Course Overview

In this Workshop, award-winning director and founder of Holdframe, Joe Donaldson, talks about the series he created for The New Yorker. We discuss everything from the project’s conceptual development and process, all the way down to the production techniques used in each film. This Workshop offers a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse at what went into creating each of these films on seminal figures: Leonard Cohen, Janelle Monáe, and David Attenborough. Focusing specifically on what decisions were made, why, and what it was like producing 3, nearly 3-minute films, in just 15-weeks.

You Get:

3+ Hours of video content

Exclusive behind the scenes and interviews

Downloadable project files to follow along

Lifetime access to course content

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Course syllabus.

The importance of process
In this chapter we take a look at how important process is to creating long-form animated content, how to organize your thoughts, and how to present work to the client.
Turning words into pictures
In this chapter we explore how to develop mere words into a rich visual narrative. Most importantly, we look at how to start small and systematically build and develop your ideas.
Setting the tone and art direction
What should it look like, and why? In this chapter, we examine these age-old questions and try to better understand Joe’s process for finding the right solution.
Project organization and process
Regardless of style, managing 2+ minutes of animated content is no laughing matter. In this chapter, we take a look at how this project was organized, what worked, and what didn’t.
The art of economic animation
Sometimes animation is fun, sometimes it’s about survival. In this chapter, we discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly. How can you be uncompromising in your ideas, but still make them manageable?
Not making the same mistake twice
Now it's time to go full circle and take a peek at one of Joe’s early “mistakes,” what was learned, how that informed his process, and how this was applied for the last film in the series.
Extended Critique Period
The finalweeks of class are Extended Critique. You can use this time to catch up, complete your final project, then turn it in for critique.
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Meet your instructor.

Joe Donaldson
Creative director

Joe Donaldson has worn many hats from intern all the way through internationally represented director. In present day he splits his time between developing Holdframe, working at Buck, and teaching. And of course, running...

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Leigh Williamson
Illustrator & Animator
I have the position I have because of Animation Bootcamp.
In all honesty, I now have the position I have in the industry because of Animation Bootcamp and because of everything that I got out of School of Motion. Truly, I could not recommend SoM and this course enough.
Alyssa Coburn
Assistant Director of Content Strategy
One of the most rewarding, most amazing courses that I've ever experienced.
Let me just tell you, man, Animation Bootcamp is the best. One of the most rewarding, most amazing courses that I've ever experienced. I just loved the one-on-one coaching that you get and the the community aspect of it.
Jeffrey Ordillo
Sr. Motion Graphics Production Artist
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I don't have the right words to explain how valuable School of Motion was for me. I went in skeptical because I took courses on other platforms and felt like I got little to nothing out of them. SOM was completely different. The aspect of community was there, the Teaching Assistant was extremely helpful and a sense of accountability was there, and most importantly the content and quality of the actual teaching was there.
Mike Kittredge
Creative Director, Design Team Lead
It really built my confidence.
I took Cinema 4D Basecamp and it really built my confidence. Now, I'm on my fourth 3D product animation for a professional client. I'm also the Director of Motion Graphics at a design firm. I can't say enough good things about it!
Jared Schafer
Director of Motion Graphics
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I recently started my dream job and I would have 100% never gotten here without taking the School of Motion courses that I did.
Ben-Soto
Motion Designer
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Olamide Rowland
Motion Designer
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I'm just super thankful that School of Motion was right there to give me jam-packed lessons in a short amount of time with mentors and guides to help me along the way and it really laid the foundation of my career. I highly recommend it as an alternative to a traditional art school.
Antoinie Eugene
Motion Designer
Great community support, great teachers and great lessons.
C4D Basecamp, like all School of Motion courses it had great community support, great teachers and great lessons and projects. It goes beyond just learning the tools and goes into 3D, designing, and animating.
Margaret Cumming
Director of Design
I enrolled in the course and my head exploded.
School of Motion's Animation Bootcamp is a game changer. Before that, I learned After Effects through YouTube tutorials, but I noticed that there was something missing from my work (and I didn't know what it was). A friend told me about School of Motion. I enrolled in the course and my head exploded.
Nate Riggs
Creative Content Producer
I learned so much, so quickly.
Wow, this really changed things for me. I learned so much, so quickly. In fact, I learned all the things I didn't know that I didn't know. It was really good fun.
Bill Dunsmuir
Suddenly, my animation had that "wow factor".
It all came together to create an unbeatable learning experience. Animation Bootcamp took me from good to great. The techniques I learned, the principles I mastered...they all massively improved my work. Suddenly, my animation had that "wow factor". Whether you are just beginning or a seasoned pro, School of Motion has something transformative to offer.
Nicolae Ciobota
Editor and Motion Graphics
Reignited my passion for animation
School of Motion courses quickly reignited my passion for animation and helped me launch my career in an exciting new direction.
Deanna Reilly
Animator & Illustrator
It took me from 0 to 1000.
Animation Bootcamp is one of the best classes I've ever taken. It didn't just take me from like 0 to 10 — or even 0 to 100. It took me from 0 to 1000 in terms of getting the animation skills I needed to boost my career. It got me using motion design in all of my projects.
Sherene Strausberg
Motion Designer
I really got invested and it took me to the next level.
Animation Bootcamp was the beginning of my motion design career. I really got invested and it took me to the next level. A lot of the lessons pushed me in terms of what I was comfortable making in After Effects.
Isaac Sommers
Motion Designer / Animator
Animation bootcamp changed my life.
This is not hyperbole... Animation Bootcamp changed my life. I now understood curves and how the graph and speed editors actually worked. I saw the value of shape layers instead of just using solids with masks. It totally changed the way I approached projects moving forward.
Zach Christy
Designer + Animator
It completely changed everything for me.
I've been doing motion graphics and video editing for 20+ years. I took this course six years ago and it completely changed everything for me. I'm faster, I'm efficient, and I'm able to teach it to other people. That, and everything looks better!
Seth Hodel
Lead Video Editor
I landed a great job.
I'm a full-time motion graphics artist, in no small part because of Animation Bootcamp by School of Motion. I took the bootcamp in 2018 and landed a great job just months after.
Kate Collazo
Design and Animation Consultant
I learned a bucket load.
The course was amazing. The teachers were fantastic, always available. The community that I was able to connect with was insane because everyone was helpful and the feedback was great. I learned a bucket load of stuff about animation.
Ross Symons
Founder & Creative Director
The best learning experience I've ever had.
If anyone asks me "What's the best online course on the planet?", I'd say Animation Bootcamp. It's been the best learning experience I've ever had. One thing that really differentiates Animation Bootcamp from other online animation courses is critique...I loved it.
Meng Hsueh Lin
2D Animator
I switched from graphic design to motion graphics.
I've tried courses from other providers, but this was one of the most structured when it comes to learning After Effects and animation. It took me to a point where I switched from being a graphic designer to completely going into motion graphics.
Kash Bhatia
Motion Designer
School of Motion literally changed my life.
I'm a full time freelancer and I'm having to turn down work because I'm so busy! School of Motion literally changed my life.
Chip Nash
Motion Designer & Animator
It completely changed everything for me.
I've been doing motion graphics and video editing for 20+ years. I took this course six years ago and it completely changed everything for me. I'm faster, I'm efficient, and I'm able to teach it to other people. That, and everything looks better!
Jason Mileto
Lead Video Editor

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Crafting visual essays
Start date
May 6, 2024
August 5, 2024
July 8, 2024
July 8, 2024
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