Game Animation:
Dynamic Action & Combat

Combat, Takedowns, and Advanced Game Techniques

Overview

Mentors

Details

Apply Now

Overview

Mentors

Details

Apply Now

READY PLAYER ONE

Get ready for a wild ride into the world of game animation with our course, Game Animation: Dynamic Action & Combat! We’re diving deep into the nitty-gritty of attacks, combos, and enemy interactions—the stuff that makes games truly epic. From getting a grip on combat mechanics to fine-tuning responsiveness, you’ll pick up all the tricks to make gameplay smooth and exciting. We’ll even peek behind-the-scenes at AI behavior and how it all comes together to create smart opponents. And when it comes to designing combat animations, we’re all about that perfection—every sword swing and clash is going to be just right. Oh, and those enemies? They’re not just standing around waiting for you—they’ve got moves of their own, ready to keep you on your toes. Let your imagination run wild as you craft combat animations that’ll have players begging for more!

12-WEEK COURSE

$2,499 USD

Apply Now

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Pro Animators Mentor You to Be Successful

Our mentors are the heart and soul of Animation Mentor. They are professional, working animators from studios like Blizzard, Epic Games, and iD Software, who will teach you the ins and outs of studio-level game animation. Get your game on in the Game Animation: Dynamic Action & Combat course, the fifth course in our Game Animation Program.

David Helsby

Principal Animator
Riot Games

With a professional animation career spanning 20 years, David has had the privilege of working on some of the industry’s most iconic titles, including Shadowrun, Halo Reach, Destiny, Destiny 2, Valorant, and League of Legends. He is currently developing Riot’s newest game, the fighting game 2XKO

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Olivier Zurcher

Senior Animator
Activision/Blizzard

Olivier Zurcher has been a professional animator for the past decade. He has held senior roles at companies like Activision Blizzard, Xbox, and Meta. He is also the creator of Animation Mentor’s Games Program. As a character animator, he has worked on games such as Asgard’s Wrath, Spyro, and the Call of Duty series.

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Barry Rooney

Associate Art Director
Riot Games

Barry Rooney has been a professional animator since 2004. Barry started his career as a lip-synch artist on Jimmy Neutron. He transitioned to game development in 2007, working in proprietary engines, UDK, and Unreal 4 and 5. Barry has a game dev-first mentality and is hyper-focused on delivering the experience that players want through great gameplay and stunning visuals.

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On-Going Rig Access

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Studios that Hire Our Animation Students

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Personalized Mentorship

Our mentors are working professionals with years of experience under their belts, and they’re passionate about training the next generation of animators. In this course, you will learn from your mentor in live sessions as they share insights about what studios are working on and what qualities they look for in an animator. Your mentor will work directly with you to grow your skills, sharing weekly 1:1 feedback and reviews to help you improve your animation.

Studio-Level Animation Training

Our program immerses you in a studio-like environment, ensuring you’re job-ready upon graduation. You’ll learn with the same tools and workflows as industry professionals, mastering Unreal Engine to gain skills that set you apart in the competitive game animation industry. Our campus mimics a studio environment, fostering collaboration and creativity as students interact with each other, learning from both the material and your peers. This mirrors the teamwork and communication needed in a game studio, enhancing your employability and industry readiness beyond technical proficiency.

Course Requirements for Dynamic Action & Combat

Course Details

LIVE Q&As | Weekly 1-Hour Q&As

LECTURES | 12 Pre-recorded Lectures

ASSIGNMENTS | 5-7 Animation Exercises

ACCESS |Over 150 hours of additional content

SOFTWARE | Autodesk Maya, Unreal Engine

HARDWARE | Meet Minimum Requirements

AGE | 18 Years or Older

LANGUAGE | Taught in English

Skills You Need Before You Start

This game animation course requires you to have a working understanding of, and experience with, Autodesk Maya software. If you don’t you can take our Maya Basics Workshop.

You must also have completed the prerequisite course, Game Animation: Mechanics & Interactive Gameplay. However, if you’re new to Animation Mentor, you can potentially skip the prerequisite by submitting a demo reel for review during the application process. Learn more about advanced placement.

What You’ll Learn

Now that you have an understanding of Unreal Engine and animation, let’s focus on character interaction and dynamic movement. In this course you will:

Master combat mechanics for smooth gameplay and responsive controls
Explore AI behavior and understand the behavior tree to create intelligent opponents
Dive into designing combat animations, considering factors like weapon size, speed, and behavior
Bring enemies to life by animating their movesets and reactions for use by AI

Animation Mentor Interest-Free Payment Plans

Animation Mentor offers interest-free payment plans. Payment Plans allow students to distribute the $2,499 USD tuition into flexible payments throughout the school term.

^$333
Per Month

$500 to save your seat and
6 monthly installments of $333.

^$500
Per Month

$500 to save your seat and
4 monthly installments of $500.

^$625
Per Month

$624 to save your seat and
3 monthly installments of $625.

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FAQ for Dynamic Action & Combat

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What are combat attacks in games?

Combat attacks in games refer to the actions performed by characters to engage in battle or combat scenarios within a gaming environment. These attacks can range from basic strikes and punches to more complex combos and special moves. In many games, combat attacks play a central role in gameplay mechanics, allowing players to defeat enemies, progress through levels, and achieve objectives. Mastering combat attacks requires understanding the game’s mechanics, timing, and strategy, making them a crucial aspect of many gaming experiences.

Why do I need to know Unreal Engine?

Knowing Unreal Engine is essential for this course because it’s a leading game development platform widely used in the industry. By mastering Unreal Engine, you gain access to powerful tools and workflows crucial for creating high-quality game animations. Additionally, Unreal Engine offers advanced features for rendering, animation, and interactivity, enabling you to bring your creative visions to life with precision and efficiency. With Unreal Engine proficiency, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle the challenges of animating combat attacks and creating immersive gaming experiences that captivate players.

What is the difference between an animator and a game animator?

The main difference between an animator and a game animator lies in their focus and specialization within the field of animation. While animators typically work across various industries such as film, television, and advertising, game animators specialize in creating animations specifically for video games. Game animators must not only possess strong animation skills but also understand the technical constraints and requirements of game development, such as real-time rendering, interactivity, and optimization for different platforms. By specializing in game animation, professionals can effectively bring characters, environments, and gameplay elements to life within the dynamic and immersive world of video games, catering to the unique demands of interactive storytelling and player engagement.

What Animation Mentor Students are Saying

One of the Best Decisions Ever

Attending Animation Mentor has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for myself. I’m so glad you put this program together, thank you so much!!

Mentor Demos Were Fantastic

Every Q&A was great, the shot analysis was inspirational, and it all worked to help me focus on story, character and a smart workflow. My mentor’s demos were fantastic with tons of information and technique and I always wished the class wouldn’t end. She always happily answered questions and checked on shot progress.

I Feel More Confident and Capable

This course was perfectly laid out to ensure you got out of it whatever you put in. It was an excellent step up from Introduction to Acting, challenging yet not overwhelming. I feel a lot more confident and capable of making strong acting choices and animating them with precision after undertaking this course.

From No Knowledge to Animating Acting Shots in 1 Year

I’m really happy that I’ve made it to class 5 and finished it. I started to animate from zero knowledge and now I’m doing acting shots 1 year later. Great experience!

My Mentor is 10/10

Diving into dialogue in this course has helped me so much. My mentor is 10/10. such a veteran and a great communicator. He has immense patience and is always positive and energetic. He has an amazing eye for details and leads by example.

Pushed Work to a Professional Level

With each class, I have built on what I learned in the previous. It never feels as though I have to play catch up or get stuck reviewing. Advanced Acting pushed my animation to think of it on a professional level, being reviewed not by classmates, but by fellow animators.

So Glad I Came

I’m so glad I came here. No way would I have ever gotten a job with my reel from college. I came here and realized what it actually takes to be an animator.