Beginner VFX Fundamentals Course
Learn VFX from scratch as a complete beginner.
Curious how to learn VFX and where to start? You're in the right place: this VFX fundamentals course dives deep into FX foundations, drawing, painting, particle systems, and more.
Course Length: 8 weeks
Mentor: Gabriel "Nibilli" Boileau
Next Start Date: June 1st, 2026
$1400 | Pricing options available
Less than $175 per week of live advanced mentorship.
Register Now
VFX Fundamentals Course for Complete Beginners
Start with learning artistic principles of visual FX, and end up with your first effect in a game engine in just 8 weeks. Learn to create concept art, textures, meshes, shaders yourself!
This VFX fundamentals course provides a thorough introduction to stylized VFX, from the ground up.
Registration is Open
Hurry! Only a limited number of seats are available.
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The next VFX Fundamentals Course Starts on June 1st, 2026.
VFX Fundamentals Course Full Curriculum
Week 1 - Intro to 2D FX
Learn the fundamentals of timing, and apply them in practice while creating small 2D FX in Adobe Animate or another tool of your choice.
Week 2 - FX Foundations
Discover the Design principles, such as physical properties and composition. Understand perspective, line weight and try them on paper.
Week 3 - FX Artistry
Continue your 2D FX practice with more complex looping animations, or pivot to learn and apply concept painting techniques.
Week 4 - Advanced 2D Techniques
What are VFX if not organized forces of nature? Study how the elements behave, and apply those principles to enrich your art.
Week 5 - Intro to 3D VFX
Get acquainted with Unity or Unreal: start by recreating block-ins to practice timing and learn the base toolset of your chosen engine.
Week 6 - Textures & Meshes
Building blocks of VFX: discover how to make good textures (hand-painted or procedurally) and meshes for your effects.
Week 7 - Shaders & Materials
Practice making shaders in Unreal or Unity: learn the tools from ground zero, and try techniques widely used in the industry.
Week 8 - Particle Systems
Assemble the results of your hard work making assets and learning the fundamentals, and create your first effect in the engine!
Mentors & FX Courses
Weekly sessions with our mentors to guide you, plus access to our vast All Access learning materials.
Join this bootcamp and get access to:
- 8 weeks of live lectures and check-in sessions
- Permanent access to the curriculum materials
- 3 months of VFX-A All Access FX courses
- Direct feedback from professional VFX artists
- Private class channels
- Weekly assignments and critique
- Downloadable assets and project files
Your Mentor
Gabriel "Nibilli" Boileau
Gabi started their career as a software engineer before they found their passion in VFX. They were hired as a VFX / Tech Artist at Virtuos Games to work on Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition. They have gone on to work on a variety of projects like VALORANT for Riot Games and most recently World of Warcraft at Blizzard Entertainment.
Gabi is a staple in the VFX Apprentice community. Their welcoming kindness gives everyone the confidence to tackle any task. No matter if they show cool tricks in the hangouts or create full effects in just one follow-along session. Gabi is always around to help.
Outside of their job they like to get together with friends in Tabletop RPGs or explore the world outdoors. They are also a huge fan of traditional animation.
What you get from this class:
- Learn VFX fundamentals for beginners from scratch
- Master 2D FX animation basics and timing principles
- Understand VFX design principles and physical elements
- Get started with real-time VFX in Unreal Engine or Unity
- Create basic VFX textures and simple game-ready assets
- Learn introductory VFX shaders and materials for beginners
- Assemble beginner-friendly particle systems for game VFX
FAQs
Is this course the right fit for me?
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Why do I need to learn 2D if I want to be a 3D VFX artist?
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Testimonials
Kevin Leroy
VFX Artist - Riot Games
I truly wish this website existed when I first started VFX. It's chock-full of industry-defining resources and tutorials covering a vast diversity of subjects. And maybe even more importantly: it covers different engines and softwares. From concepting to in-engine implementations, these courses have it all, and it is all of the highest quality.
Tyson Murphy
Art Director - Riot Games
Jason is one of the only people I've met throughout my entire career that has world class artistic talent in the craft of VFX, and also has the kindness, wisdom, and dedication of a great teacher. Jason is an incredible value to any of the world's top studios, and I've personally seen him change the lives of aspiring artists and students everywhere. He is passionate about his educational work, and it is truly the best I've seen. Anyone who wishes they were a VFX artist needs to get in touch with Jason and VFX Apprentice.
Drew Skillman
Founder - Tilt Brush
I've had first hand experience learning from, and being inspired by, Jason Keyser. He's an exceptional artist, a leader in the Real Time VFX industry, and a phenomenal teacher who deeply, deeply cares about sharing the elusive techniques behind best in class VFX and helping people realize their creative dreams. Jason is the real deal - I learn from him every chance I get.
Fred Hooper
Lead VFX Artist - NVIDIA
Jason Keyser's VFX Apprentice is THE go-to place to learn real time visual effects. Jason will teach you how to make effects from the ground up from an artistic and technical perspective. The VFX Apprentice courses will start you on the path to becoming a real time VFX artist.
Bill Kladis
Director, Technical Art at Epic Games
When it comes to preaching the art & soul behind real-time FX, Jason is truly the most dedicated of anyone I know. Good FX artists of today and tomorrow must balance so many different artistic & technical disciplines. These courses are a must-have for anyone wanting to break into real-time FX.
Join the next Beginner VFX Fundamentals Course
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