Watch the pros at work! Learn from Tom de Vis about the shape language of fire, as he walks you through Matthieu's animation.
Animating Medium 2D FX
Elemental Studies
Instructors: Matthieu Petit, Tom De Vis, Chris Graf, Guillaume Degroote
Included with VFX-A All Access
14+ Hours
This course includes over four hours of FX animation training.
Skill Level
Beginner Level One course for new and aspiring VFX artists.
Software
Toon Boom Harmony,
Adobe Animate
Instant Access
This course is immediately available to All Access members.
Course Breakdown
Lesson overview.
Water Fling
4 Lessons
FX Animation - Chris Graf
Commentary - Jason Keyser
Because various types of airborne liquid are a mainstay in 2D FX, you’ll get a lot of value from referring back to this lesson often.
Learn how to use mask layers to give you the freedom to set up your inner shapes, without having to worry about clean outer edges.
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Water Fling Style Target
Create a reusable water fling animation. Get a rundown of the style target, and explore the motion, shape design, and color of the effect.
Water Fling FX Animation
This effect can be quite complex to animate, so don't be afraid to just try things out and get in some practice!
Coloring the Water Fling
Use the coloring phase to start really defining the negative shapes of this water fling effect.
Water Fling Effect Timelapse
Watch the entire water fling effect animation by Chris Graf unnarrated. Follow along and create your own water fling.
Goo Orb
4 Lessons
FX Animation - Matthieu Petit
Commentary - Jason Keyser
Let's create a looping slimy anti-gravity goo orb animation.
Following the water fling effect, you will see how liquids behave similarly to each other with slight variations depending on the viscosity of the liquid.
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Goo Orb FX Base Animation
Nail down the feeling of your liquid substance, then add asymmetry and shape variation to your effect. Having an interesting motion will help to break up the repetition for looping effects.
Animation Finish & Coloring
Add interest by offsetting and duplicating the effect. This mirror technique will help you create the other half of the goo orb.
Goo Orb Animation Timelapse
Watch the entire Goo Orb effect animation with Matthieu Petit. Follow along and create your own effect.
Goo Orb Coloring Timelapse
Watch the entire Goo Orb effect color process with Matthieu Petit. Follow along and color your own effect.
Directional Fire
2 Lessons
FX Animation - Matthieu Petit
Commentary - Tom de Vis
Learn how to bend fire to your will! Animate fire rushing outwards, catching air currents, and dissipating into interesting shapes.
Directional Fire Animation & Color
Directional Fire Effect Timelapse
Watch the original recording of the creation process for this amazing directional Fire effect by Matthieu Petit as bonus content.
Spiral Smoke Poof
3 Lessons
FX Animation - Matthieu Petit
Commentary - Tom de Vis
Create a spiral smoke puff animation, while learning about production constraints, like limited frame counts.
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Spiral Smoke Animation & Shading
Watch Matthieu Petit animate this awesome spiral smoke puff as Tom De Vis breaks down his workflow.
Spiral Smoke Poof Animation Timelapse
Watch the original recording by Matthieu Petit as bonus content, if you are interested in his thought process while animating.
Inner Shape & Shadows Timelapse
If you want to see even more, you can watch the raw coloring and shading process as well!
Electric Burst Main Sphere Animation
Get started making an electric sphere with Guillaume Degroote by focusing on core composition first!
Electric Burst Windup & Dissolve
How do you create smooth transitions between animation frames? Learn more as Guillaume talks through his process building up the bolts around his effect.
Electric Burst Light Rays & Polish
In this video, Guillarme covers how to use rays and a full-screen flash to give the feeling of extra energy, without muddying your effect.
Continue these lessons.
This course doesn't end here! Learn how to polish these effects and composite them in the Post Process and MoGraph course.
Learn MoreWhat members say about VFX Apprentice
Alexandr Popov
VFX Apprentice Student
This was my first step into the field of VFX. I chose it because I saw the incredible work of the teachers. If you want to plunge into the magical world of VFX, then this is definitely for you.
Bruno Cano
VFX-A All Access Member
Joining VFX Apprentice was, for sure, the best decision I've made in my early VFX career. The courses are great and the mentors and students are always trying to help. I just love being here!
Learn 2D and 3D FX with VFX-A All Access
All 2D FX, 3D VFX, and Advanced courses are included with VFX Apprentice All Access. Learn stylized and real-time FX from professional artists and animators.
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Animating Small 2D FX
2D FX: Level One
Start with the leading motion and finish with a ready-to-brag flipbook by following the FX breakdown 2DFX artist Alex Redfish!
