How to Learn Animation the Right Way (and Avoid Common Beginner Mistakes)

So, you’ve decided you want to become an animator. You’ve always loved animated movies and shows, and now you’re ready to create your own stories. That’s an exciting decision—but if you’re like most beginners, you’re probably wondering: Where do I even start?

The truth is, animation is both an art and a skill. It’s creative, technical, and deeply rewarding—but it can also be overwhelming if you don’t start in the right order. Many beginners jump from random tutorials to different software without a clear plan, and that often leads to frustration and burnout.

If you want to build a solid foundation and start your journey the right way, here are the steps I recommend following.

1. Avoid YouTube Tutorials (At First!)

YouTube can be a double-edged sword for beginners. While it’s full of helpful videos, it’s also full of too many videos—many of which assume you already know the basics.

When you’re starting out, that can be confusing and discouraging. One video might tell you to do something one way, another might completely contradict it. Without a strong foundation, you’ll spend more time trying to figure out who’s right than actually learning animation.

That’s why I always suggest avoiding YouTube in the very beginning. Instead, start with structured learning—something that takes you step-by-step from beginner to confident animator. Once you understand the basics, YouTube becomes a powerful tool for learning specific techniques, solving small problems, or discovering new styles. But at the start, it can easily become a distraction.

2. Learn the Fundamentals of Animation

Before you even open any animation software, you need to learn the fundamentals of animation. This is where your journey truly begins.

Animation has its own “language”—terms like keyframes, timing, anticipation, IK and FK, and arcs. If you don’t understand what these mean, then even the best tutorials or courses won’t make much sense.

Think of it like learning music. You can’t play songs if you don’t understand rhythm, notes, and scales. The same is true for animation. The fundamentals form the backbone of everything you’ll create, whether it’s a bouncing ball, a dialogue scene, or a full 3D movie.

3. Learn the Software

Once you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to choose your animation software. There are many great options out there—iClone, Blender, Toon Boom, OpenToonz, and Adobe Animate, to name a few.

When you’re learning a new tool, I recommend taking an online course rather than relying on random videos. Courses are structured, streamlined, and designed to take you from beginner to capable user in the shortest time possible. Platforms like Bloop Animation and 2D Animation 101 offer fantastic beginner-friendly training that’s both affordable and easy to follow.

The goal here isn’t to master the software immediately—it’s to get comfortable. Learn how to move your character, set keyframes, adjust timing, and navigate the interface. Once you can do that, the fun really begins.

4. Start Your First Project

Now comes the exciting part—creating your first animation project!

It doesn’t need to be a masterpiece. In fact, it shouldn’t be. Start small—maybe a 30-second clip or a short 2-minute scene. The goal here isn’t perfection, but practice.

Working on your own project will teach you things no tutorial ever could. You’ll learn how to manage shots, create transitions, and troubleshoot when things go wrong (because they will, and that’s okay!). This is also the perfect time to return to YouTube if you need help with something specific—like how to make your character walk or how to adjust lighting.

Your first project also acts as your first benchmark. When you finish it, you’ll clearly see where you need to improve, and that’s a great thing. Each project you complete becomes a stepping stone to the next level of your skill.

5. Practice, Practice, Practice

Animation is just like playing an instrument or learning a sport—the more you practice, the better you become.

Make it a habit to do small exercises regularly. Animate a bouncing ball, create a walk cycle, or make a simple character blink or wave. These short exercises might seem repetitive, but they’re incredibly valuable. They build muscle memory, sharpen your eye for detail, and strengthen your understanding of timing and motion.

Over time, you’ll start to notice that everything feels more natural—your characters will move more fluidly, your timing will improve, and your confidence will grow.

6. Get a Coach

While courses and tutorials are great, nothing compares to having a coach. A coach can guide you, answer your questions, and keep you motivated when things get tough. They provide structure, accountability, and clarity — all things that can fast-track your progress.

If you’re serious about starting your animation journey, I invite you to join my 5-Day Animation Training Camp, where I’ll personally teach you the basics of animation using iClone. By the end of the 5 days, you’ll have created your very first short animation scene — something you can be proud of!

The camp includes live group coaching sessions, so you can ask questions in real-time, get feedback, and learn alongside other passionate beginners. And once the camp ends, you can choose to continue your journey with me as your personal animation coach — so you’re never stuck wondering what to do next.

Final Thoughts

Learning animation takes time, patience, and persistence. But when you start with a solid plan—avoiding confusion, focusing on the fundamentals, learning your software properly, and practicing consistently—you’ll make progress faster than you ever imagined.

Remember: every professional animator started exactly where you are right now. The difference between where you are and where they are is simply time, practice, and consistency.

So don’t get stuck in endless tutorials or wait for the perfect moment to begin. Start animating today. Each small step brings you closer to seeing your stories come to life.