Abstract: A method and system provide the ability to operate a three-dimensional (3D) computer animation and visual effects application (3D application). An interactive tutorial is initialized to perform an operation in the 3D application. The operation consists of a series of two or more steps and is a 3D animation, modeling, or visual effect operation. A text instruction for performing a first step of the two or more steps is displayed. User input is received, and a determination is made regarding whether the input successfully completes the first step. If not successfully completed, the tutorial waits for additional user input. If the user input results in a successful completion of the first step, the tutorial repeats until additional steps of the operation are also completed.