School of Motion - After Effects KickStart Reboot 2024 Free Download

School of Motion – After Effects KickStart Reboot 2024 Free Download

After Effects Kickstart is a foundational online course aimed at teaching motion designers how to use Adobe After Effects from the ground up. It’s designed for beginners or creatives who know some motion design but want to become confident working in After Effects. The 2024 iteration is described as “recently updated”.

What You’ll Learn

Navigating the After Effects interface, setting up compositions, importing and arranging assets.
Basic animation principles: keyframes, easing, graph editor, timing and spacing.
Working with shape layers, mask tools, text animation and simple motion graphics techniques.
Integrating assets from Illustrator and Photoshop (vector/bitmap) into After Effects.
Projects and assignments: 10 major projects over the course to build real work for your portfolio.
By the end you’ll be able to craft motion-graphic animations and show work you can use in a portfolio or reel.

Format & Commitment

Duration: approx 16+ hours of lesson content.
Projects: 10 assignments with critiques from teaching assistants.
Software required: After Effects CC (version 23.0 or higher) as of the update.
Pace: Self-paced, but designed to guide you over roughly 8 weeks if you treat it like a schedule.
Access: You retain access as long as your subscription or enrollment remains active.

Why It’s Useful

It gives you solid foundational skills in After Effects—rather than just random tutorials, you follow a structured path.
Great if you’re shifting into motion design from another discipline (graphic design, video editing, etc.) and want to build competence in animation.
The projects mean you come out with tangible work, not just theory.
Opens up opportunities: motion graphics, social/branding video, broadcast graphics—all benefit from solid AE skills.

Who It’s Best For

Someone who knows little or nothing of After Effects and wants to get comfortable.
A graphic designer or editor who wants to transition into motion design.
Freelancers who want to add motion-graphic services to their offerings.
Students building a motion portfolio who need a reliable learning path and feedback.

Considerations / Things to Know

If you already have intermediate or advanced After Effects skills, this course may feel basic or review-oriented. It targets foundational learning.
It focuses on the software and motion design basics. If you want advanced 3D integration, expressions, complex rigging or VFX workflows, further study will be needed.
You’ll need the time and discipline to work through assignments—real learning comes from doing the projects, not just watching videos.
Since it’s updated for 2024, check version compatibility (e.g., plug-ins, scripts) if you use custom tools.
Access depends on enrollment/subscription status—check what happens after course completion.

Final Verdict

If you’re new to motion design or After Effects and want a structured, portfolio-oriented course to build confident skills, After Effects Kickstart is a strong choice. It balances practical projects with guided instruction, giving you a solid foundation.

On the other hand, if you’re already comfortable with After Effects, you might look for a more advanced course. But for beginners or intermediate professionals who want to firm up their motion design toolset in 2024, this course is well worth your time.