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Level up your motion design skills by mastering animation curves in the graph editor.

Learn animation fundamentals, how to analyze motion, and how to read and manipulate the graph editor to create more realistic, interesting, and professional looking animations.

The graph editor can feel like an intimidating math tool sandwiched in design software, but avoiding it is the biggest mistake that holds beginning motion designers back.

While you intuitively know a lot about math and physics–likely all you need for animation–just by living in this world, you just need to learn how to apply that to your animations. That’s what this class is for.

Achieving realistic motion is the focus of this class, but when you understand how to control the motion of your animations, you can push the boundaries for a dramatic or cartoony effect, that’s playful and full of personality.

We’ll talk through definitions to give you the vocab to communicate with other motion designers. And, you’ll put these concepts into practice with a fun exercise and class project.

While this class uses Adobe After Effects, the knowledge you'll gain can be applied to any form of animation, whether it uses different software or is hand-drawn.

You'll Learn:

  • Animation fundamentals including, timing, spacing, temporal and spatial interpolation, and different kinds of keyframes
  • How to adjust the motion path of an animation
  • How to read the value and speed graphs within the graph editor to understand what they tell you about the spacing of an animation
  • How to adjust the value and speed graphs in the graph editor for more realistic animations
  • The differences between the value and speed graphs and when one is better to use than the other
  • How to think about motion like an amateur physicist and professional motion designer
  • How to create smooth, abstract animations (i.e. not driven by physics)
  • Pro tips for working in the graph editor
  • When to use time-saving plugins to adjust animation curves

If you’re ready to move your animations to the next level, let's get started.

One-time purchase

Get unlimited, lifetime access to this class. Watch anytime, at your own pace. No subscription fees.

$59
Buy the Class

Enroll through Skillshare

Get access to all my classes with a Skillshare membership. New members get a one-month free trial.

$99/year (price varies by region)

Enroll on Skillshare
What's included

100% Self-Paced

Pre-recorded videos allow you to play, pause, and practice at your own pace.

24 Lessons (2h 2m)

Get Started
  • Welcome
  • What to Expect + Class Project
Motion Basics
  • Timing
  • Spacing
  • Spatial Interpolation
  • Temporal Interpolation
  • Graph Editor Basics
  • Working with the Position Property
  • Working with the Scale Property
Practice Time
  • Graph Editor Exercise
  • How to Figure Out How to Animate Almost Anything
  • Animate Falling Planter
  • Animate Falling Oranges
  • Animate Falling Watering Can
  • Animate Falling Orange Slice
  • Animate Falling & Rotating Bowl
  • Animate Orange Bouncing Off Bowl
  • Animate Reactive Motion: Plant
  • Animate Reactive Motion: Orange Leaf
  • Putting it All Together
Advanced Topics
  • When to Use the Value Verses the Speed Graph
  • Rove Across Time
  • When to Use Plugins
Wrap Up
  • What's Next

Also included:

Smooth Moves Guide

This handy PDF guide is packed with notes from class.

After Effects Project File

Includes a starting point for the class project, the final version of the project, demos used in class, and 8 graph editor exercises.

Who this class is for

This class is for motion designers who are comfortable with the basics of Adobe After Effects. While many of the concepts discussed in this class apply to animation in general, I’ll be using After Effects to demonstrate them and complete the class project.

If you’re brand new to After Effects animation, check out one of my beginner classes first:

What you'll need

Successfully completing this class requires a computer or laptop with:

Adobe

After Effects

Adobe

Illustrator

Ready?

Buy the Class
Enroll on Skillshare
Meet the Teacher
Hello!

I'm Megan

I write, illustrate, and animate educational animations to empower healthier choices for us and our planet.

I teach what I know about motion design through online and in-person classes.

A photo of Megan Friesth
A photo of Megan Friesth
Hello!

I'm Megan

I write, illustrate, and animate educational animations to empower healthier choices for us and our planet.

I also share what I know about animation through online classes.

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Let's get started!

Smooth Moves: Better Motion with Animation Curves in the Graph Editor

One-time purchase

Get unlimited, lifetime access to this class. Watch anytime, at your own pace. No subscription fees.

$59
Buy the Class

Enroll through Skillshare

Get access to all my classes with a Skillshare membership. New members get a one-month free trial.

$168/year (price varies by region)

Enroll on Skillshare

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