Beginners animating a mesh 3D model should start with simple keyframe animation in accessible software (e.g., Blender, Maya LT), focusing on basic transformations like move, rotate, or scale.
Keyframe animation works by setting "keyframes"—specific states of the mesh at different times (e.g., a cube’s position at frame 0 vs. 30). The software automatically fills in the motion between these points, making it ideal for beginners in games, videos, or small projects.
For practice, animate a basic mesh (sphere, cube) doing simple actions (moving, bouncing). Use 1–2 keyframes per action to keep it easy, and preview with the timeline to adjust—no advanced rigging needed yet.