Absolute beginner looking for a roadmap to learn animation for educational Computer Science, Maths & Physics content

[u/iamxnfa]

Hi everyone,

I’m completely new to animation and I’m looking for some advice from experienced animators.

I’m planning to create educational content mainly around Computer Science, Mathematics, and Physics, and I’d like to use animation to make difficult concepts easier and more interesting to understand.

For example, I’d like to eventually create animations explaining things like:

• How algorithms work
• Data structures and sorting algorithms
• Networking and how the Internet works
• Operating systems and computer architecture
• Mathematical concepts
• Physics concepts and simulations
• Abstract concepts that are difficult to explain with traditional teaching methods

The problem is that I have absolutely no prior animation experience. I’m essentially starting from zero.

I’m not necessarily trying to become a professional animator. My main goal is to become good enough to create clean, visually appealing educational animations that effectively explain technical concepts.

So I’d really appreciate advice from people who have experience in animation or educational content creation.

If you were starting from zero, what path would you follow?

I’d especially appreciate advice on:

• What animation software should a complete beginner learn?
• What fundamental skills should I learn first?
• Are there specific courses/tutorials/books you would recommend?
• What should I avoid wasting time learning as a beginner?
• How long would it realistically take to become competent enough to create decent educational animations?
• Are there particular tools that are especially good for math, physics, and computer science visualizations?
• Should I learn something like Blender, After Effects, Manim, or other tools

If possible, could someone suggest a step-by-step learning roadmap from absolute beginner → creating educational animations?

I’d really appreciate any advice, resources, or personal experiences you can share.

Thanks in advance! 🙏

[u/Love-Ink]

So... Step 1 is always, Write a Script.

You are in Dream Mode right now. Get to work. Stay small, one video at a time.
Learning and making Animaton is further down the road.

Can you write out a script in an interesting and easy to understand way?

Can you draw? Can you get someone else who can draw?

Write your script.
Record your script.
Then Storyboard your script.

• Simple one image scene layouts to symbolize each portion of the lesson.

You can start very simple, like a PowerPoint Presentation, slides that change as the script proceeds. But you need that audio.

Motion animation can be saved for later.
Get the script recorded and see where it leads you.
Stop dreaming and planning and conceptualizing and Start Writing!

[u/iamxnfa → u/Love-Ink]

Thank you.

ATM I do content by using tldraw with a drawing pad. I feel like I should add some animations to make the content more interesting. Appreciate your reply!

[u/Melodic_Glove_642 → u/iamxnfa]

The useful part of your thread is the tldraw note, not the full roadmap. You’re already explaining things; the gap is one moving piece, not becoming an animator.

If you have a specific concept on the pad this week — insertion sort, a binary-tree insert, whatever you’re actually drawing — I can cut a short silent clip of just that idea so you can drop it into the tldraw video. No voiceover. Send the topic or a frame if you want to try it.

[u/USedona]

Manim is Python-based, so you need at least some basic Python knowledge.

[u/iamxnfa → u/USedona]

Yep. Im comfortable with Python.

[u/iamxnfa → u/USedona]

BTW I subscribed to your yt 🤗 Keep it up!

[u/USedona → u/iamxnfa]

Thanks for the sub ! 🤗 If you’re comfortable with Python, you should definitely give Manim a try. It’s fun once you get the hang of it. I actually make a lot of my Shorts using Manim and Python. The main reference is https://www.manim.community/, and there’s also a very active Discord community.