How to study Animation in online?

There are three main requirements for students entering online animation study: artistic talent, technical equipment and academic ability. In addition to these, prior to taking classes, students may need to complete an online orientation to familiarize themselves with distance learning. Online students can take standalone classes or earn a bachelor's or master's degree in the field. Get more details about training requirements below.

Artistic Requirements

Artistic achievement is central to a career in animation, so an applicant for online animation training program may be asked to submit a portfolio of her or his artwork. Some schools may evaluate the portfolio for admissions in order to determine whether the student shows enough talent to succeed in a program.

Other schools have a more open admissions policy. In this case, the portfolio might help professors determine whether the student is qualified to skip basic classes, but admission wouldn't be denied because of it. Students interested in enrolling in individual online courses, which may be offered through college extension departments, may need basic drawing and computer skills.

Technical Needs

Online animation students don't have access to the college's computer labs, so they need to do all their technical training on their home computers. Though technical requirements vary by institution, schools often offer suggestions of minimum computer hardware, speed and data storage guidelines. Students should check with the school they will attend before buying software, though they will probably need several artistic and animation software and packages.

Programs needed may include Adobe Flash Professional, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, Photoshop, or After Effects. Students may need Audacity, DigiCel Flipbook Studio or Autodesk Maya Unlimited. Some schools may offer free access to basic software that could be used to complete individual course assignments. Online students may also need a digital camera, color scanner, color inkjet printer and DVD or CD burner.

Academic Prerequisites

To begin online animation training, students need to submit transcripts of previous academic work, whether the student has just completed high school or has already gone to college. For a bachelor's degree, a high school diploma is necessary, while applicants to master's degree programs need to have completed a bachelor's degree already. Animation training programs might require a minimum GPA or minimum SAT or ACT scores. Some schools require a recommendation letter.