With frequent updates and lots of hidden tricks, Adobe After Effects CC keeps even elite Hollywood editors on their toes. Whether your primary use of the program is editing After Effects templates or creating advanced special FX, these top YouTube channels will keep you in the loop on all new functionalities and best practices. We’ve handpicked this list of eight influencers that every AE user should follow—and with the help of these YouTube experts, you’ll be creating amazing title sequences, graphics, or a full world of effects in no time.
KriscoartProductions
If you need a simple intro to start with, try Kriscoart Productions’ 20-minute intro video with more thumbs up ratings than most other YouTube videos have actual views. Once finished, watch some of his short films accompanied by tutorials explaining the techniques used.
Adobe Creative Cloud
This one seems like a no-brainer but Adobe Creative Cloud’s channel has some quick videos designed to help you keep up on new features, stay in the loop for any new products, and remain motivated by watching the work of others.
SonduckFilm
With downloadable project files, an incredibly responsive comment section, and very recent content, Sonduckfilm is more of a private lesson than a set of tutorials. Subscribe and learn exclusive techniques from this hidden gem!
Olufemii Tutorials
If you have less of a need for explosions and fancy intros and need more practical working knowledge, then Olufemii Tutorials is for you. Here you can learn how to apply makeup on an actor or actress, how to remove unwanted images in the frame, and get a helpful intro into After Effects expressions. Not just limited to After Effects, this channel does a comprehensive deep dive into the complicated world of a filmmaker.
Film Riot
Who doesn’t love some good old fashioned edu-tainment? Film Riot fuses tutorials with fun sketches of likable characters. FR pulls content from pop culture and teaches how to create things like an intense car chase, a Game of Thrones blind eye effect, and even g-g-g-ghosts?!?!
Red Giant Tutorials
With a huge selection of videos ranging from quick tips to extensive explainer videos, you are sure to find what you need with Red Giant.
TunnelvizionTV
Title sequences, crash zooms, creating 2d animations like South Park, this channel can teach you a large variety from After Effects, including things that may really surprise you.
AE With Mikey
In terms of sheer amount of great AE tutorials, AE With Mikey is pretty impressive—he’s been uploading a video just about every Friday for 5 years. Need help with something you can’t find on other channels? Chances are Mikey’s got it.
Honorable Mention
It may not necessarily be a channel fully dedicated to Adobe After Effects alone, but no list of AE template tutorials would be complete without a mention of Adobe’s own Creative Cloud TV. In an hour-long video designed to help users “too intimidated to open the program,” host Terry White calmly explains how to create animations from scratch, a must for any aspiring professional.
Don’t forget that if you want more tutorials you can always check out our own After Effects tutorials—and if you want content for practice, explore the huge selection in the Videoblocks by Storyblocks library, including hundreds of new After Effects templates.
