Animation is a visual medium dealing with the manipulation of still drawings, models, or objects to create the illusion of motion. This manipulation consists of incremental movements that are then rapidly sequenced to make the artwork mimic various actions.

Animation is important to learn not only for entertainment purposes, such as those in film or gaming, but also in education and healthcare. It’s an engaging way to teach young children core concepts. Three-dimensional (3D) animation in particular is beneficial in the healthcare industry for creating visuals that convey complex medical scenarios to doctors, students, and patients.

According to Animation Career Review, budding Animators must consider the variables when it comes to job expectations, such as industry, location, type/size of company, and how much experience they may or may not already have. In the U.S., salaries can greatly depend on these factors, but top paying industries include: Motion Picture and Video, Computer Systems Design, Software Publishers, Advertising, and others. On the other hand, Animators interested in Biomedical Visualization can expect to make an average of $84,417 per year in the U.S.

The versatility of Animation can lend itself to a bevy of career options, with titles such as 3D Modeler, Art Director, Film and Video Editor, Flash Animator, Graphic Designer, Stop Motion Animator, Video Game Designer, Background Painter, Cartoonist, Character Animator, Concept Artist, Forensic Animator, Storyboard Artist, Texture Artist, and a wide array of others.

Animation courses offered through Coursera equip learners with knowledge in programming 3D objects; creating storyboards; building 3D games; using interactive tools developed in the computer-graphics research field; understanding famous character designers; analyzing visualization techniques and methods in biomedical science; and more.

Lessons on Animation are taught by instructors from major universities, including University of Glasgow, California Institute of the Arts, The University of Tokyo, Duke University, and other institutions. Learners can enjoy exploring Animation with instructors specializing in Computer Science; Information Engineering; Character Animation; Medical, Veterinary, and Life Science; and various other disciplines. Course content on Animation is delivered via video lectures, readings, quizzes, demos, hands-on projects, and other types of assignments.