Introduction to 3D Animation using Blender (FutureLearn)

This course from VR Voom will introduce you to 3D modelling and animation using Blender. Whether you’re looking to use animation for personal projects or to move into a creative professional career, this course will teach you the skills to start your animation journey.
Create your first 3D animation using Blender

As you progress through the course, you’ll build and animate different 3D models on their own, such as a bouncing ball and a simple character. This will prepare you to take your skills to the next level.

For your final project, you’ll let your imagination run wild by creating your own 3D environment with full character models for you to animate, bringing your masterpiece to life.

Explore the key differences between 3D and 2D animation

You’ll start by understanding how 3D animation differs from 2D animation, looking at the benefits and limitations of both.

You’ll then dive into the basics of 3D animation, from what it is and where it’s used to 3D models and rigs. This will lay the groundwork for creating your own 3D animations

Learn the basics of 3D modelling in Blender

This practical course will take you through how to use Blender to create 3D models. You’ll learn the basics of 3D modelling, from what a 3D mesh is to how polygons affect the detail of a 3D object.

Once you have the basics, you’ll move on to creating your own models in Blender. To begin with, you’ll create a simple house, step-by-step, moulding objects into the required shapes and moving them into place, before tackling more complex creations.

What topics will you cover?

- The differences between 3D and 2D.

- Basic 3D knowledge.

- Basic 3D modelling

- Understanding animation principles.

Learning on this course

You can take this self-guided course and learn at your own pace. On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed as a complete introduction to 3D modelling and 3D animation. You don’t need to have any previous experience in either field as the course will take you through each step of the process.

What software or tools do you need?

For this course, you’ll need a laptop or desktop computer with the capabilities to run Blender. The software is free so there are no additional charges.