Digital Designing

Concepts of 2D Animation and Visual Effects

Learn 2D animation techniques and visual effects creation using industry-standard tools and software.

Concepts of 2D Animation and Visual Effects
Track Digital Designing
Duration 30 hours
Skill Level Advanced
Language English

About this Course

Learn 2D animation techniques and visual effects creation using industry-standard tools and software.
Learning Mode: Learn at ALC or at Home

Detailed Course Curriculum

Hands-on module breakdown aligned with MKCL production standards and industry requirements.

  • Overview of 2D digital Animation
  • Basics of 2D Frame-by-Frame Animation
  • Animation Principles Overview
  • Squash and Stretch
  • Anticipation
  • Staging
  • Straight Ahead Action and Pose to Pose
  • Follow Through and Overlapping Action
  • Slow In and Slow Out
  • Arcs
  • Secondary Action
  • Timing
  • Exaggeration
  • Solid Drawing
  • Appeal
  • Understanding the 2D Animation Pre-Production Pipeline
  • Importance of Pre-Production in 2D Animation
  • Scriptwriting
  • Writing the Narrative
  • Dialogue Creation
  • Scene Breakdown
  • Script Analysis of ‘The Jungle Book’
  • Research and Concept Development
  • Story Idea Generation
  • Story Idea Generation
  • Character Concepts
  • Character Concepts
  • Initial Storyboard Sketches (Mood Board and Brainstorming)
  • Initial Storyboard Sketches (Mood Board and Brainstorming)
  • Character Design
  • Characters Study
  • Model and Exposure Sheet
  • Expression Sheets
  • Storyboarding
  • Storyboard format
  • Visual Storytelling
  • Storyboard Examples from Iconic Animations
  • 2D Layout
  • Background Study in Animation
  • Background Study in Animation
  • Prop study
  • Prop study
  • Shot Composition
  • Shot Composition
  • Animatic Creation
  • Turning Storyboards into Animatics
  • Turning Storyboards into Animatics
  • Adding Temporary Sound and Dialogue
  • Adding Temporary Sound and Dialogue
  • Conclusion of Pre-Production
  • Final Approval of Pre-Production Assets
  • Final Approval of Pre-Production Assets
  • Preparing for Production Phase
  • Preparing for Production Phase
  • Overview of Toon Boom Harmony
  • Installing and Setting Up Trial Version of Toon boom
  • Basic Concepts of Toon Boom Harmony
  • Navigating the Interface
  • Basic Drawing Tools
  • Using Brushes and Erasers
  • Working with Layers
  • Creating Keyframes in Toon Boom Harmony
  • Understanding Object Animation
  • Importing and Animating Objects
  • Adding Colors and Textures
  • Using the Camera Tool
  • Adding Sound to Animation
  • Exporting Your Animation
  • Simple Animation Project
  • Introduction to Dynamic Animation
  • Understanding Camera Rigs and Motion Paths
  • Make your own CARTOON  character
  • Understanding the node view
  • Refine a cut-out 2D character
  • Ease Set Parameter
  • Animating Dynamic Hair Movement
  • Understanding Parallax Scrolling and layers setup
  • Positioning Layers and Creating Parallax Effect
  • Creating Atmospheric Effects in Animation
  • Designing a Bouncing Ball Animation
  • Introduction to Secondary Animation
  • Creating Simple Tracking Shots
  • Adding Camera Shake to Scenes
  • Understanding Mouth Shapes
  • Syncing simple Animation to Audio
  • Introduction to Overlapping Actions
  • Applying Overlapping Actions in Animation
  • Understanding Frame by Frame Animation
  • Creating Realistic Hand Gestures
  • Cloth Simulation and Rigging Basics
  • Creating Emotions with Hand Poses
  • Understanding Anticipation and Impact
  • Smooth Scene Transitions
  • Basics of Camera Cuts in Animation
  • Creating seamless animation in Toon Boom Harmony
  • Animating Smoke Effects
  • Animating Fire Effects
  • Creating Water Effects
  • Animating Wind and Rain Effects
  • Basics of Bone Deformers
  • Using Inverse Kinematics
  • Rigging basic Characters
  • Animating Eyelid rigging
  • Creating Eye Animation and Blinking
  • Animating and rigging eyebrow movements
  • Basic Hair Movement Animation
  • Fundamentals of Mechanical Movements
  • Advanced Gear Animation and Scripting
  • Rigging Basic Vehicles
  • Animating Basic Vehicles
  • Setting up quadruped walk cycle
  • Shaping and animating quadruped walking poses.
  • Finalising quadruped walk cycle with torso animation
  • Understanding Basic Secondary Motion
  • Rigging and Setup for the Walk Cycle
  • Animating and Refining the Walk Cycle
  • Easy Run Cycle Animations
  • Creating  Underwater Scenes
  • Introduction to Particles and Fluid Animation
  • Create  basic particle system
  • Creating particles with a sprite
  • The Particle Action Modifier
  • Addition Action Modifier
  • Velocity and Bounce Action
  • Flying Bugs Animation
  • Adding Glow and Blur Effects
  • Creating a Magical Fairy Trail
  • Simulate Realistic Smoke
  • Creating a particle rain effect  Animation
  • Creating a Realistic Fire Effect Using Particles
  • Create a Lush Grass Animation
  • Creating Dynamic Speed Lines in Toon Boom Harmony
  • Creating a Stunning Magic Wand Particle Effect
  • Simulating Firework Blast Effect
  • Introduction to 2D software
  • Overview of interface and features
  • Overview of interface and features
  • Understanding Symbol system
  • use of Symbol types
  • use of Symbol types
  • Timeline and Layers
  • Timeline/ FPS/ Ratio
  • Timeline/ FPS/ Ratio
  • Creating Your First Animation
  • Setting up a new project
  • Setting up a new project
  • Types of brushes
  • Understanding Keyframes
  • Keyframe animation principles
  • Keyframe animation principles
  • Key calling
  • Key calling
  • Tween
  • Shape tween
  • Shape tween
  • Motion tween
  • Motion tween
  • Classic tween
  • Classic tween
  • Squash and Stretch Techniques
  • Applying squash and stretch to characters
  • Applying squash and stretch to characters
  • Onion skin
  • Onion skin
  • Adjusting timing and spacing
  • Case Study - Animating a Bouncing Ball
  • Introduction to 2D Software
  • Installing Animate CC
  • Setting up a New Project
  • Overview of Interface and Features
  • Understanding the Timeline and Layers
  • Animating a Bouncing Ball
  • Character Design Basics
  • Character Design Basics - II
  • Understanding Keyframes and Timing
  • Squash and Stretch Techniques
  • Leaf falling
  • Tracing
  • Bouncing ball
  • Rubber
  • Rubber
  • Metal
  • Metal
  • Jump
  • Jump with cap
  • Jump with cap
  • Bell animation
  • Car
  • Cow tail animation / Pendulum
  • Falling box
Eligibility Criteria
• Basic knowledge of computers and keen desire to build skills in this field.
• Open to students, job seekers, and working professionals.
Official Certification
• Official MKCL KLiC Certificate upon successful completion of the course and evaluations.
Work-Centric Learning Approach
• Step 1: Learners are given an overview of the course and its connection to life and work
• Step 2: Learners are exposed to the specific tool(s) used in the course through the various real-life applications of the tool(s).
• Step 3: Learners are acquainted with the careers and the hierarchy of roles they can perform at workplaces after attaining increasing levels of mastery over the tool(s).
• Step 4: Learners are acquainted with the architecture of the tool or tool map so as to appreciate various parts of the tool, their functions, utility and inter-relations.
• Step 5: Learners are exposed to simple application development methodology by using the tool at the beginner’s level.
• Step 6: Learners perform the differential skills related to the use of the tool to improve the given ready-made industry-standard outputs.
• Step 7: Learners are engaged in appreciation of real-life case studies developed by the experts.
• Step 8: Learners are encouraged to proceed from appreciation to imitation of the experts.
• Step 9: After the imitation experience, they are required to improve the expert’s outputs so that they proceed from mere imitation to emulation.
• Step 10: Emulation is taken a level further from working with differential skills towards the visualization and creation of a complete output according to the requirements provided. (Long Assignments)
• Step 11: Understanding the requirements, communicating one’s own thoughts and presenting are important skills required in facing an interview for securing a work order/job. For instilling these skills, learners are presented with various subject-specific technical as well as HR-oriented questions and encouraged to answer them.
• Step 12: Finally, they develop the integral skills involving optimal methods and best practices to produce useful outputs right from scratch, publish them in their ePortfolio and thereby proceed from emulation to self-expression, from self-expression to self-confidence and from self-confidence to self-reliance and self-esteem!

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Admissions Open 2026

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Course Overview
  • Duration: 30 hours
  • Track: Digital Designing
  • Skill Level: Advanced
  • Language: English
  • Mode: Learn at ALC or at Home
  • Certificate: Official MKCL
Key Course Highlights:
  • Explain and demonstrate the 12 fundamental principles of animation and critique their use in professional work.
  • Write and analyze scripts, story ideas, and storyboards that translate narrative concepts into clear visual plans.
  • Design and iterate original characters, props, and backgrounds using research, mood-boards, and solid drawing fundamentals.
  • Construct efficient digital production pipelines in Toon Boom Harmony/Animate CC, managing layers, keyframes, symbols, and camera moves.
  • Rig biped, quadruped, and mechanical characters with deformers and inverse kinematics for believable motion and secondary actions.
  • Animate convincing body mechanics and nuanced performance—walks, runs, jumps, facial lip-sync, hand and cloth secondary motion—applying ease-in/out, overlap, and follow-through.
  • Create and integrate particle and fluid effects (smoke, fire, rain, magic, speed-lines) that enhance scene atmosphere.
  • Produce a short polished animated sequence that demonstrates cohesive storytelling, sound integration, atmospheric effects, and professional export settings.
  • Evaluate personal and peer work against aesthetic, technical, and production criteria, providing constructive feedback and iterating accordingly.
  • Document and manage the complete production workflow—naming conventions, exposure/model sheets, version control, and asset delivery—to meet deadlines and industry standards.
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