We're big fans of Toon Boom Harmony. If you are too, you can probably guess why: it's an incredibly versatile system that's hard to beat when it comes to digital 2D animation.
Like any other creative app, there is a learning curve. With some guidance and instruction, however, this curve is not difficult to overcome.
The tutorials for beginners listed here all examine the program under a different lens. If you're eager to learn how to animate in Harmony 20, you'll find something to love about all of them.
1. Oli's Toon Boom Harmony 20 Muckabout
What is a "muck-about", exactly? Oli plunks here and there in Harmony 20, showcasing its best features for all to see.
This Toon Boom tutorial explores every corner authentically and earnestly, making it a pleasure to revel under. He walks you through a basic Harmony 20 workflow, troubleshooting common problems, and sees you through to the very end.
2. TonyTeach's Take on Toon Boom Versions
Tony Ross steps outside of the box to breach territory that few dare to step foot upon: which is the best version of Harmony?
Tony takes a particular interest in Harmony Essentials, which we respect greatly. He puts even the most basic version of Harmony in the same class as animation software like Adobe Animate; we have to say that we agree wholeheartedly.
This tutorial highlights the significance of deformers as he shows you how these tools change the Harmony 20 experience intrinsically and let you make the call for yourself accordingly.
He even shows you how to emulate the iconic rubber hose style of animation using contemporary tools. It's an old-school approach made simple, adapted for the best animation software of all time.
3. Onion Skin's Rigging With Bones in Toon Boom Essentials
This Harmony 20 tutorial is perfect for beginners. Bones in Toon Boom Harmony show the app where the abdomen, arms, legs, and head of your character are. You can link everything up so you can manipulate them, just like a real puppet.
We love this walkthrough because it takes you from character design all the way through to actually animating the character. Not only does the instructor tell you what to do, but they also advise you on how to set everything up from the very beginning in service of a successful final product.
Everything that goes into the makings of a cartoon is covered here, so be prepared for a journey. It's worth noting that this tutorial is Harmony 20 Essentials-specific, meaning anybody can follow along to a T.
4. Rigging a Character Turnaround in Toon Boom Harmony by Jon Taylor
This tutorial builds upon the rigging concept to include different character angles. It sounds so much more complicated than it is, but Jon breaks it down neatly and presents the facts without any fluff.
It features one of Jazza's famous character designs. The model that he uses is available for free download; there's nothing like using a professional character design for practice. If you intend to emulate this example, we recommend trying it out.
5. How to Clean Up Animation in Toon Boom by Nari Animation
Clean-up animation is the process of lining and coloring in each frame of an animated sequence. It can be labor-intensive and time-consuming, but this tutorial by Nari Animation makes it look easy enough to tackle for your own projects.
Nari Animation walks us through the process of refining an animated sequence frame-by-frame, with no shortcuts, and all raw talent. He shows you how to really dive in and pay attention to the quality of the work. Plus, he's a great artist, so it's enjoyable to watch.
6. Integrating a Photoshop Background to Toon Boom Harmony
The official Toon Boom YouTube channel covers this exceptionally useful concept so beautifully. If it ain't broke, why fix it?
This tutorial admittedly relies just a bit on some fundamental knowledge of a Harmony workflow, but the facts are presented clearly enough for even a beginner to grasp. This no-nonsense glimpse through the eyes of a pro provides you with everything that you need to populate your own animations with Photoshop integrations.
It's a bit on the shorter side, but it doesn't fail to cover any part of the process from start to finish.
7. Rigging an Arm With Deformers in Toon Boom Harmony by mattwattsart
This contemplative and methodic overview of Harmony's Deformers shows you how to rig a puppet in Harmony, step-by-step. Deformers are useful because they give you freedom when puppeteering your character. They can shake, rattle, wiggle, and boogie to your liking, and it's quite a speedy process.
Matt Watts has a great way of explaining each step in detail; you won't miss a single beat.
8. Planning Your Animation With X-Sheet in Toon Boom Harmony by Bloop Animation
Using Harmony's X-Sheet feature is a useful way to visualize the progression of your sequence. One of Harmony's most uniquely well-built features is its own native X-sheet, right in the program next to the timeline.
You can use it just as you would a real dope sheet. This tutorial even shows you how to import a waveform that runs right along the exposure sheet itself.
Bloop Animation's previous Toon Boom tutorials inform some of the lessons in this one; we highly recommend that you check those out as well. The instructor discusses everything from inbetweening to animating on twos, which basically means playing a 12fps animation at 24fps.
Learn How to Animate With Harmony 20 Online
No matter how you intend to use the application, if you want to learn how to animate, the right teacher will open the door for you. There is nothing like a beginner, eager to learn, hearing it first-hand from an expert.
It's easy to see why the pros love Harmony 20. This truth will become even more evident as you make your way through this list of awesome tutorials. A marathon sesh and a little bit of experimentation, and you'll be animating with the best of them before you know it.