Wondering what the best animation classes for kids and teens are? If so, then you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’re going to go over the top 10 animation programs for young people.
Ready to jump in? Let’s go!
Can kids and teens learn animation?
Animation relies on a wide range of skills, including some more technical ones. This might make you wonder…
Can kids and teens learn animation?
The short answer: absolutely.
Animation courses can help kids learn and grow in many areas, including math, art, and writing. But it doesn’t stop there…
They’ll also develop their creative thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills, which will help them in whatever they choose to do later in life.
By choosing a high-quality course taught by pros, kids can learn about animation in a clear and fun way. And with so many options available, you can choose a program that works for your child’s age and learning style.
Now that we’ve seen how beneficial it can be for kids to learn animation, let’s look at some specific animation programs.
Animation classes for kids of all ages
Here are the 10 best animation classes for kids and teens. There’s a wide range of formats, prices, and lengths, so you can choose what works best for you.
Animation for Kids
Academy of Animated Art
The Animation for Kids program by the Academy of Animated Art is a 13-week video course designed for middle school students.
As someone who’s been working in the animation industry for over 20 years, I know how much animation can change someone’s life.
That’s why I founded the Academy of Animated Art – to give students a high-quality resource to help them make their dreams a reality.
But I didn’t want to stop there.
I’ve now developed a course specifically with young people in mind. It teaches animation in a fun, engaging way while at the same time giving students valuable skills they can use long after the course is over.
The best thing about this animation course?
It incorporates many different disciplines.
The Academy of Animated Art Animation for Kids course combines STEM and art, so students will learn about:
- Math
- Storytelling
- Design
- Modeling
- Lighting
- And much more
Ultimately, this course is a creative, fun way for kids to explore the possibilities of what they can create.
3D Animation Camp for Kids
New York Film Academy
The New York Film Academy (NYFA) offers several animation program options for kids and teens.
For example, there’s a 12-Weekend 3D Animation Camp for Kids where they can learn a new topic each week. And they even get to make their own animated short film for friends and family to see.
This program costs $1,265 and takes place across 12 consecutive Saturdays in New York City.
NYFA also offers in-person animation programs for kids at their Los Angeles location.
But if you can’t make it to New York or LA, don’t worry – NYFA also offers several online animation programs for students aged 10 to 17.
Two week online animation programs cost $1,525, and one week programs cost $825.
Pixar in a Box
Khan Academy
Pixar in a Box is a collaboration between Pixar and Khan Academy that gives kids an inside look at Pixar’s filmmaking process.
The program is for children of all ages, and it covers:
- Storytelling
- Lighting
- Simulation
- Color science
- Effects
- Rigging
- Animation
- Modeling
- And more
Because this is a collaboration with a major studio, the program includes examples from Pixar movies, giving students a closer look at how Pixar produce animations.
The main advantages of Pixar in a Box?
It’s online, self-paced, and totally free.
Online Animation and Drawing Class
The Animation Course
The Animation Course offers live drawing and animation classes for kids ages 11 to 18.
It’s taught by an instructor with almost 30 years of experience in animation – he’s even worked with Sony Pictures and Walt Disney Feature Animation on projects like Tarzan and Polar Express.
With him as the instructor, your child will have access to a wealth of information on the animation industry and how films are made.
Plus, the live online classes give students the ability to learn from anywhere, as well as ask questions and receive feedback.
There are three opportunities every year for kids to take a live class with The Animation Course,: a spring session, summer session, and fall session, each of which is 12 weeks long. These courses cost $400 to $500.
As well as this, there are recorded classes with grading available for $400 to $500, and recorded classes without grading for $150.
3D Animation Intro
Outschool
If you want a flexible 3D animation class for your child, then this course from Outschool might be a good fit. It’s aimed at students age 11 to 16, and the teacher has a 5-star rating with over 400 reviews.
Plus:
- It costs only $40
- You get to choose a start date that works for you
- You have access to the course content for a whole year
The class is 4 weeks long and teaches fundamental animation techniques using Blender, which is a free software. Since this is a self-paced class there are no live meetings, but students can ask questions by messaging and sharing videos and files.
Overall, this class is a great option for a flexible and inexpensive introduction to animation for your child.
Stop Motion Brick (LEGO®) Animation Mega Course
Outschool
Here’s another great video class offered by Outschool. It’s a stop-motion mega course that’s self-paced and costs only $36. The instructor has a 5-star rating, and the course offers a fun and immersive learning experience for kids age 7 to 12.
They’ll learn:
- Storyboarding
- Timing and spacing
- Slow in and slow out
- Arcs
- Exaggeration
- Anticipation
Ultimately, this course offers a fun, educational experience for younger students who are interested in trying animation.
Cartoon Animation Course for Beginners
Udemy
Udemy provides classes on all kinds of topics, but did you know that it has a Cartoon Animation Course for Beginners?
With this self-paced class, students age 7 and up will discover the basics of cartoon animation through online video classes. Kids will learn how to make a storyboard, animate a drawing, and use basic animation software.
Plus, when you purchase the course for $64.99, you get full lifetime access and your child gets a certificate of completion.
Digital Art and Animation Studio with Adobe
IDTech
This weeklong program teaches 10 to 12-year-olds how to create digital art and animation using the creative suite of Adobe software.
Kids will learn to use Photoshop, Adobe Animate, and Premiere Pro to bring their creative ideas to life. And they’ll even learn to use pro-level Wacom drawing tablets to make digital art.
This in-person course runs Monday through Friday on many college campuses all over the country and costs $1,149.
Drawing Fundamentals
IDTech
This flexible Drawing Fundamentals class for 7 to 19-year-olds allows you to choose from four different lesson packages.
Kids can take:
- 1 lesson per month at $75/per lesson
- 4 lessons per month at $71/per lesson
- 8 lessons per month at $68/per lesson
- 12 lessons per month at $64/per lesson
After choosing a lesson package, you can select an instructor, date, and time. And when the time comes to take the one-hour class, your child will connect with the instructor over Zoom.
With this format, students get direct feedback from the instructor and can ask questions as needed.
Digital Animation 101
CourseHorse
In the Digital Animation 101 course offered by CourseHorse, students age 11 to 18 go over the principles of key-frame animation, onion skinning, and tweens using Adobe Animate.
The course is broken down into 5 mini projects and walks students through the 12 principles of animation.
This is a great animation course for beginners, and it takes place at One River School in Allendale NJ, costing $420.
What’s next?
So there you have it! Now you know the 10 best animation classes for kids and teens.
We’ve covered a wide range of programs, from in-person classes to completely virtual, self-paced courses.
The next step?
Choosing the course that works best for your child.
High-quality animation programs can be a great way for kids to explore their creativity, learn a wide range of skills, and have fun – so why not find the perfect animation course for your child today?
