Animation & VFX Certificate

Build motion graphics and VFX skills in After Effects. Graduate with a demo reel that shows real range, craft, and technical skill.

Adobe After Effects

11 Weeks

Live Online

$6,995

SOC 27-1014

What You'll Learn

Motion Design & VFX From the Ground Up

Motion graphics and VFX are in demand across film, TV, advertising, gaming, and digital content. This program teaches you to build them in After Effects — the industry standard for motion design and compositing.

After Effects fundamentals: keyframes, composition, Graph Editor
Motion graphics: animated titles, lower thirds, transitions, loops
Visual effects: masking, rotoscoping, tracking, and keying
Character animation and rigging principles
3D space in After Effects: cameras, lights, and depth
Compositing live footage with motion graphics and VFX
Cinema 4D Lite and 3D integration basics
AI-assisted motion design and generation tools

Program Details

Duration	11 weeks
Software	Adobe After Effects (included)
Format	Live online, 2x/week
Tuition	$6,995
SOC Code	27-1014

Join the Waitlist

Payment plans available. See FAQ

Curriculum

11-Week Schedule

Week	Topic	Key Skills
1	After Effects Basics + Motion Design Intro	Interface, composition settings, keyframes, basic transforms, Graph Editor intro
2	Keyframe Animation & Easing Mastery	Easing curves, anticipation, overshoot, animation principles, bounces and springs
3	Typography in Motion	Animated titles, kinetic type, text animators, logo reveals, lower thirds
4	Masks, Shapes & VFX Fundamentals	Shape layers, mask paths, track mattes, masking techniques, intro to VFX workflow
5	Tracking & Stabilization	Point tracking, planar tracking, stabilization, motion data transfer, camera shake removal
6	Green Screen, Keying & Compositing	Keylight, edge refinement, color matching, compositing live footage with CG elements
7	3D Space: Cameras, Lights & Depth	3D layers, camera rigs, depth of field, lighting setups, parallax and environment design
8	Character Animation & Rigging	Puppet tool, DUIK rigging basics, walk cycles, lip sync, 2D character animation pipeline
9	AI Motion Tools	AI-assisted generation, Runway, Adobe Firefly video, prompt-to-animation integration
10	Advanced Compositing & Finishing	Multi-pass compositing, color grading in AE, render settings, output for delivery
11	Final Project: Demo Reel Production	Capstone short piece, reel assembly, breakdown document, portfolio presentation

Career Outcomes

What You Can Do With This Certificate

Job Titles

Motion Graphics Designer
VFX Artist
Compositor
Animator
Broadcast Designer
Freelance Motion Designer

$99,060

National median annual salary for Special Effects Artists & Animators (BLS, SOC 27-1014, May 2024). Los Angeles commands some of the highest rates in the country.

Industries Hiring

Film & television production
Advertising agencies
Game studios
Streaming platforms
Broadcast news
Social media brands