Blog | Animation Mentor

Free Workshop: Using Sketchbook Practice to Create Characters with Stephen Silver

https://youtu.be/L1OpbCdS7G0 Learn how stronger character development and drawing starts with truly observing the world around you in this free live-recorded workshop with character designer Stephen Silver. Stephen breaks down what artists should actually be looking...

Tutorial: Animating Character Environmental Interaction

https://youtu.be/bQZFBxiXxrc Animator Nathaniel Seymour walks through a full character and environment interaction using a personal short film project. He shows how a character reaches for a flower that's just out of reach, then decides to pull down the entire plant...

Tutorial: Turning a Blank MetaHuman Into a Playable Game Character

https://youtu.be/j0slMAHClkE In this recorded video tutorial, animator and Animation Mentor mentor Nicole Gregory breaks down MetaHuman Creator, Epic's tool for building realistic digital characters, and shows the full path from a blank character template to a rigged,...

Tutorial: Why This DreamWorks Animator Films Himself Before Animating a Single Frame

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Aacsi114kI Nicholas De Lotto, an animator at DreamWorks Animation currently working on Shrek 5, walks through how he uses his own video reference to block out a shot. In this tutorial, Nick shows why shooting yourself acting out a...

Tutorial: Why Game Cameras Are Starting to Feel Like Movies

https://youtu.be/b2fwLwzK93s Natasha Krinsky, an Animation Mentor mentor who teaches in the Game Animation and Character Animation programs, walks through how camera placement works in video games and why modern game cameras have started to feel more like film...

Free Workshop: Using Sketchbook Practice to Create Characters with Stephen Silver

by Animation Mentor | Characters, Continual Learning, Interviews

Tutorial: Animating Character Environmental Interaction

by Animation Mentor | Animation, Animation Tips and Tricks, Continual Learning

Free Workshop: Using Sketchbook Practice to Create Characters with Stephen Silver

A Conversation with Disney Legend Andreas Deja

https://youtu.be/HAiTpKcUOz8 We were honored to sit down with Disney Legend Andreas Deja as he reflected on decades animating some of Disney’s most beloved characters and the making of his hand‑drawn short film Mushka. He even took us behind the scenes to the initial...

Alum AJ Jefferies Shares Advice on Making Independent Shorts

AJ Jefferies AJ Jefferies has been making animation since he was a kid, starting with hand-drawn Looney Tunes-style shorts before moving into 3D. After working as a CG generalist, he came to Animation Mentor to focus on character animation, which helped him push his...

Free Workshop: Maya Survival Skills for New Animators

https://youtu.be/0G2588Byfxs Join Senior Character Animator Nicole Herr for this engaging recorded workshop on simple techniques and tricks to make your Maya workflow simpler and smoother. Learn the basics of layers and constraints to help push your animation...

Free Workshop: animBot Temp Controls for Maya

https://youtu.be/mLOg3pq7wEs Discover how to easily implement sophisticated constraints in Maya that offer stronger control and adaptability for your characters and props. ILM Senior Animator Mario Orlando explores practical techniques to leverage animBot tools,...

2026 Animation Mentor Student Showcase

by Animation Mentor | Student Showcase

Presenting the 2026 Animation Mentor Student Showcase, featuring work from our 3D character and game animation students.

Animation Mentor Student Showcase 2025 – Celebrating 20 Years

by Animation Mentor | Student Showcase

Presenting the 2025 Animation Mentor Student Showcase, featuring work from our 3D character animation students.

Animation Mentor Student Showcase 2024 – Celebrating Global Creativity

by Animation Mentor | Student Showcase

Presenting the 2024 Animation Mentor Student Showcase, featuring work from our 3D character animation students.

Free Workshop: The 12 Principles of Animation

by Animation Mentor | 12 Principles of Animation, Animation, Animation Tips and Tricks, Continual Learning, Mentors

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7zN66riKKI Master the fundamentals that have shaped animation for nearly a century. In this free recorded workshop, Disney veteran animator Jay Jackson, breaks down the 12 Principles of Animation and shows you how...

Tutorial: How to Master the 12 Principles of Animation

by Animation Mentor | 12 Principles of Animation, Animation, Animation Tips and Tricks, Mentors

Learn the 12 Principles of Animation with Don Kim. Discover essential tips for squash and stretch, anticipation, staging, timing, and more to create believable, dynamic animation.

Appeal: The 12 Basic Principles of Animation

by Ethan Hurd | 12 Principles of Animation, Animation Tips and Tricks

The difference between appealing and unappealing animation isn’t limited to subject; what matters is how you present ideas, concepts, and emotional highs/lows to the audience. Learn about Appeal from Disney Toon Studios animator Ethan Hurd!

Tutorial: Animating Character Environmental Interaction

Tutorial: Why This DreamWorks Animator Films Himself Before Animating a Single Frame

Tutorial: Why Game Cameras Are Starting to Feel Like Movies

Free Workshop: Your First Animation

https://youtu.be/daWnEsJqZlg Discover why timing and spacing are the first big steps to believable animation in this free workshop with DreamWorks character animator Robyne West. Using a classic bouncing ball exercise in Maya, Robyne demonstrates how to create...

Tutorial: How Size Changes the Way a Character Moves

https://youtu.be/q_klBjzsuns In this tutorial, Animation Mentor graduate Nathaniel Seymour walks through a two character shot that pairs a small, fast rig with a large, heavy one. Using his own video reference, he shows how animation layers can add variety on top of a...

DEMO REEL ADVICE

Free Workshop: Polishing Passes

https://youtu.be/jzuxAmadcm8 Take your animation beyond the blocking stage and into a truly polished performance. In this recorded workshop, mentor and Framestore Animation Supervisor Arslan Elver breaks down how to refine spacing, clean up arcs, and elevate secondary...

Free Reel Workshop with DreamWorks Head of Character Animation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJn_Jv-XgZg Learn the essentials of what makes a demo reel truly stand out in this focused workshop with DreamWorks Head of Character Animation Sean Sexton. You’ll walk through the 5 key things every strong show reel needs, along with...

Free Workshop: Creating a Standout Animation Demo Reel

https://youtu.be/Hh_rgOsFMwM You’ve spent countless hours animating your best shots but translating them into a demo reel that will make your work shine above the rest isn’t always a clear task. In this free workshop, Disney Animation Supervisor Ere Santos gives...

Dos and Don’ts For Developing Your Character Animation Reel

The field of animation is becoming more popular with each passing year. As the demand for unique and entertaining content grows, the demand for skilled animators is also on the rise. But there’s a catch: this sector is also remarkably competitive! That’s especially...

Top 3 Reasons You Need Creature Animation on Your Demo Reel

Just a few of the films on Shawn Kelly's IMDb page Shawn Kelly, Lead Animator at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Animation Mentor Co-Founder educates us on why you need more creature animation in your demo reel and reminds us that we are all animators. Sit back,...

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