things when working in 3D, so as you develop your skills, you will find new and creative ways to get the results you want with your own workflow. Here is what we will go over in class: * Opening and preparing our scene for sculpting. * Importing our reference image * Blocking out our character using simple shapes or “primitives” * Tailoring the shapes to exactly what we need * Adding details like teeth, tongue, and fingers * Simple scene lighting and painting techniques * Post Processing to make our art ready for render, or to send to other applications If you have been working in Nomad for a while, you’ll still discover new things to add to your arsenal from my workflow. I continue to learn new aspects of the program and more efficient ways to sculpt with each and every project. So join me, I look forward to seeing you in class! Instructor bio: Dave Reed is a 2D and 3D illustrator and digital creator based in Brooklyn, New York. He holds a BFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in NYC, where he developed his craft in both traditional and digital mediums. With a passion for visual storytelling and design, Dave brings a creative and practical approach to his teaching, helping learners build the skills and confidence to create their own illustrations and digital art.