Here’s How To Get Free Storytelling Classes From The Pros At Pixar

Love Pixar movies? Want to learn more about animation? You’re in luck! Pixar Animation Studios has just launched a free online course about the “Art of Storytelling.”

“Pixar in a Box” is a behind-the-scenes look at how Pixar artists work on the films we all know and love.

The animation studio has created some of the best animated movies in the business, from “Toy Story” in 1995, all the way to their newest film, “Finding Dory.” They have 17 feature films and have more in the works, including “Cars 3,” “The Incredibles 2” and “Toy Story 4.”

With films like these, who better to teach us about animation?

The courses are offered as a collaboration between Pixar Animation Studios and Khan Academy and are sponsored by Disney. Teachers for the courses include directors like Pete Doctor of “Up” and “Inside Out” and Mark Andrews of “Brave” and “The Incredibles.”

Lesson one of six is available now, with the rest scheduled to roll out throughout the year.

The first course is titled “We Are Storytellers.” In the lesson, you’ll hear from Pixar directors and artists about how they got their start and what stories inspire them. It will help you begin to think about what stories you’d like to tell.

All courses include videos and activities to complete. The first course has four activities, followed by some storytelling advice.

The next installment will explore “Character” and will begin to address the ways that the technical elements come together to further Pixar’s main goal—storytelling. It will also explore the process of taking a story from inception to finished product.

This is the third season of “Pixar in a Box” on Khan Academy, which launched in 2015. Other topics have included simulation, color, effects, characters, sets and more.

A teaser for the first six lessons is below. If you’re intrigued, you can sign up on the Khan Academy website.