Why YouTube Is a Great Place to Learn Animation
Animation learning no longer has to be expensive or inaccessible. With free tutorials from experienced creators, YouTube offers endless opportunities to practice, explore, and grow—from frame-by-frame basics to storytelling and motion design.
Top YouTube Channels for Beginner Animators
Here are five fantastic free channels to kickstart your animation journey:
- Bloop Animation: Friendly, clear tutorials on animation fundamentals, character design, and storytelling. A great intro to industry thinking.
- Howard Wimshurst: Focused on frame-by-frame hand-drawn animation, walk cycles, and technique breakdowns with a down-to-earth approach.
- School of Motion: While known for motion design, the channel offers free foundational tutorials in 2D and animation tools like After Effects.
- Toniko Pantoja: Casual, inspiring tutorials from a Disney animator on animation principles, timing, and expressive action.
- Pencilmation: A channel showing frame-by-frame stick figure comedy animations. Great for studying timing, spacing, and visual humor.
These channels are a great place to begin your animation journey—and the best part is, you can start learning right now without spending a dime.
Practice Along with Tutorials
Choose a short lesson—maybe a walk cycle or bouncing ball—and sketch it frame by frame. Pause, rewind, and redraw. This is how you internalize timing, spacing, and movement rhythm.
Find What Resonates with You
Some animators focus on walks, others on facial acting or comedic timing. Try sampling different channels. Mix and match to build your own learning playlist. If a teaching style clicks—stick with it.
Bonus Inspiration: Animated Shorts Channels
Once you’ve worked through tutorials, dive into short film channels like Gobelins Student Shorts or Sheridan College Animations. Watching polished work will expand your design and pacing instincts.
Final Thought
Learning animation doesn’t have to cost a dime. With the right channels—Bloop Animation, Howard Wimshurst, Toniko Pantoja, and more—you can build solid skills, one free video at a time.