Live Online Animation Classes for Kids
Every Child Has a Story to Tell
Let Your Child Create - Not Just Consume
At our classes, kids develop one of today’s most valuable skills — the ability to communicate their ideas through visual storytelling.
So much of the way we communicate today happens through video and digital content. That’s why we teach kids not just to consume content, but to create it themselves.
They come up with their own characters, bring them to life through animation, and begin to think like real directors — using action, emotion, composition, and storytelling to express their ideas.
They don’t just use technology — they learn to create with it.
To turn those ideas into finished animated projects, students also learn to use modern creative tools and software used by professionals in the industry.
What Kids Learn
Student’s work – Animation by Irina | Age 13
Visual Storytelling
Students learn how to turn ideas into clear, engaging stories through images, movement, and action.
Creative Direction
Students develop their own characters and ideas, make creative decisions, and gradually become the authors of their own projects.
Project Completion
Students learn how to take an idea from the first concept to a finished animation they can be proud to share.
Character Animation
Students learn how to bring characters to life through movement, expressions, emotions, poses, and reactions.
Story Structure
Students learn how to build a clear story with a beginning, development, and ending.
Animation Fundamentals
Students develop an understanding of movement, key poses, timing, and rhythm — the foundations of believable animation.
Camera & Composition
Students learn how to use camera angles, shot types, framing, and composition to make a scene clearer and more engaging.
Digital Animation Tools
Students build practical confidence using digital animation software and the tools needed to create their own projects.
Sound & Atmosphere
Students learn how music, sound effects, voiceover, and atmosphere can strengthen a scene and support the story.
★★★★★ 4.9/5 from parents
Why Parents Choose Us
★★★★★ 4.9/5 from parents
• 6–8 students per group • 55-minute classes • Live on Zoom
See what our students create
Curriculum Timeline
Our curriculum takes students from the fundamentals of movement to creating and directing their own animated stories.
Block 1 — Movement
Months 1–6
Students learn the foundations of animation and discover how drawings come to life.
- Understand how individual frames create movement
- Learn the essential tools of animation software
- Develop a sense of timing, rhythm, and movement
- Create short animations regularly
- Learn how to animate characters through key poses
- Build confidence working independently in animation software
Block 2 — Stories
Months 7–12
Students move beyond individual exercises and begin creating complete animated stories.
- Learn how to structure a story with a beginning, development, and ending
- Explore camera angles, shots, and scene composition
- Create short animated films from start to finish
- Work with character emotions, reactions, and storytelling
- Add color, details, backgrounds, and atmosphere
- Build a growing collection of finished animation projects
Block 3 — Directing
Months 13–18
Students become the authors and directors of their own projects, making more independent creative decisions.
- Develop their own story ideas and characters
- Create scripts and plan scenes
- Work with atmosphere, pacing, and expressive storytelling
- Add music, sound effects, and voiceover
- Bring together animation, storytelling, sound, and visual design
- Create an original animated film as their final project
From First Movement to Their Own Film
Throughout the program, students gradually progress from creating their first moving drawings to developing complete animated stories of their own.
They are not simply learning software — they are learning how to turn an idea into a story, communicate it visually, and create work they can be proud of.
Student Portfolio
Throughout the program, students build a collection of animation projects that shows how their skills, ideas, and confidence develop over time.
After completing the full course, each student receives a personal portfolio page on the Shahov Animation School website. The page features selected work created during the program and highlights the student’s creative journey and progress.
It becomes more than just a gallery — it is a record of what they have learned, created, and accomplished, and something they can proudly share with family, friends, and others.
What Regular Classes Are Like
Live, interactive classes
Unlike many online programs built around large libraries of pre-recorded lessons, we’re proud to teach through live, interactive classes.
Our instructors are real animation professionals with industry experience. They don’t just teach software — they share practical knowledge, creative thinking, and real-world experience with their students.
Just as importantly, children learn alongside other creative kids who share their interests. They become part of a small creative community where they can exchange ideas, see how others approach the same challenge, and feel inspired by one another.
55-minute classes
Our 55-minute class format gives the instructor enough time to work with every student and provide individual feedback during the lesson.
About 90% of class time is hands-on practice. Instead of separating theory from practice, we explain new concepts while students are actually drawing and animating.
In 55 minutes, students can make meaningful progress — and often complete a small animation — without becoming tired or losing focus. They finish the class feeling accomplished, engaged, and motivated to keep creating.
Small groups of 5–8 students
With only 5–8 students in each class, every child has time to interact with the teacher, ask questions, and receive feedback on their work.
The teacher can see how each student is progressing, help when something feels difficult, and give individual guidance without slowing down the whole group.
At the same time, children learn alongside other creative kids, share ideas, see different approaches, and feel like part of a real creative class — not just another face in a large online group.
The instructor draws and animates with the class
Students follow along step by step as the teacher demonstrates the process live. This makes the class easier to follow and helps children understand how an animation is built from start to finish.
Tuition & Schedule
If your child enjoys the trial class and would like to continue, they can join our regular live online animation classes.
$180/month (8 live classes)
2 classes per week
- Live online instruction
- Small-group classes
- Step-by-step animation projects
- Ongoing teacher feedback
There’s no obligation to enroll after the free trial.
Two classes per week
Students attend two live classes per week.
After the free trial, we’ll help you choose a class schedule that works best for your child and your family.
Classes for ages 8–15
Our regular classes are designed for children ages 8 to 15.
Projects are structured so beginners can follow along comfortably, while students with more experience can add more detail, complexity, and their own creative ideas.
Join Anytime
We use a rolling enrollment system, so students can join an existing group throughout the year instead of waiting for a new session to begin.
Our projects are designed so new students can start comfortably, learn the class format, and begin creating from their first lessons.
Devices for Regular Classes
For animation, students can use a tablet or a computer with a graphics tablet.
A stylus is recommended, but it is not required — students can also draw with their finger on a tablet.
We also recommend using a second device for Zoom, such as a laptop, tablet, or phone, so students can watch the instructor while continuing to work on their animation.
A Personal Portfolio Page
After completing the full course, each student receives their own personal portfolio page on the Shahov Animation School website.
The page showcases selected animation projects created during the course and highlights the student’s creative journey and progress.
It becomes a lasting record of what they have learned and created — something they can proudly share with family, friends, and others.
Missed Classes
If a student needs to miss a class, there’s no need to worry.
Whenever possible, they can attend another available group to make up the missed lesson and stay on track with the course.
What Your Child Will Need
Tablet or Touchscreen
You can also use any device that supports drawing directly on the screen.
A stylus is recommended, but not required for the trial class.
The Rough Animator app
$7.99 one-time purchase – no subscription.
Your child can use the app anytime, even outside of class.
Zoom
We recommend using Zoom on a separate device so your child can follow the instructor while animating.
Ready to give it a try?
10% OFF Your First 8-Class Package
Book your free trial today. If you decide to continue, new students receive 10% off their first 8 regular classes.
Designed for Ages 8–15
Our classes are designed for kids and teens ages 8–15, from complete beginners to students who already have some drawing or animation experience.
Projects are structured so every student can follow the main lesson while still having room to make creative choices and work at their own level. Beginners can focus on the essential steps, while more experienced students can add more detail, movement, and complexity to their work.
No previous animation experience is required — just curiosity and a desire to create.
Kids Create, Not Just Practice
We believe children learn animation best when they can immediately use new skills to create something of their own.
Instead of spending weeks on repetitive exercises, students work on short animation projects with a clear goal and a visible result. New concepts are introduced while they are drawing, animating, and solving creative challenges.
In many classes, students complete a small animation or make meaningful progress toward a finished project. Seeing their ideas come to life gives them a real sense of accomplishment and keeps them excited about what they’ll create next.
Learn from Animation Professionals
Our classes are taught by working animation professionals who bring real industry experience into every lesson.
Students don’t just learn how to use animation software. They learn how animators think, plan scenes, solve creative problems, and make decisions while developing a project.
Our instructors share practical techniques, professional workflows, and their own experience while drawing and animating together with the class.
This gives students a chance to learn not only the tools of animation, but also the creative process behind real animated work.
A Creative Community for Kids
Animation is even more exciting when children can create alongside others who share their interests.
In our live small-group classes, students are surrounded by other creative kids who enjoy drawing, animation, characters, and storytelling. They can see how others approach the same project, exchange ideas, and inspire one another.
This helps students feel that they are not creating alone — they are part of a creative community where their interests are understood, encouraged, and shared.
Our Mission
At Shahov Animation School, our mission is to help children learn how to tell stories through visual language.
We believe animation should be more than learning software or practicing technical exercises. It should give children a way to turn their ideas into characters, emotions, and stories that other people can see and understand.
That’s why we design our classes so students can see real results quickly. Instead of spending weeks working toward something abstract, children regularly create short animations and watch their ideas come to life.
We want every student to build real animation skills while enjoying the creative process, feeling proud of what they make, and staying excited to create the next story.
