Animation School? Keeping motived? Your questions answered!

Do I need to go to animation school? Do I need to be able to draw? What's the deal with timing charts? How Do I stay motivated while I animate? You asked me some BIG animation questions and today I try to answer them.
Animation for Anyone is a free animation series where I try and share the basics of animation in a fun and easy to follow way. I hope you're enjoying the classes so far!
00:29 Who are you?
01:00 Do I need Animation School?
02:27 What Software and Brushes do you use?
02:52 Onion Skins or No Onion Skins
03:30 Surviving the Animation Industry
04:31 Timing Charts
05:42 Staying Motivated
07:15 Do I need to be able to draw?
08:01 Animation Doodle
Credits-
Made and Voiced by Alex Grigg
Music by Skillbard
Logo by Renaud Futterer
Additional Imagery--
Ben Hubbard
Lost and Found- Directed by Andrew Goldsmith and Bradley Slabe, Produced by Lucy J Hayes, animated by Sam Lewis

[@kyletwebster]

Alex, you have always been so generous with your time and knowledge. You’re a gift to the illustration and animation community!

[@AlexGriggAnimation]

Hey thanks Kyle:)

[@jasonbain6556]

I second this comment wholeheartedly

[@CurricularChasm]

@AlexGriggAnimation, I think that using the piskel program is good for young animators, such as me. for good, self learning and confidence in the animating arts. I'm 11 :)

[@dafunnimemeguy]

​@AlexGriggAnimation I think this is really important and it's something I have trouble with can you make a video about how to draw characters like yours pls😅

[@johnsullivan4108]

@@CurricularChasmSAME NO WAY

[@ProfessorQuinthanax]

Maybe worth noticing: It's true that you don't need to go to animation school to be an animator. However, if you want to make your own short films, a degree in animation can really help with finding fundings... specially as a beginner. In some countries it can make a huge difference.. But if you wanna learn animation, just with the right motivation and observation you can get really far!

[@Kitsu_Worm]

maybe it's too repetitive to say something like this. but really, because of you I'm now more confident with animation. like when I first came to learn about it. it's so busy with information like squash & stretch, exaggeration, Appeal from 12 Principles of animation. but when I know the 3 essentials from you: Pose, Timing, Spacing. it's really help a lot! and even add spicing up with Acceleration & Deceleration (like to call it more than Easing in & Easing out) it's make me have more fun with it without I'm getting too overwhelm. anyway. thanks a lots! and hope you released more of animation lesson to learn!

[@AlexGriggAnimation]

Ah that's so cool to hear! Thanks for letting me know:)

[@jessejayjones]

Love how inspiring and encouraging your videos are!! I'm sure they're going to bring many generations of new animators into the field! 🥰

[@symliadoo]

NO JOKE I wish I had classes like this when I was first learning! They carry such a healthy mindset of the craft and leave room for you having the opportunity to be fluid in the way you learn :)

[@zekoyt]

ok

[@tamilaben5801]

I would absolutely love to learn about stream of consciousness animation. I love your videos! You helped me improve my animation and fall back in love with the process of animating so thank you! I tend to overcomplicate things and end up feeling overwhelmed with the process, especially in personal work, so having little exercices to work on that require less of that dreadful planing is really nice.

[@AlexGriggAnimation]

I'm so glad!

[@erindrawsabit804]

On a 2 out of 3 year animation course and this video is probably more encouraging and helpful than my classes. I feel more motivated to create after watching this than I have after any of my recent lectures.

[@BobbyRossFilm]

Excellent! I'm a film DP who picked up animation at the tail end of the pandemic when work was really sparse. I've kept it up as a hobby and I can't wait to see more of your content- I love stuff that focuses more on the industry side of things/workflows with a team, since I'm starting to make an animation reel! Haha all that to say thanks for making this content, I'm so here for it and everything of yours I've binged I've taken something from!

[@BhaiyaPaintingTX]

Best wishes to you ✌🏼

[@estebanviteri6893]

I love how much care you put into every video. You don't have to make EVERY shot delicious, but you do, and that is so appreciated. Thank you for all your content!

[@TheblessedELK]

We love your videos and how transparent you are with everything! Thank you so much for all you do for the animation community, Alex!!!!

[@neilsanders2341]

THAT’S SOME DAMNED GOOD GRIGG ACTION RIGHT THERE!! I love the blobby brushwork, and the soothing sounds of that smooth vocal.

[@AlexGriggAnimation]

Thanks man! Can't wait for Loopdeloop to kickoff again :)

[@azza_weak]

Great video, thank you for the great work! This was the main channel that made me see animation techniques as less intimidating and try to study it. Got into an animation college with discount for this year, can't thank you enough for all the tips!!

[@AlexGriggAnimation]

So cool! Thanks for letting me know :)

[@lukeskywalker7878]

You’ve been such an inspiration over the years. I majored in film but telling live-action stories are impractical and costly. I have stories I want to tell and picked up animation when I saw your very first Photoshop animation tutorial. For the past year I’ve been working on a personal animated series. Thanks for everything! 😊

[@AlexGriggAnimation]

Wow that's so cool to hear! Indie storytelling is one of the main reasons I'm motivated to make this series :)

[@gatzyuploadsstuff2486]

As someone who is starting out in animation these tips were really helpful, thank you so much for making videos like this!!

[@theskepticalpangolininther3538]

Yea agreed!

[@auldgrey]

Hey Alex, I'm an illustrator/designer for whom animation has been a hobby (using Animation Desk by Kdan)for a few years (I did a semester of animation at art school in the 80s) and I'm stepping it up a level. I was happy to see that TVPaint is one of the apps you use, it's the one that had seemed most suited for how I like to work, and now I'm confident it'll be a worthwhile investment. I have to thank you for the manner and spirit of generosity in your tutorials series- your explanations are so clear and ably demonstrated and most of all encouraging and inspiring. Love your work and style btw! Thank you, man.

[@carltonnjenga6585]

Thank you for these animation videos. They are such a great resource to keep close by for reference. It's a treat to watch your process as well, thank you. Please make more of those freestyle animation doodles classes whenever you get time.

[@Neidrocas]

Your tutorials gave me a lot of motivation, the way you explain + your editing makes things very clear, just wanna say thank you!

[@cloudisaurus]

Thank you for this! You give some really unique advice and i'm really enjoy the production quality of these videos. I'm excited to try the stream-of-consciousness animation, that looks really cool! : )

[@M0rphoAnimation]

I just started watching your channel and I'm blown away by how much easier it is to learn and improve my skills with your tutorials!

[@SuperRamtin]

One thing I like about this channel is that it's not just for beginners, it's also enjoyable and helpful to watch for animators with experience! I love your style and work very much, man. It's so unique!

[@noemibarkoczi]

I remember discovering your short Phantom Limb many years ago. That was a massive inspiration for my thesis animation and seeing your tutorials (and lectures actually) is such a gift! thank you!

[@jsnmrry]

Thanks for sharing Alex! Love your work. I’ve been animating as a hobby for years, worked around and with a lot of animators and occasionally animate on the job, but have never worked in an animation studio. You share a lot of practical tips that are hard to pickup on your own, without being able to look over a more senior animator’s shoulder. Especially in this ever increasingly remote industry. So thank you!

[@Val11s]

Awesome video! I've been feeling super inspired by all your tutorials. Can't wait to see more!

[@carlasoriani924]

Thank you for taking the time and energy to share with the community your experience and opinion, your content it's super refreshing and much more real than 99.9% of the stuff that gets uploaded online, even if we just narrow down to design and animation content. What you are doing is amazing!

[@parallaxabomination]

thank you so much for your input! i love this series. its super easy to consume

[@mialavender6047]

I just wanted to say thank you for your work and time you put in these. I can't afford to get higher education in animation, and I've always felt like it's very complicated and I couldn't learn it on my own. Then I came across your videos and found them super helpful and I'm really inspired to try out everything you suggest. It's so great to have a skilled guide to something you're new at ❤

[@SOM_-sy6pv]

so happy to see you uploading a new tutorial, love your high quality content! please keep up your tutorials and do more of these! Thanks!

[@RamenSharkGames]

The information you have here is -AMAZING- I just wanted to add my voice to the pile and thank you for having these up. Been learning a lot!

[@TheBryancrochet]

woot! been watching the animation tuts scene in youtube for more than a decade. You have some of the best explained content with great examples and realistic expectations. A great set of building blocks!

[@Delcat42]

HOLY SHIT YOU'RE THE CAT PIANO GUY. When I was in college, I used a file converter to make that an .mp3 and I would listen to it on the bus, imagining the city. I've watched it dozens and dozens of times. So, uh. Wow, thank you? It's part of my soul. Holy shit.

[@Delcat42]

I have made more articulate replies in my time

[@budydubby2441]

oh! I love the animation doodles. I always hesitant when starting frame by frame animation because I don't have a clear goal, but this really gave me push to do without thinking too hard. Thanks for the video.

[@pascu635]

This is amazing, I`ve been struggling for years trying to learn on my own, finding a professional that makes this kind of things just to help and give advice is amazing! I hope I could get to the same point where I can share what I know with the rest! Thanks Alex!

[@guavajagular]

Your exercises were super helpful in getting me to keep up my animating, so thank you! With onion skinning, I use it a ton but my brain also has trouble parsing all the clutter at times so that's when flipping helps me.

[@marianacarvalhodemelo5433]

your videos are so nicely structured, thank you so much

[@stockmeat]

Thank you for your all the help. You rockk!

[@bacon8687]

Your videos are so helpful; after watching just one of them I improved so much, thank you!

[@apeeatape]

Thank you Alex! As usual an enormous amount of useful and uplifting stuff in such condensed format. And so well articulated too. Also I have a little tip for people who self study and get discouraged or having trouble choosing a project for themselves and finish it: What worked for me usually was making an assignment a birthday present for a friend. Upsides are that it has a deadline and a motivation of pleasing a friend. And most likely you will get positive reaction in the end. Following this formula I improved my 3d and compositing skills, assembled an interactive postcard game prototype and tried out countless art styles I wouldn't use in my work or personal stuff. Hope somebody find it helpful. Can't wait for more lessons!

[@AlexGriggAnimation]

Nice one. It sounds very similar to my recipe for personal projects: deadline and sharing it with people.

[@francisxavier1633]

You've motivated me to start learning animation, thank you for the amazing tutorials! 🙏

[@lasalb]

The content is priceless, but I genuinely love the characters. Simple yet don't lack anything. Thanks a million for these lessons.

[@4nnih6]

Oh! I use layer guides as well! Don't remember if I mentioned those in my own comment back then, but it's nice to know that these can be a good alternative when I'm the solo animator on something :D I picked up the habit to use them during my first visit in the local art school's animation department 13 or so years ago (the 2nd year students there showed me the different "tools" when using a traditional lightboard) and I've just kept it ever since, even though I picked a different school later and went on with art education instead. I definitely also feel more motivated and excited to keep trying with more experimental/state of the mind type animation after hearing all these answers. The stream of consiousness type of animation you show here in this video is really inspiring as well + it shows how much animation is often about the movement and flow of things and how animating doesn't always have to be something super complex - a reminder that I think is super useful for both beginners and experienced animators. Thanks so much for making this video, and answering all out questions! it was very nice to watch and listen to.

[@WenRakkoon]

Thank you for your videos!! Probably the most robust and captivating tutorials regarding animation and dipping one’s toes into the spicy depths of frameworking and animating 😂

[@AlexGriggAnimation]

Oh that's so nice of you to say :)

[@durangedindividuals129]

I’m new to learning animation. Thank you so much for your videos. They have helped a lot with just a few videos.

[@kohimo742]

I just found your account today and already I've watched all your videos. You're amazing, my gash. Really inspiring and encouraging. Your style, way you present things and your diction... its past all belief. Can't wait for the next lessons. Keep up the exxelent work and have an amazing day!

[@AlexGriggAnimation]

Hey thats so nice of you to say! Thanks :)

[@Killerboysketch]

Really appreciate for your hardwork and time to create a amazing video for us 😀

[@joyc629]

Very helpful tutorial. 🤗Thank you hard work! And I really want to learn the full class “animation Doodles”you mentioned at the end. I think it‘s very interesting to see the in this regard.😊

[@stayreal54]

Thank you for a very helpful video! When you said that you rarely use timing charts, it's very reassuring because me too. I always think myself being weird and not suitable for animation work since I don't like using chart, and instead I just work with the timeline! I'm just glad that I'm not alone haha

[@aguywhosbi7671]

i love this channel so much! thank you for making these great videos!

[@AlexGriggAnimation]

Hey you're welcome :)

[@samuelbailey8543]

I think this may be the best and most helpful video I've seen outside of tutorials and I've been a motion designer for 5 years. I would definitely pay for a course if you made one!

[@pow2394]

I found yours very helpful. I will always watch your videos every time you publish something new.

[@szamira7199]

your videos always give me chills ✨

[@TinyWarriorAnimations]

I have loved your videos since I found you, thank you for sharing more answers to these questions. I'm still learning and I rarely have anytime but one of these days when I have time , know that all the techniques I would have gotten from these and the Animators bible.

[@dplj4428]

6:35 process goals. Picking something specific but not huge mountains to climb.

[@homegarover5640]

It would be pretty epic if you made a full video on the animation doodles. 😊😊😊😊

[@coelhobugado]

my brother 😎

[@user-cj2ru2hm1t]

I do really admire the fact you make those. Cheers!

[@thatalchemistlady]

You are very cool. Animation is nowhere near my field of work, but I respect animators a lot (I also love watching a lot of animated shows/movies, so there's that). You explain things very well, too. It's interesting to hear about your experience and your tutorials!

[@patryk_lisejnik]

Thank you Alex, your videos are great!

[@grisha4167]

Thank you! Cool and inspiring

[@ofsen5588]

I love these and i would love to see more! keep up the good work

[@ZhyrenStudios]

This is exactly what I needed to here after working consecutively on my animation project

[@merlinmelon]

Love your color palette!

[@aztro.99]

another banger tbh, loved that animation at the end

[@yoiceflores1522]

Thank you Alex! Soy de Chile y tus videos me han ayudado mucho

[@dogtug_]

Hey, another Griffith Uni person! I'm currently studying animation there. I'm absolutely loving it.

[@kuichib]

wow! this channel may just have become a new favourite ♥

[@thetimturnershow2883]

I find it funny how Toniko Panjota has the same philosophy when it comes to using onion-skinning. It’s OK to use, but it’s better to flip through the images to see how the forms are changing or not. Edit: Toniko was brought up in the video anyway… lol

[@AlexGriggAnimation]

Yeh, until you start to use flipping regularly its hard to really understand how it could possibly be better. Plus it is a bit harder digitally than on paper

[@nandorocker]

Dude Alex so much ❤❤❤ for the content you’ve been making. I’m getting inspired to follow your steps on the UX side of things…

[@AlexGriggAnimation]

Hey nice one Nando! when i started making these classes i really wanted to use examples from UX but I got lazy :( Maybe we can collab sometime

[@marsmakesart]

I would LOVE to see a full class on the animation doodles/stream of consciousness animation. great video, cheers:)

[@ngockhanh466]

Hi Mr. Alex, I'mma study animation in Australia next month, hope I can learn a lot of stuff from someone like you and can keep the flame of enthusiasm in this field

[@jakeynoobs5388]

Thank you for your videos, have a good week!

[@Natalia-ty8qq]

Process goals, love that

[@NiceHyper01]

Awesome video! These classes are really helpful.

[@potatoshark72]

Heyy your back! Your videos have really helped but i haven't been able to update my other comment about your channel till i finish one more video tysm for these classes!

[@lazyfoxplays8503]

Holy shit. KZbin randomly recommended you a bit ago and I was like, seems cool. Didn’t realize I’ve seen your stuff before! Woah.

[@ronnykhalil]

Would LOVE a tut going deeper into your "animation doodle meditiations". Deeply grateful for these vids (and all your work)

[@jvazestudio]

Thanks for this video, really helped me, I'm going trough a kindda sketchy part of this season in muy life so some of the questions really resonated with me, it would be awesome if you do an in depth about that kinda meditation technique, cheers!

[@dianasofia6784]

This was really inspiring, helped me to not give up. Thank you!

[@andypatterson1209]

This is very informative and therefore proven to be accessible and useful for beginner animators such as myself 👌👍

[@noguichi]

Watched all your videos! Going to need more :)

[@leticiajn]

You have an amazing way of teaching, all videos are great!

[@samueljamespillar]

Again, thanks Alex! Also, I definitely CANNOT draw and yet I am an animator... I feel like especially in Cel animation you can get away with a lot as long as the motion works.

[@glennthomasstudio]

amazing as always Alex

[@AltKaxREAL]

0:49 WAIT THIS CARTOON NETWORK BUMPER WAS YOURS?!? holy heck! it's amazing my guy

[@AlexGriggAnimation]

Hey thanks! I made the first section. Still one of my favourite jobs ever :)

[@vertibrateanimal]

ur class is like medtation exercise its neede and its relaxing .........fan of your work from guide to meditation............

[@amsalik]

outstanding... thanks😊

[@Aloaceae]

Thank you for your videos❤

[@beatrizcosta3243]

I want the animation doodles class! :)))) thank you for this video!

[@OreoO0O]

Perfect video in a perfect time Hopping you keep up that excellent tutorials ❣️

[@Smart_Kyle]

Great as usual Alex :)

[@pitou492]

Babe, wake up, new Alex Grigg video just dropped

[@RodrigoP3ssoal]

As an animator I just wanted to say - You're awesome man =)

[@dedfish7495]

Ty for the classes

[@w0mblemania]

Please do an expanded video on goal-setting, how to keep motivated, how to break down work in to chunks. Thank you.

[@pablowauis8411]

Seus vídeos são tão contemplativos e motivadores. Prendem de verdade minha atenção. Obrigado

[@lawrencelee8289]

thank you!

[@delfinal7560]

This is incredible

[@tiltoons3790]

U actually helped me a lot dude tnx a lot❤

[@apopheme2732]

I'd love to see a complete video on the subject of "Doodles animations"! :)

[@slca]

Thanks ❤

[@obibongkenobee]

like many others, these videos have been a great help! i was a bit stuck at first, and this series has helped reinvigorate me to keep trying and experimenting! thanks so much alex!!

[@tulun112]

Thank you