Have you ever wondered what the best animation classes for 12-year-olds are? Then you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’re going to go over 10 of the best animation programs for your child.
Ready to get started? Let’s dive in!
At what age can you start animation?
You may be wondering whether your child is old enough to start animation.
And that’s a common question – after all, animation does involve technical subjects.
But don’t worry! Animation can be a valuable addition to your child’s learning, no matter their age.
Depending on your child’s interests, attention span, and abilities, there are animation programs that can work for them.
Basic reading, math, and computer skills can help your child learn more advanced animation techniques, but there are also courses available for complete beginners.
Keep reading to find out the 10 best animation classes for 12-year-olds.
Top 10 animation classes for 12-year-olds
Now that we’ve seen animation is a great subject for kids of all ages, let’s look at some specific programs. Here, you’ll find ten of the best animation classes for your 12-year-old.
1. Animation for Kids – Academy of Animated Art
The Animation for Kids course by the Academy of Animated Art is an online program that teaches children about animation through hands-on projects.
As an animator with over 20 years of experience, I know how much creativity and art can change someone’s life.
You see, as a child, I was taught that art wasn’t a realistic career. And I believed it, which is why I ended up getting a degree in economics.
It took me a long time to finally decide to follow my passion. But once I went all-in with animation, I felt much more fulfilled.
My mission today is to show people that their dreams of working in animation are possible. That’s why I co-founded the Academy of Animated Art.
And now, I’ve developed a program specifically for kids so that they can discover animation too.
With the Animation for Kids course, children will learn storytelling, animation, lighting, design, and stop motion techniques through 13 video lessons.
But this isn’t just a video class.
Students will receive a home animation kit with all the supplies they need to complete the video lessons. This way, you can be sure that your child has everything they need to finish the projects in this hands-on program.
Throughout the lessons, students will:
- Create storyboards and flipbooks
- Design their characters and learn to bring them to life with animation
- Work through challenges
- Build their problem-solving skills
Ultimately, this isn’t just an animation course. It’s a combination of STEM and art that boosts creative thinking and teaches new subjects in a fun, hands-on way.
2. Pixar in a Box – Pixar & Khan Academy
Pixar in a Box is a joint project between Pixar and Khan Academy. This unique program offers kids an inside look at how Pixar makes movies.
It is aimed at children of all ages and covers topics like storytelling, lighting, simulation, color science, modeling, and more.
The best thing about this course?
Pixar animators teach video lessons about their production process, giving kids a unique insight into animation production.
Pixar in a Box is self-paced, online, and totally free. So it’s a great option if you’re looking for a flexible, fun, and informative online course for your child.
3. Udemy
You’ve probably heard of Udemy before, but you may not have thought of it as a resource for kids. Although Udemy doesn’t offer many child-specific classes, they do have animation programs for beginners, which could work well for your child.
For example, this Animations and Motion Graphics course is aimed at beginners and walks students through the material step-by-step.
One of the great things about Udemy is that it has many courses available. There’s an Animation for Beginners course and a Cartoon Animation course, which are both well-reviewed and aimed at people just starting out in animation.
Another plus? Most Udemy courses cost less than $100 and range in length from one hour to 50+ hours.
Whichever course you choose, Udemy definitely has benefits as a learning resource. The courses are online, self-paced, inexpensive, and can easily be filtered by rating and complexity level.
4. The Walt Disney Family Museum Animation Academy
The Animation Academy by the Walt Disney Family Museum is all about giving the next generation of animators the support they need to make their art.
There are a wide range of classes, including Costume Design, Digital Puppet Animation, and Charcoal Fundamentals.
As well as on-site programs in San Francisco, the museum offers virtual classes so that kids can participate no matter where they are.
And because courses are divided by grade (3rd to 12th), kids receive lessons tailored to their age group.
Classes usually cost between $800 and $1,000 and run for seven to ten days, six hours per day.
5. Sony Pictures Media Arts Program (SPMAP)
The Sony Pictures Media Arts Program (SPMAP) has excellent animation classes for 12-year-olds.
The SPMAP is an after-school animation course created through a partnership between the Los Angeles Public Library, the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and the CalArts Community Arts Partnership.
The course is free, provides all the necessary materials, and covers topics like animation history, storyboarding, principles of animation, character design, and more.
SPMAP is aimed at students ages 11 to 17, and no previous experience is required.
The 10-week classes take place in five different locations around California. Plus, there are online Zoom classes available.
6. Digital Art and Animation Studio with Adobe
Adobe is well known for making creative software for artists, but did you know that they also have an animation course?
The Digital Art and Animation Studio with Adobe is a weeklong program aimed at kids ages 10 to 12.
The classes are held on university campuses around the country and are open to beginners. Here’s a list of the locations so you can find one near you.
Through this animation program, your child will learn how to use industry-standard software like Adobe Animate, Photoshop, and Premiere Pro. They’ll also be able to develop their digital portfolios to showcase their skills.
Classes start at $1,149 and include topics such as visual storytelling, storyboarding, and planning.
7. The 3D Animation Camp for Kids – New York Film Academy
The New York Film Academy (NYFA) offers animation camps for kids ages 10 to 13.
The programs are based on Disney’s 12 principles of animation and teach students how to use Maya and other industry-standard software.
NYFA offers courses both in-person and online. In-person locations include New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, and Harvard University. Plus, there are international courses in Australia, France, and Italy.
The in-person animation workshops are 12 weekends long, costing $1,735. And the 2-week online animation program costs $1,525.
8. Online Animation Classes for Kids – Outschool
If you’re searching for an online animation class, Outschool might be a good place to look. On the Outschool website, you can filter your results by student age, class size, date, and price.
The cost of Outschool animation classes is often in the $10 to $20 range per class, and classes generally last around 50 minutes.
Another benefit? These classes are all online, so you can find one that works best with your schedule.
9. Animation Camp (Online) – CodeCamp
CodeCamp offers an online animation camp for kids ages 8 to 12.
This course teaches kids about stop-motion animation using clay and Legos. So your child will learn about art, technology, and storytelling in a fun, engaging environment.
Another advantage? The course is very well reviewed, with 4.9 stars from over 1,000 reviews. Plus, there’s a live chat that your child can use to ask questions and get answers in real-time.
This course is five days long, with two hours of activities to complete each day, and costs $129.
10. Skillshare
When you think of animation classes for 12-year-olds, Skillshare probably doesn’t come to mind.
And it’s true, they don’t have many classes specifically for younger learners. But they do have courses for beginners that could be suitable for your child.
For example, this Animation for Beginners class is open to anyone who wants to learn, making it a great option for children.
Using Procreate Dreams, your child will learn everything they need to know to bring their ideas to life. They’ll master animation methods like keyframes, frame-by-frame, and performing.
Another benefit of Skillshare is that it costs only $32 per month and gives you access to over 30,000 different courses.
Next steps
So there you have it! Now you know all about the best animation classes for 12-year-olds.
We’ve looked at in-person options, online classes, free programs, and everything in between.
Now, you can choose the course that works best for your child so that they can get started with animation.
