Character Design Fundamentals
Imagine and illustrate animation-ready characters.
Learn the art and science of character design in this fun and jam-packed course. Learn shape language, the 80/20 rules of anatomy, how to use motifs, create appeal, and much more. You’ll learn dozens of drawing tips and hacks, plus get extremely comfortable using Procreate (though any drawing app will do).
Class Start Date:
May 6, 2024
July 8, 2024
July 8, 2024
Course Length:
Session Duration:
8+ hours
Instant Access! Start learning immediately.
100% Free! Start learning immediately.
This Course Bundle Includes:
8+ hours
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
What makes a Good Character Design?
Dive into the psychology behind great character design. Learn to hack your audience’s brain to create an emotional connection.
The Big 3 of Character Design
Shape Language, Anatomy, and Motif are all skills you’ll need to learn to have a solid foundation for your characters.
Illustration Techniques
Emma is a professional illustrator, and will share lots of her battle-tested tips and tricks for achieving better drawings.
Procreate Pro Tips
You can use any drawing app, but Emma will show you lots of great Procreate techniques to speed up your workflow.
Creating a Professional Model Sheet
Designing characters for animation comes with some extra requirements, and you’ll learn them in 2D and 3D varieties.
Navigating the Stylescape
Should you have a unique style? And if so, how does that work? You’ll go deep into the character design stylescape.
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
Emma Gillette
Professional Illustrator
Emma has a BFA in Animation but has always had a passion for illustration. She worked on her first children's book project soon after graduation and decided then that illustration was the perfect fit for her.
Inspired by nature, fantasy and the whimsy of childhood, Emma loves to do colorful illustrations for book covers, picture books and magazines. She's worked with brands like Disney, National Geographic and American Girl. She has deep experience with character design and visual development, and won a student Emmy for her student film. When she is not drawing, she loves reading, exploring mountain meadows and watching movies with her husband.
School of Motion alumni work at
companies like these
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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
April 1, 2024
Class Start Date:
May 6, 2024
July 8, 2024
July 8, 2024
Course Length:
Session Duration:
8+ hours
Instant-Access! Start learning immediately.
100% Free! Start learning immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Character Design Fundamentals is an instant access course. All lessons are immediately available to you. The lessons include pre-recorded videos, podcasts, PDFs and assignments with working files. You can binge all of the content at once, or take your time and watch it a little at a time. Once you enroll, you will be added to a private classroom with other students taking the course. This is a great tool for connecting, asking or answering questions and sharing thoughts or insights.
Yes! You’ll have lifetime access to all the course lessons and materials. Also, if we make any changes to Character Design Fundamentals, you’ll automatically receive access to the latest version.
The Character Design Fundamentals course is an instant access course. You'll have the flexibility to watch all the course content on your schedule. There are approximately 8 hours of video content in this course.
Nope! Emma teaches the class in Procreate, the most common drawing app on earth, but the material is completely software agnostic. You can use Adobe Fresco, Photoshop, or even plain old paper and pen!
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
April 1, 2024
Class Start Date:
May 6, 2024
July 8, 2024
July 8, 2024
Course Length:
Session Duration:
8+ hours
Instant-Access! Start learning immediately.
100% Free! Start learning immediately.