Animation is a diverse art with a variety of factors and styles. From vector graphics to 2D and 3D animation, there is a lot that goes into any animation technique.
Outside of developing these skills, the most important thing about animation is the software you choose to use and how you use it. Adobe Animate is easy to understand and has a variety of tools making it good for any level of animator.
About Adobe Animate
Adobe Animate is a computer animation software developed by the renowned company Adobe. It has a variety of uses for both vector graphics and animation, making its tools useful for a lot of processes including television, websites, games, and many other interactive projects.
| Features | Description |
| System Requirements | Adobe Animate is available on both Windows and macOS, however, each has a specific set of minimum requirements so that the software can run properly. Windows requires version 10 or up. MacOS must be version 10.15 or higher. |
| Date Released | The original release date for Adobe Animate, named FutureSplash Animator at the time, was May 1996. |
| Last Update | The latest update for Adobe Animator was version 23.0.1 released in January 2023. |
| Rating | Adobe Animator has 4 out of 5 stars on TechRadar |
| Uses | Adobe Animator supports a large variety of different animations and is primarily used for 2D digital animation to create vector animations. You can create many things from motion graphics to different visual effects. |
| Cost | There are four different options for pricing on the Adobe Animate App. The Adobe Animate Single App is $20.99 a month and comes with just Adobe Animate. There is also the Creative Cloud All Apps, costing $54.99 per month and coming with over 20 different apps included. The student and teacher plan of the package deal costs only $19.99 per month. The business plan for only Adobe Animate comes in at $35.99 per month with exclusive business features added. |
2D Character Animation: Create Movement in Adobe Animate
- How Many Videos: 8 lessons
- How Long: 51 minutes
- Level: Beginner
This course on Skillshare by Toniko Pantoja is a specific class to help you learn how to make your characters come alive on screen. In this beginner-level course, you will learn how to add life to your character with movement, color, and emotions.
Some general understanding of how Adobe Animate and animation work will be helpful going into this course but are not required to get you started.
Get Started with Adobe Animate
- How Many Videos: 10 videos
- How Long: 43 minutes
- Level: Beginner
This playlist on YouTube by Adobe Creative Cloud is an official beginner tutorial made by the company. This short playlist will help ensure you are prepared to start your journey into using the system by covering the basics tools.
In this playlist, you will learn not only more about this system but also more about basic animation in general.
Moving Illustrations: Creating Morphs with Adobe Animate
- How Many Videos: 13 lessons
- How Long: 1 hour and 3 minutes
- Level: Intermediate
This course by Hannah Lau-Walker on Skillshare provides a new challenge for those with some experience using Adobe Animate and with more experienced animation skills.
It will walk you through step by step the process of preparing and creating moving illustrations in your animation project.
Learn to Animate: Classical 2D Animation for Beginners
- How Many Videos: 16 lectures
- How Long: 1 hour and 24 minutes
- Level: Beginner
This course by Siobhan Twomey on Udemy is a beginner course to cover all the basics of what is possible on Adobe Animate. You will learn many animation principles to help you be able to animate everything, including pictures, text, and eventually your characters.
Not only is this course perfect for those just starting out using Adobe Animate, but it is also the perfect course for those who have never animated at all.
Adobe Animate Essentials: 2D Animation Fundamentals
- How Many Videos: 8 lessons
- How Long: 50 minutes
- Level: Beginner
This course by Toniko Pantoja on Skillshare is a perfect introduction to animation. Any artist who wants to pick up animation must start somewhere and this course, using Adobe Animate, is perfect just for that.
As you start learning about animation, you will also be familiarizing yourself with the software as you go. In this course, you will learn all the basic animation principles while discovering your style.
Adobe Animate CC by Devon Kong
- How Many Videos: 27 videos
- How Long: 3 hours
- Level: All levels
This playlist on YouTube by Devon Kang is great for all levels of Adobe Animate users. Created by an art YouTuber who uses Adobe Art for his animations, this playlist has a variety of content.
It starts with the fundamentals such as learning the drawing tools and navigating the app. Then, as the playlist progresses, more detailed videos help to develop an animator's skills to a more advanced level.
Adobe Animate CC Masterclass: HTML5 Banner Ads and Animation
- How Many Videos: 52 lessons
- How Long: 4 hours and 46 minutes
- Level: Beginner
This masterclass by Mehmet Emin Aykurt on Skillshare is geared toward those looking to develop specific animation skills using Adobe Animate. These particular animation skills are meant for those looking to publish cartoons and HTML5 banner ads.
Adobe Animate CC by TipTut
- How Many Videos: 44 videos
- How Long: 19 hours and 36 minutes
- Level: All levels
This playlist on YouTube by TipTut has a variety of Adobe Animate tutorials and content designed to help every level in many different styles. This playlist will teach you the basics of Adobe Animate while delving into more advanced skills in other videos.
It covers various versions of Adobe Animate so you can watch the progression of the app and its abilities. It will help you with everything from texture to movement to character building. Animation techniques outside of Adobe Animate can be learned via this playlist.
2D Animation For Beginners With Adobe Animate
- How Many Videos: 12 lessons
- How Long: 1 hour and 14 minutes
- Level: Beginner
This course by Waly Wonderwolk is designed for beginners to familiarize themselves with Adobe Animate, but also to develop specific skills in developing 2D animated videos and GIFs.
Demonstrations and hands-on class projects allow for the student to learn in various ways about the content including how to use the layering tools, create movement, make realistic animations, add sounds, and transfer files around.
Complete Adobe Animate Megacourse: Beginner to Expert
- How Many Videos: 22 lectures
- How Long: 10 hours and 44 minutes
- Level: All levels
This large course by Creativity Unleashed on Udemy is meant for all levels and is a masterclass on both Adobe Animate and animation in general. With massive amounts of content, by the end of the course, you will be an expert at using this system and in animation techniques.
With no prior knowledge required, by the end of the course, you will be ready to use this app in a professional setting, creating your own characters and animations with ease. Those with more experience can play around with new styles and techniques while new animators can learn from scratch.
Best Adobe Animate Tutorials FAQS
Is Adobe Animate Easy for Beginners?
Yes, thankfully Adobe Animate is known for being relatively easy for new users and animators to learn.
The program is not only extremely innovative and self-explanatory, but the official Adobe website also provides a variety of resources and help for anyone with questions or who is looking to elevate their style. Beginners will get the swing of this app and be making amazing animations quickly.
Why is Adobe Animate So Expensive?
Adobe software, Adobe Animate included, is known for being very expensive. Most of them require expensive monthly subscriptions with no permanent buy options available.
This may deter a lot of people from investing in the applications, however, it is expensive for a reason. Adobe Animate has an unmatched level of tools, programs, and innovation. It is used by professionals across the field because of its variety of uses for any level of animation.