Welcome to the From Flat to Fun: Turn Simple Illustrations Into Expressive Motion
In this class, you’ll learn how to take simple, flat illustrations and turn them into fun, expressive motion—step by step. We’ll focus on easy, beginner-friendly animation techniques that help your work feel lively, playful, and full of personality.

You’ll also master the art of stylization—turning simple scenes into eye-catching visuals. Step by step, we’ll explore how to add highlights, shadows, and cast shadows to bring depth, dimension, and polish to your work, helping your animations stand out in any portfolio or client project.

This course is designed for motion designers and After Effects users who want to create animations with purpose and style. We won’t spend time on the basics of the interface or keyframing—instead, we’ll dive straight into crafting intentional, eye-catching motion and professional stylization.

If you’re brand new to After Effects, I recommend starting with a beginner course to build a solid foundation first. Then come back here to sharpen your skills and elevate your motion design work.

What You’ll Learn:

Planning animations that feel intentional and engaging
Adding highlights, shadows, and cast shadows to create depth and realism
Applying advanced stylization techniques for a polished, professional look
Building a clean, efficient workflow for complex scenes
Pro tips for exporting and sharing your final animation as a GIF or video

By the end of this class, you’ll know how to design and animate scenes that stand out—balanced with striking style and clear purpose. Whether you follow the provided Coffee Time project or use your own illustration, you’ll finish with a portfolio-ready piece and the confidence to approach future motion design projects with a professional mindset.

If you’re ready to level up your After Effects skills and bring your artwork to life with style and intention, let’s get started—I can’t wait to see what you create!

Yubraj Lama

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