12 Courses and Certifications

Free Animation Courses & Certifications

As Walt Disney put it, “Animation can explain whatever the mind of man can conceive”, the art and science of animation have created wonders for our way of expression. This beautiful way of storytelling has a vast horizon of career opportunities. In this article, read about online animation courses from top providers all around the globe that can make you a professional in animation for free.

What is animation?

It is both an art and a science, where the artist manipulates figures to create the illusion of motion. The character will appear to move in the eyes of the audience. Initially, there were just images drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets which were later photographed and exhibited on film at high speed. But today, with the advances in technology, we have much further. Most animations use computer-generated imagery.

Different types of animation

These are the different types of animation that you will master with these free animation certification courses.

  • Stop Motion
  • Motion Graphics
  • Traditional Animation
  • 2D Animation (vector-based)
  • 3D Animation

Skills required for Animation courses

Here are some of the soft skills that you obtain by taking these free online animation courses

Here are some of the technical skills that you obtain by taking these free online animation courses

  • Storyboarding
  • Scriptwriting
  • Character design and development
  • Sketching 
  • Visualization 
  • Sketching and drawing 
  • Good eye for color and contrast
  • Techniques in lighting

Top Careers in Animation 

There are plenty of arenas within animation where you can become a pro by taking online free animation courses. These could be Visual effects, Fine arts, Character animation, Web designing, traditional animation (sketching) Game Design, Advertising, etc.

Animation courses by Top Providers

From education, business to the world of entertainment, the demand for animation goes on. Hence the demand for free animation certification courses as well as paid ones. These online free Animation certification courses are offered by top providers. So dive into our list of top online free animation certification courses along with paid courses by top providers.


Read also

Also, check out our lists of free courses related to animation in general, for a broader range of opportunities in the field.

Conclusion 

These online free animation courses by top providers focus on the present and future of the animation industry. Created by industry experts, these free online animation courses teach you all the nuances in the field of animation. According to a study by Businesswire, the Global Animation, VFX & Video Games industry together values at a whopping 264 billion dollars in 2019. And if the present-day demand could say anything, it is that the market is going to expand for animation. These online free animation courses can make you the best possible version of a professional.

And there are plenty more. Explore more by, checking out our full list of free online courses and certifications.

Also Read

FAQs

Q: What are the various industries I can work in after taking these online free animation courses?

A: Motion Pictures, Advertising,  Computer System Design, Aerospace Product, Software Publishers, Merchant Wholesalers, etc. are some of the industries you can pursue after taking these online free animation courses.

Q: Will these online free animation courses equip me with the qualifications for an animator?

A: For jobs, you still require a bachelor’s / diploma in animation. Along with them, you can take free online animation courses as well as paid ones to supplement your skills.  

Q: What is the duration of these free animation certification courses? 

A: It can vary depending due to many factors. Generally, short-term online free animation courses can be completed in a few days, whereas longer ones can take up to a few months.

Q: What is the average salary of an animator in India?

A: According to payscale, the average salary of an animator is Rs.3,11,678. With these free online animation courses, you can expect to earn much more.

Q: Are these online free animation courses difficult?

A: If you have a passion for animation, then these online free animation courses are there to nurture it and build on it

Career Category
Specialization
Job Role
Skills
Animations

Offered by

Certificate

Animations

Animations Certification by Swayam is a free and unique offering by Swayam with a view to providing accessible and quality education to everyone irrespective of their financial disabilities. This course has been designed specially and exclusively for students majoring in Design Engineering, Animation, and Game Technology. The curriculum furnishes learners with an opportunity to learn about design theories and histories through experts themselves.

The Animations certification course will explore animation production pipeline (CG modeling, texturing, lighting, rigging, Animation, and rendering) techniques as well as gaming, Designing Engineering, Visual effects, etc. You will learn about the design histories and theories to develop creative, technical, and analytical skills in animation film production.

Further, the Animations certification by Swayam will provide the opportunity for self-assessment to students so that they can analyze their weak points and work on them. Video modules can be revisited to strengthen the weak areas. Project-based assessment relevant to the media and entertainment industry will polish the practical skills of course takers. Besides this, they can refer to a lot of books dealing with topics like character animation, 3D animation, and animated films for a better understanding.

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15 Weeks
14 January 2025 - 29 April 2025
Free
Skills Covered:
Animation skills
Certificate

Animation and CGI Motion

The candidates who are willing to participate in the programme of Animation and CGI Motion certification by edX will gain hands-on experience in how to produce and build animations that are realistic, keeping in mind the technical features of CGI animation. Students will gain expertise about the procedure to create physically based animation by learning about studio approaches for the same. 

The Animation and CGI Motion certification course from Edx to create characters or films that society believes in. They will be provided with advice about how to predict as well as improve the mobility of their workpiece. This course, designed by Columbia University will run for a tenure of 12 weeks, where the students will gain the appropriate knowledge required to apply for higher posts. The Animation and CGI Motion certification course is an advanced-level course, and the candidates can easily complete it by putting in 8 to 10 hours of hard work per week.

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12 Weeks
Expert
Free
Skills Covered:
Animation skills
Creating Cutscenes in Unity

Offered by

Certificate

Creating Cutscenes in Unity

The Creating Cutscenes in Unity certification course, curated and delivered by Unity Technologies, is an intermediate-level, self-paced study. The programme is a part of Coursera’s Unity Certified 3D Artist Specialisation. The 100% online course helps you in preparing for the Unity Certified 3D Artist exam and receiving the professional certification for entry and mid-level Unity artists.

In this Creating Cutscenes in Unity online course, you will learn to work on 3D adventure sci-fi-themed games and develop animated cutscenes for the same. The hands-on approach of the curriculum enables you to add particle effects, build a cutscene environment from the game’s assets, block out cameras that capture the action, and more. You will also be managing LOD groups to achieve optimal graphics performance and animating objects and cameras to generate the perfect scene. 

At the end of the Creating Cutscenes in Unity programme, you will be adept in skills, including 3D art, Unity, animation, and real-time 3D. The training takes approximately 13 hours to complete. Moreover, Coursera provides you with the opportunity to reset deadlines as per convenience. Joy Horvath, who is an instructional designer with Unity Technologies and a passionate game developer, is your instructor. 

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7 Weeks
Intermediate
Free
Skills Covered:
Animation skills
Introduction to Web Cartography Part 1

Offered by

Certificate

Introduction to Web Cartography Part 1

The Introduction to Web Cartography: Part 1 by edX is made with a view to make students more aware and enhance their understanding of web cartography and its related aspect of the field to generate more progress towards it in the coming future.

Why would you want to create cartographic visualizations to help convey the outcomes of the project or data analysis? Or if you're just involved in using new web tools for cartographic purposes? This would be the course for you, then!

The Introduction to Web Cartography: Part 1 certification course is a cartographic MOOC concerned with the use of nation web technology for the efficient design and development of immersive cartographic services. Beginning with a simple understanding of the workings of javascript plotting resources with a good design of an immersive cartographic product.  Initially, no conceptual understanding of cartography is required. 

Throughout the Introduction to Web Cartography: Part 1 certification by Edx you will be additionally provided with overall guidance that will directly contribute towards making you aware of ongoing updates in this respective field. You should ultimately go for this course. 

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6 Weeks
Beginner
Free
Character Setup and Animation

Offered by

Certificate

Character Setup and Animation

The Character Setup and Animation certification course is a four-week-long online course that is designed to teach you animation and character setup. You will be working in the Unity game development engine.

During the Character Setup and Animation online course by Coursera, you will work on a 3D sci-fi themed adventure video game. You will learn how to import assets and generate effects for the main character. Also, you will use Unity’s Animator Controller to get the animations working.

Throughout the Character Setup and Animation syllabus, you will get access to high-quality video lectures, practice exercises, and readings to strengthen your understanding of concepts. In this course, you will learn to make exciting and stylish effects within the game.

The course is also a part of the 3D Artist Specialisation offered by Unity technologies. The course also has a peer-reviewed project near its completion and offers an e-certificate.

Also Read:
Certificate Course Animation Technology

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5 Weeks
Intermediate
Free
Skills Covered:
Animation skills
Basic 3D Animation using Blender

Offered by

Certificate

Basic 3D Animation using Blender

Animation is a hot topic in the professional courses industry. However, owing to the high prices of such programmes, not many aspirants can pursue it. However, the Basic 3D Animation using Blender certification by edX is entirely free of cost. The programme also allows learners to understand and get hands-on practice with Blender, an open-source, free animation tool. The curriculum covers all the necessary areas to help you master the nuances of Blender and 3D animation in a sustainable manner.

The Basic 3D Animation online course from Edx will touch down on the fundamentals of 3D animation, including key-framing and animation principles. The course only focuses on animation skill development for non-organic objects. Further, the programme is a part of a two-course certification. The other programme is a prerequisite for this one.

IIT Bombay offers the Basic 3D Animation using Blender course. Therefore, the instructors for the programme are the institution’s esteemed faculty members. Moreover, the training programme comprises video tutorials, quizzes, assignments, and other hands-on learning options. It is a self-paced module, suitable for beginners as well that you can complete within four weeks. 

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4 Weeks
Beginner
Free
Skills Covered:
Animation skills
3D Interactions and Navigation

Offered by

Certificate

3D Interactions and Navigation

The 3D Interactions and Navigation online programme is the third programme in Unity Technologies' Unity Certified Programmer Specialisation. Spread over four weeks of learning modules; it will assist you in preparing for the Unity Certified Programmer exam effectively.

For the first week into the course, you will begin working on a new 3D application called Stealth. By learning to implement the Stealth application, you will learn critical skills and practices covered in the Unity exam. These include working with 3D character animation, setting up navigation agents & meshes, scripting camera movement, and more.

Besides, the 3D Interactions and Navigation syllabus is in line with the topics covered in the Unity Certified Programmer exam. While you can complete the entire course and assessments in approximately 12 hours, the course offers a self-approach for your comfort.  

You'll also get the opportunity to earn the 3D Interactions and Navigation certificate, shareable on your CV or LinkedIn profile, once you finish all the course modules. 

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4 Weeks
Intermediate
Free
Skills Covered:
Animation skills
Integrating Scripts for Scene Interactions

Offered by

Certificate

Integrating Scripts for Scene Interactions

Integrating Scripts for Scene Interactions programme is the third course in the Unity Certified 3D Artist Specialisation from Unity Technologies. 3D artists are vital to the Unity development pipeline. They act as a bridge between programmers and artists. By taking this programme, you will be on your path to crack the Unity Certified 3D Artist examination and become a Unity 3D artist.

The Integrating Scripts for Scene Interactions course will cover all the essential topics aligned to the exam. Moreover, it also includes hands-on exercises, wherein you will be challenged to complete art implementation tasks in Unity. The syllabus also covers the Kitchen Configurator application, UI design, and incorporating VR.

By the end of the Integrating Scripts for Scene Interactions course by Coursera, you will be adept in a myriad of skills such as 3D designing, creating a graphics pipeline, creative coding, and many others. You also have the opportunity to set your own course deadlines, as it’s a flexible course. Your instructor for the course will be Joy Horvath from Unity Technologies.

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4 Weeks
Intermediate
Free
Skills Covered:
Designing skills
Asset Creation and Management

Offered by

Certificate

Asset Creation and Management

The Asset Creation and Management programme is the first course in a five-part course series called ‘Unity Certified 3D Artist Specialization’. This course series has been designed so that the candidates can easily prepare for the Unity Certified 3D Artist exam. This exam is a certification examination for entry-level and mid-level Unity artists. The course takes you through practical learning using implementation tasks in Unity to prepare you for the topics covered in the exam. 

Asset Creation and Management online course focuses mainly on practical training. You will practice several tasks with the Kitchen Configurator application, an application where you can create realistic renders of a kitchen. The skills you will learn include importing assets into a Unity project, tweaking the materials, and troubleshooting common issues with importing. Moreover, you will create and organise Prefabs such that they will work with the application’s code. 

Asset Creation and Management certification is offered by Unity. It is a four-week course that takes about seven hours to complete. You can either enrol for free or get certified with a paid subscription.

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4 Weeks
Intermediate
Free
Skills Covered:
Troubleshooting Animation skills Game designing skills
Basic 3D Modeling using Blender

Offered by

Certificate

Basic 3D Modeling using Blender

4 Weeks
Beginner
Free
Synfig

Offered by

Certificate

Synfig

Synfig Studio or Synfig is an open-source, 2D vector graphics software, supported by Windows OS, Linux, and Mac OSX. This timeline-based animation programme allows the user to create high-quality 2D animations without engaging many resources or people. The Online Course in Synfig will equip learners with the skills and methodologies to use this industrial-grade tool and create film-quality animations via bitmap artwork and vectors. 

The Synfig certification by Swayam will teach the candidates skills like how to transform a vector into animation and create animated graphics using over 50 layers like geometric, distortion, fractal, gradients, transformations, and filters. Besides, Synfig can also render video formats like MPEG, AVI, and Theora, and animated graphics formats, including GIF and MNG.

Additionally, the candidates who enrol for the Synfig certification by Swayam will get detailed instructions about how to download, install and run Synfig on their machine. Further, the course tutorials follow an audio-visual format to enhance retention, and the entire curriculum comprises 12 such videos. The candidates’ learning will be aided by practical work, regular practice, and assignments. Upon completion, enabling them to pursue employment in esteemed companies. 

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Skills Covered:
Animation skills

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