Discover the Best Live Online Motion Graphics Classes
Motion graphics is a type of animation where static design elements are given movement. This animation is often combined with music or other audio elements. Researchers have found that motion graphics are a very effective way of capturing the attention of an audience, and as a result, motion graphics have become very common in a wide variety of different media. Most motion graphics are focused on communicating a specific message to the audience, rather than telling a story like other types of animation.
Most motion graphics designers use computer tools such as Adobe After Effects and other software programs. Technology in this field has changed–and continues to change–rapidly. Technological advances allow designers to work more efficiently, and provide them with new tools that they can use to create new types of designs.
Best Live Online Motion Graphics Classes & Schools
A number of different schools offer live online motion graphics classes. Noble Desktop offers a comprehensive certificate program for motion graphics. The Motion Graphics Certificate consists of 34 class sessions, and tuition is $3,495. In this program, students learn about motion graphics and visual effects, including how to use Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro, and Cinema 4D Lite. The course also covers video editing techniques, and students create a demo reel to showcase their skills to prospective clients or employers. Students who want to take this class need to have a working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and/or Illustrator. A basic knowledge of video timeline editing and basic design skills are also recommended, but not required. Founded in 1990, Noble Desktop is a design and coding school that offers both online and in-person classes.
Noble Desktop also offers an online class called Motion Graphics & Video Editing Portfolio Development. In this course, students learn about the principles of motion graphics and video editing, and work on a number of unique projects, from concept to completion. The projects created in this class can also be used for a demo reel. In addition to working on projects, students also learn about how the industry works, how to market themselves, how to find a job, and what red flags to look out for. There are five class sessions in this course, and tuition is $1,495.
Students will also find online motion graphics courses through NYC Career Centers. For instance, the Video Editing & Motion Graphics Certificate covers video editing with Adobe Premiere Pro, creating motion graphics and visual effects in After Effects, and audio editing in Audition. Instructors teach students how these programs work together, and guide them through the creation of projects from concept to finish. Students also work on a demo reel, which can be used for prospective employers. This class costs $4,995, and has 40 sessions. NYC Career Centers is based in New York City, and provides professional training in design, coding, data analytics, and financial modeling.
Lumenbrite Training is a school that offers digital design training both online and in-person, including motion graphics training. After Effects Training: Bootcamp is a virtual class designed for students interested in After Effects. There are a total of five sessions and tuition is $1,995. This bootcamp takes students from a beginner to an intermediate level. It covers advanced text effects, video blending, keying effects, track mattes, advanced animation techniques, nesting, creating precomps, and motion and mask tracking. Students also learn about best practices and common pitfalls.
Another online option is FUS 101: Fusion in Resolve through the Manhattan Edit Workshop. The Manhattan Edit Workshop was founded in 2002 and is located in New York City’s Flatiron District. It provides post-production training for a variety of different platforms, including Apple, Adobe, and Avid. Fusion in Resolve costs $1,295, and has three class sessions. It is designed for editors, post-producers, VFX beginners, multimedia producers, and motion graphics professionals. Students learn the basics of visual effects and motion graphics.
Industries That Use Motion Graphics
Motion graphics are widely used within the film and television industry, particularly for content that has a lot of special effects. Adobe explains that this is one of the first places that motion graphics became popular. It says, “The origins of motion graphics are rooted in the evolution of film credits. In the early days of cinema, directors created title credits to meet the interest of this new generation of cinemagoers, who wanted to learn more about the actors in the films they saw.” Films and television shows remain one of the most common places to find motion graphics. Today, these graphics are much more sophisticated than in early films, due to technological advances.
Motion graphics are also used in many other industries. For instance, social media sites and other websites use them as a tool for quickly and effectively communicating content. A number of research studies have also shown that motion graphics are a very effective way to both attract and retain online audiences. Motion graphics are also used for educational purposes. For instance, news media use them to help viewers quickly and easily understand complex information. They are also common in advertising, since they can make content more interactive and eye-catching.
Motion Graphics Jobs & Salaries
Motion graphics designers hold a wide variety of different job titles including video editor, motion graphics designer, 2D animator, designer, special effects artist, and film editor. According to Glassdoor, which provides average salaries for many different jobs, motion graphics designers earn an average of about $70,000 per year nationally. For instance, Denver pays about as much as average. Some areas pay significantly higher though. For example, the average yearly salary in Los Angeles is almost $80,000. In New York City, it is also close to $80,000 per year. Glassdoor also provides salary estimates for other jobs that can involve motion graphics. For example, it reports that the average salary for a 2D animator nationally is about $60,000. For a visual effects artist, it is just over $70,000, and for a film editor, it is a little more than $50,000 per year.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a federal agency that collects and analyzes labor market statistics, includes many of these jobs under the category of special effects artists and animators. It finds that this job category is likely to remain stable over the next ten years, with a growth rate of about 5 percent, which is about as fast as average. It finds that California employs the most special effects artists and animators, followed by Washington, and New York. California also pays the highest annual average wage, followed by New Jersey and then New York.
