Is Learning Animation Still Worth It in the AI Era?
2.7K views · 2026-03-09
Motion Design
🎓 Ready to really learn motion design in After Effects? My beginner course walks you through 7 real-world projects that build into an explainer animation: https://link.animationexplained.com/aeexplained3
⬇️ Download The Motion Designer’s Starter Checklist for a list of skills and concepts to learn: https://link.animationexplained.com/starterchecklist6
A student asked me a simple question: is there still a demand for animated explainer videos in the age of AI?
In this video, I share my honest take. Not as someone who has it all figured out (no one has), but as a motion designer and educator who's been paying close attention to what AI can and can't actually do, and what it might mean for people who want to create this kind of work. I talk about what AI is genuinely capable of right now, where I think human creativity still has a real edge, and some practical advice for anyone learning motion design today.
No one can predict exactly how this plays out, but I don't think that means you can't make a thoughtful decision about whether to invest your time in these skills.
In this video:
0:15 - Is there a demand for motion design?
0:49 - What AI can do
3:48 - What AI can’t do
5:05 - Negative aspects of AI
6:32 - A useful way to think about AI and jobs
7:54 - How AI could help creatives
10:30 - What’s the point?
11:43 - Humans care about humans
13:40 - To use AI or not to use AI
14:21 - Practical advice if you want to learn motion design
Resources on AI that I’ve found interesting (I’m not saying I agree with everything in these):
Artificiality Institute (also check out their Instagram): https://journal.artificialityinstitute.org
🎧 Podcasts:
Inner Cosmos: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inner-cosmos-with-david-eagleman/id1677842672?i=1000725500632
Daily Creative: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-creative-with-todd-henry/id93424211?i=1000746851614
Another Daily Creative episode that I listened to after recording, but that shares many of the same ideas: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-creative-with-todd-henry/id93424211?i=1000746851614
I recommend listening to this whole series to understand the history and possible futures of AI: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-last-invention/id1839942885
Good advice on how to use AI while protecting your own humanity: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/curiosity-chronicle/id1618515146?i=1000745086705
The Chase Jarvis Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-chase-jarvis-live-show/id1127915772?i=1000724744969
📄 Studies on AI vs human-made art:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/395527740_The_Lovelace_Test_of_Intelligence_Can_Humans_Recognise_and_Esteem_AI-Generated_Art
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10319694/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11750838/
My website: https://www.animationexplained.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animationexplained
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/explanimated/
⬇️ Download The Motion Designer’s Starter Checklist for a list of skills and concepts to learn: https://link.animationexplained.com/starterchecklist6
A student asked me a simple question: is there still a demand for animated explainer videos in the age of AI?
In this video, I share my honest take. Not as someone who has it all figured out (no one has), but as a motion designer and educator who's been paying close attention to what AI can and can't actually do, and what it might mean for people who want to create this kind of work. I talk about what AI is genuinely capable of right now, where I think human creativity still has a real edge, and some practical advice for anyone learning motion design today.
No one can predict exactly how this plays out, but I don't think that means you can't make a thoughtful decision about whether to invest your time in these skills.
In this video:
0:15 - Is there a demand for motion design?
0:49 - What AI can do
3:48 - What AI can’t do
5:05 - Negative aspects of AI
6:32 - A useful way to think about AI and jobs
7:54 - How AI could help creatives
10:30 - What’s the point?
11:43 - Humans care about humans
13:40 - To use AI or not to use AI
14:21 - Practical advice if you want to learn motion design
Resources on AI that I’ve found interesting (I’m not saying I agree with everything in these):
Artificiality Institute (also check out their Instagram): https://journal.artificialityinstitute.org
🎧 Podcasts:
Inner Cosmos: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inner-cosmos-with-david-eagleman/id1677842672?i=1000725500632
Daily Creative: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-creative-with-todd-henry/id93424211?i=1000746851614
Another Daily Creative episode that I listened to after recording, but that shares many of the same ideas: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-creative-with-todd-henry/id93424211?i=1000746851614
I recommend listening to this whole series to understand the history and possible futures of AI: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-last-invention/id1839942885
Good advice on how to use AI while protecting your own humanity: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/curiosity-chronicle/id1618515146?i=1000745086705
The Chase Jarvis Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-chase-jarvis-live-show/id1127915772?i=1000724744969
📄 Studies on AI vs human-made art:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/395527740_The_Lovelace_Test_of_Intelligence_Can_Humans_Recognise_and_Esteem_AI-Generated_Art
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10319694/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11750838/
My website: https://www.animationexplained.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animationexplained
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/explanimated/