After Effects Kickstart
Learn After Effects in 8 weeks
Dive into the fundamentals of motion design with our most popular (and recently updated) After Effects course. After Effects Kickstart is your secret weapon to dominate the world of animation. You'll plunge head first into the world’s most popular animation software, crafting dynamic visuals from day one. By the conclusion, you’ll be comfortable creating—and showcasing—your own AE creations.
Class Start Date:
November 6, 2023
January 8, 2024
January 8, 2024
Course Length:
Session Duration:
8 Weeks
Instant Access! Start learning immediately.
100% Free! Start learning immediately.
This Course Bundle Includes:
8 Weeks
of video lessons,
guides, and access to our 24/7 motion community
podcasts, guides, and support
from our amazing team!
guides, and access to our
24/7 motion community!
podcasts, guides, and access to
our 24/7 motion community!
podcasts, guides, community
and critique from pros!
WEEK 1
Orientation Week
Meet your classmates, get comfy with the course format, and then we’re getting to work. Nol will guide you step-by-step through your first animation in After Effects, helping you learn and master the basics.
The First Keyframe
Get totally familiar with the After Effects interface, and learn the fundamentals of keyframing, timing, and animating basic properties. The AE timeline will no longer be a mystery to you.
Typography and Audio
As this After Effects course continues, you’ll learn how to create and animate type, as well as animate and sync up your movements to audio. Ever wanted to create a lyric video? Now’s your chance.
Working with Artwork
This week we’re bringing in Photoshop and Illustrator. You'll learn to plan more complex animation, bring your PS and AI artwork to life, understand and use masks, perform color correction, and gain a basic understanding of effects.
Make Sweet Movement
Now that you know the basics of animating, you’ll learn more advanced animation and After Effects concepts that will take your work from beginner to pro. The graph editor makes an appearance here.
The Motion Design World
Explore the world and opportunities of motion design. You’ll get tips on project organization, streamlining your workflow, and improving your productivity in After Effects.
Shape Layers, Mattes, and More
Dive into the world of Shape Layers. Create artwork in AE using Shape Layers, Strokes, the Pen Tool and more. Use Track and Alpha Mattes, and explore different types of keyframes and motion paths.
Good Parenting Tips
You’ll master the After Effects parenting system, allowing you to create more complex rigs and movement. In addition, you’ll begin learning about the powerful expressions engine.
From A to B
Learn how to approach and execute eye-popping transitions in your work. As your animations get more complex, you’ll need to follow best practices to stay organized.
Putting it all Together
Watch and learn as Nol shows you exactly what it takes to animate a professional piece. Then, you’ll have your own opportunity to animate beautiful artwork.
Extended Critique Period
The final 3 weeks of class are Extended Critique. You can use this time to catch up, complete your final project, and then turn it in for critique and praise.
Learn the secrets of high-end work
Better than in-person training
School of Motion instant-access courses are unlike anything you've ever experienced. Along with world-class training, you'll also get access to tons of professional project files and a 24/7 network of likeminded artists, and more support than you'll know what to do with.
Over 20,000 artists have taken School of Motion courses, find out what all the hype is about.
School of Motion courses are unlike anything you've ever experienced. Along with world-class training, you'll also get 1-on-1 feedback from an industry pro, a 24/7 network of likeminded artists, and more support than you'll know what to do with.
Over 20,000 artists have taken School of Motion courses, find out what all the hype is about.
This instant-access course features
Exercises and project files for every lesson
Each course comes packed with free project files, assets, and additional material to keep you learning and growing long after the course ends. Our exercises are designed from real world briefs, so you’re learning the skills you need to excel on your next project or venture.
Permanent access to course materials
We all need a refresher now and again, which is why you’ll keep access to your course—and all the assets and project files—for the rest of your life. Come back to listen to exclusive interviews, review old lessons, and try out new techniques using your old assets.
Support from the School of Motion team
Reach out to our incredible support team at any time to answer questions about the material, or to help you find the best way to achieve your career goals. We are here to help.
This instant-access course features
Exercises and project files for every lesson
Each course comes packed with free project files, assets, and additional material to keep you learning and growing long after the course ends. Our exercises are designed from real world briefs, so you’re learning the skills you need to excel on your next project or venture.
Real-world examples and video training
We go above and beyond when producing our courses, making sure that the curriculum is presented in the right order, with the right examples, and using the best practices currently used in the industry. In short, you're learning to do things the way they're done in the real world.
Permanent access to course materials
We all need a refresher now and again, which is why you’ll keep access to your course—and all the assets and project files—for the rest of your life. Come back to listen to exclusive interviews, review old lessons, and try out new techniques using your old assets.
A world-wide artist community
You’ll gain instant access to our 24/7 motion design community, The Square. Here you can network with professional artists at every stage of their career. You’ll get to meet new friends, ask for help, and build your network.
This instant-access course features
Exercises and project files for every lesson
Each course comes packed with free project files, assets, and additional material to keep you learning and growing long after the course ends. Our exercises are designed from real world briefs, so you’re learning the skills you need to excel on your next project or venture.
Real-world examples and video training
We go above and beyond when producing our courses, making sure that the curriculum is presented in the right order, with the right examples, and using the best practices currently used in the industry. In short, you're learning to do things the way they're done in the real world.
Permanent access to course materials
We all need a refresher now and again, which is why you’ll keep access to your course—and all the assets and project files—for the rest of your life. Come back to listen to exclusive interviews, review old lessons, and try out new techniques using your old assets.
A world-wide artist community
You’ll gain instant access to our 24/7 motion design community, The Square. Here you can network with professional artists at every stage of their career. You’ll get to meet new friends, ask for help, and build your network.
What makes us different?
Cohort-Based Learning
Join artists from around the world on our custom learning platform. Never learn alone, as you’ll have immediate access to a forum of fellow students to share work, ask questions, and improve together.
Exercises and project files for every lesson
Each course comes packed with free project files, assets, and additional material to keep you learning and growing long after the course ends. Our exercises are designed from real world briefs, so you’re learning the skills you need to excel on your next project or venture.
Technical and creative support along the way
You’ll be assigned a Teaching Assistant with years of experience in your chosen course. They’ll provide technical and creative feedback to guide you through new skills, improve your techniques, and provide encouragement along your journey.
Verified credential upon course completion
Completing a course isn’t just about bragging rights. Once you’ve completed at least 70% of your work in a given course, you’ll earn a verified credential that can show current and future employers exactly what you’ve accomplished.
Permanent access to course materials
We all need a refresher now and again, which is why you’ll keep access to your course—and all the assets and project files—for the rest of your life. Come back to listen to exclusive interviews, review old lessons, and try out new techniques using your old assets.
A world-wide alumni community
You’ll gain instant access to our alumni platform, The Square. Here you can network with professional artists at every stage of their career. You’ll get access to new job opportunities and exclusive alumni events, such as meetups, virtual hangouts and reel reviews.
Meet your instructor
Nol Honig
Director, Animator & Educator
Nol is an award-winning director and teacher who lives in New York City. In 2012 he was a lead animator for Barack Obama's presidential campaign. Since founding The Drawing Room in 2013, he has directed work for Netflix, Coca Cola, The History Channel, and The Philadelphia Museum of Art, among others, and served as design/animation lead for various clients including The New York Times, NBC Universal, and The Sundance Film Festival.
As a freelancer, he has worked at some of the best studios in the world including Elastic, Golden Wolf, Pentagram, Buck, and Block&Tackle. In 2017 he received a Distinguished Teaching Award for his work as an associate professor of motion graphics at Parsons School of Design, where he taught from 2001 until 2019. In 2022 he won a Silver Cube at the ADC Awards for his role as a director of the opening title sequence for the documentary series The Andy Warhol Diaries on Netflix.
School of Motion alumni work at
companies like these
.svg){kind=logo}
Our no-risk money back policy
We want to make sure you have a positive learning experience with us, so for any session based course you're enrolled in, you can request a refund any time within 30 days of purchase.
We want to make sure you have a positive learning experience with us, so for any session based course you're enrolled in, you can request a refund up until the end of Week 3 of the course
Registration Opens
December 30, 2023
Class Start Date:
November 6, 2023
January 8, 2024
January 8, 2024
Course Length:
Session Duration:
8 Weeks
Instant-Access! Start learning immediately.
100% Free! Start learning immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
After Effects Kickstart is an After Effects course for the true beginner. You could be brand new to the tool, or someone who is self taught but doesn't feel confident using the software. After Effects Kickstart will take you from the first keyframe to having all of the foundational knowledge that you will need to advance to the next level.
You'll learn about:
- Animating type
- Working with both Photoshop and Illustrator artwork in After Effects
- Basic parenting Shape layers in After Effects
- Using different effects
- Basic animation principles
- Different keyframe types
There are no prerequisites for this After Effects course. The only thing you need to take this class is a desire to learn After Effects and an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription. We’ll take you from your first keyframes to your first completed motion design piece.
After Effects Kickstart is an 8-week course. You'll have the flexibility to watch the course content and complete your course work on your schedule. However, you can expect to commit at least 15 - 20 hours per week on course material. The video lesson are 1-2 hours in length. There are 8 assignments total. Assignments are typically assigned on Mondays and Thursdays with soft deadlines the next day. We have designated catch-up weeks built into the schedule so students have extra time to complete their assignments if needed. There is also an extended critique add-on for those that want more time with a Teaching Assistant after the 8-week course or need more time to complete assignments towards earning a credential.
Yes! Once you complete After Effects Kickstart, you’ll have lifetime access to all the course lessons and materials, so you can revisit them whenever you like. Also, if we make any changes to After Effects Kickstart following your session, you’ll automatically receive access to the latest version.
Please note: Video critiques change each session, so you’ll only have access to the video critiques during the session you're enrolled in. The written critiques you receive in your homework locker as well as the classroom content will also remain available to you forever!
The minimum software requirements are:
- Adobe After Effects CC 2023 (23.0 or Higher)
- To access other students' project files you will likely need the most current version of After Effects.
After Effects Kickstart is an 8-week course. Lessons become available at a specific time each week but you can watch them and do your work whenever it is convenient for you. The lessons include pre-recorded videos, podcasts, PDFs and assignments with working files.
All student work is critiqued by our highly trained Teaching Assistants. School of Motion TA's are professional animators with real life experience in the industry. During the course you will be invited to a private classroom that contains all of the students and Teaching Assistants in your session. This is a great tool for connecting, asking or answering questions, sharing thoughts or insights, and winning cool contests!
Yes, if you complete, submit, and have 70% of your course assignments approved by your Teaching Assistant you will be eligible for a Course Credential through Credly. With your Credly Course Credential, you can share your accomplishments across your social networks, add to the blockchain, or print it out yourself.
You will not recognize your work when class is over.
Our courses have been meticulously designed to simulate real-world situations so that you're learning best-practices from day one. You'll be challenged, supported, and celebrated by your fellow artists as you level-up in real-time.
Are you ready to take the next step in your career?
Registration Opens
December 30, 2023
Class Start Date:
November 6, 2023
January 8, 2024
January 8, 2024
Course Length:
Session Duration:
8 Weeks
Instant-Access! Start learning immediately.
100% Free! Start learning immediately.