🗓️ Animation Learning Roadmap (Beginner → Job Ready)

📌 Month 1–2: Foundations
- Drawing & Basics of Art
- Learn proportions, perspective, character sketches.
- Practice quick doodles, storyboarding basics.
- Principles of Animation (12 Principles by Disney)
- Squash & Stretch, Timing, Anticipation, Follow Through, etc.
- Practice with simple objects (ball bounce, pendulum swing).
- Tools (Start Simple)
- 2D: Krita (free) or Adobe Animate.
- 3D: Blender (free, powerful).
🎯 Goal: Create a simple bouncing ball and walk cycle animation.
📌 Month 3–4: Software Skills
- 2D Animation (if interested)
- Adobe Animate, Toon Boom Harmony.
- Short character animations (lip sync, emotions).
- 3D Animation (if interested)
- Blender basics: modeling, rigging, keyframes.
- Animate objects & basic characters.
- Motion Graphics
- Learn Adobe After Effects for text animations, logo reveals.
🎯 Goal: Make 2–3 short clips (like a logo reveal, a character walking, a product demo).
📌 Month 5–6: Storytelling & Projects
- Storyboarding
- Learn how to plan scenes, transitions, camera angles.
- Short Animated Video (30–60 sec)
- Script → Storyboard → Animate → Add sound.
- Explore Trending Styles
- Whiteboard animation (VideoScribe / Doodly).
- AI tools (Runway ML, Pika Labs, Kaiber).
🎯 Goal: Publish 1–2 animated shorts on YouTube/Instagram.
📌 Month 7–9: Specialization
Now choose your focus area:
- 2D Animator → Cartoons, explainer videos.
- 3D Animator → Games, films, AR/VR.
- Motion Graphics Artist → Ads, corporate videos.
- VFX/Compositing → Films, OTT.
👉 Deep dive into specialized tools (Maya for 3D, After Effects for motion graphics, Houdini for VFX).
🎯 Goal: Create a 1–2 min portfolio project in your specialization.
📌 Month 10–12: Portfolio & Career Prep
- Build Showreel
- Combine best works (30–60 sec reel).
- Showcase variety (2D + 3D + motion graphics if possible).
- Create Online Presence
- Behance, Dribbble, ArtStation, YouTube.
- Post small animations on Instagram Reels/TikTok.
- Career Options
- Apply to studios (Green Gold, Toonz, Technicolor).
- Freelancing (Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer).
- Content creation (YouTube animations, shorts).
🎯 Goal: Have a polished portfolio + apply for freelance/entry jobs.
🌍 Career & Scope After 1 Year
- Salary (India Entry Level) → ₹3–6 LPA (studio jobs).
- Freelance Earnings → ₹20k–1 lakh/month (based on clients).
- Global Remote Jobs → Big demand in gaming, AR/VR, and edtech.
🚀 Extra Tip: Stay Ahead
- Learn AI + Animation tools (saves time, increases output).
- Network on LinkedIn & animation forums.
- Keep updating your reel every 3–6 months.
👉 Do you want me to make a list of free + paid best courses & software (with links) that match this roadmap, so you can start learning right away?