Best Adobe After Effects Courses

Technology’s power enables you to modify any aspect of a video post-production. You can edit backgrounds, add text animations, merge or split video streams, incorporate visual effects, adjust colors, animate still images, or apply countless effects to enhance visual appeal. While numerous software options handle one or several of these tasks, Adobe After Effects remains the premier choice for professional-quality editing. 

Widely utilized in the animation and graphics industry, After Effects is a powerful visual effects and motion graphics software developed by Adobe Systems. This robust platform excels at keying, motion tracking, compositing, and animation. While exploring the software’s basics independently is possible, a structured program will unlock After Effects’ full potential. Even after completing a course, you’ll discover additional features to master. 

Complex video editing and animation techniques require more than trial and error. The intricate technicalities are best mastered when industry professionals guide your learning. Below are some of the finest Adobe After Effects courses available online. 

After Effects CC 2020: Complete Course from Novice to Expert from Udemy

Created by Louay Zambarakji, this After Effects course ranks among Udemy’s highest-rated motion graphics and VFX offerings. With over 440 lectures, the program delivers on its promise—transforming novices into experts. Using a dynamic, hands-on methodology, you’ll master motion graphics creation, practice compositing, utilize Motion and Camera Tracking, and import and animate vector designs from Adobe Illustrator.  

No prior After Effects knowledge is required. Simply install the software on your computer and begin. This highly structured program accommodates all skill levels of graphic designers and animators. The learning platform enables direct instructor interaction for clarifying doubts. Enroll to unleash your creative potential!

After Effects for Beginners from Skillshare

Taught by Andrzej Pach, this course provides an excellent starting point for those questioning whether After Effects suits their needs. Pach begins with fundamentals and progressively increases complexity, covering animations, layering, precomposing, and matting. This five-hour class centers around hands-on projects that build practical experience. 

While more basic than other online offerings, this course serves a specific purpose—introducing complete newcomers to the field. Notably, Pach demonstrates cross-platform integration with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Best of all? The course is free with Skillshare membership.

After Effects – Motion Graphics & Data Visualization from Udemy

Another bestselling Udemy course, this motion graphics and data visualization program attracts around 15,000 students worldwide. Created by Daniel Walter Scott, this course targets professionals working with infographics.

In our data-driven world, presenting information creatively creates valuable opportunities. This course teaches you to transform Excel source files into compelling animations. Scott designed these lessons for beginners—no prior VFX or Adobe software experience required. As an Adobe certified instructor, Scott ensures exceptional course quality. 

Beginning After Effects CC from Pluralsight

Jeff Hurd’s course prepares you for industry demands. Since After Effects is the professional standard for animation and VFX, this Pluralsight offering equips you to create animated promotional videos. You’ll work with authentic industry animations while following an engaging narrative structure. 

Beginning with simple text and shape animations, this course teaches you to deconstruct complex animations into manageable components. No graphics experience necessary—beginners are welcome. 

After Effects CC 2018 Essential Training: Motion Graphics from LinkedIn Learning

After Effects possesses immense power that extends far beyond random experimentation and help menu browsing. Learning professional techniques from an industry veteran with years of 3D design experience offers invaluable advantages. 

3D motion designer Alan Demafiles assembled this comprehensive course to teach motion design techniques. The program provides step-by-step instruction from vector-based graphic paths through motion sketching, compositing, and rendering. This four-hour training session has attracted over 40,000 viewers, including established industry professionals.

After Effects Kickstart from the School of Motion

This School of Motion course recreates traditional classroom dynamics in a virtual environment, emphasizing instructor and peer interaction. Collaborative learning and peer review form essential program components. 

Living up to its “kickstart” name, this program delivers over 25 hours of video instruction covering everything from importing Photoshop or Illustrator graphics through Animation 101, multiple After Effects techniques, professional workflows, motion graphics history, and video rendering essentials.

You’ll learn from an industry leader. Nol Honig, the instructor, founded The Drawing Room production company and has created designs for Coca Cola, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Frame.io, and YouTube. 

Online Class on Adobe After Effects from Universal Class

Designed for beginners and intermediate users, this Universal Class course covers navigation through full-length animation projects and 3D work. The completely online format allows access from anywhere. Thirteen lessons span ten hours of video content available at your own pace, accessible 24/7 on Windows and Mac platforms. Assignments and exams track your progress, while completion earns professionals one CEU point for mandatory industry updates.

After Effects CC Master Class from Udemy

Phil Ebiner’s After Effects course boasts over 75,000 enrolled students—a testament to its effectiveness. A documentary filmmaker and editor teaching animation techniques since 2012, Ebiner’s master class transforms beginners into creative video makers from day one. 

With 26 hours of on-demand video, 12 articles, and 18 downloadable resources, this course develops seasoned animation artist thinking regardless of your starting experience level.

These courses demonstrate that VFX, animation, and motion graphics welcome everyone with passion, learning commitment, and dedication. These skills prove invaluable since presentation dominates today’s competitive landscape. Choose a course matching your specific needs while allowing sufficient time to complete the program and practice your newfound abilities.