Meet Victoria Hauser, a talented animator whose journey into the industry wasn’t a straight line but one full of exploration and discovery. From studying law to working in retail, Victoria discovered her passion for animation and, after graduating from Animation Mentor in 2018, has contributed to major films like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Moana 2. Her journey shows how taking chances can lead to exciting opportunities.
Start to a Career in Animation
Animation Mentor: Tell us about your animation journey. How did you get to where you are today?
Victoria: It actually took me a while to find my way into animation. After high school, I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do so I explored a few different paths, from studying law and languages at university to working part-time in a clothing store.
Eventually, I realized I wanted to do something more creative, which led me to an evening program in multimedia arts in Austria, where I picked up skills in video editing, Photoshop, and even a bit of Autodesk Maya.
Ironically, I initially hated Maya and 3D work. It felt like the least exciting part of the course, and I never imagined building a career around it. But in my final year, we began to dive into animation, and that’s when I truly found my passion.
After graduating, I got an internship and later a part time position as a Generalist at an advertising company, where I worked mostly in motion graphics and applications like Adobe After Effects and Cinema 4D.
During one project, they brought in a freelance character animator, who was actually a former Animation Mentor student, and whose work inspired me to pursue the program myself.
Once I graduated from AM, I started sending out a ton of applications (and faced a lot of rejections), but eventually, I landed an interview at Dwarf Animation Studio in the South of France, where I worked on my first TV show, Trash Truck , directed by Max Keane.
I also got my first feature film experience when Sean Sexton, who was my mentor in Class 6, reached out for an interview on Spirit Untamed, a DreamWorks project at Jellyfish Pictures. That was the best proof for how valuable the connections made through AM can be.
Over the next few years, my career progressed quickly. After Trash Truck and Spirit, I worked on My Dad the Bounty Hunter at Dwarf, and then got the incredible offer from Sony to work on Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
Moving from Europe to Vancouver was a big decision, but I’m so glad I took that leap. As luck would have it, Disney opened a studio in Vancouver right as Spider-Verse was wrapping up, which gave me the incredible opportunity to work on my first Disney feature – Moana 2.
Looking back, I feel incredibly fortunate. I’ve had the chance to work on such exciting projects and collaborate with so many talented artists. My journey hasn’t been straightforward, but every step has been worth it, and I’m so grateful for how it’s all come together so far.
Working as a Disney Animator
Animation Mentor: Walk us through a day in the life of a Disney Animator.
Victoria: A typical day at Disney is a mix of creativity, collaboration, and a few fun rituals that make the whole experience special. My day often starts at our in-house barista. I’m not much of a coffee person, but it’s a wonderful chance to catch up with coworkers and enjoy a little moment to connect before diving into work.
Twice a week, we have Bagel Breakfasts, which is always a nice way to kick off the morning. After that, it’s time to settle in at my desk and get into the flow of working.
Throughout the day, we have Rounds, which gives us a chance to check in with our Supervising Animators to review our progress, discuss any challenges, and make sure everything’s on track. We also have Dailies, where we can show our work to the Director(s).
Disney also offers several learning opportunities throughout the week. There are talks and presentations that range from in-depth discussions on Shots or Tools, where fellow animators share tips and tricks, to exploring the history and traditions behind the projects we are working on.
Animation Mentor: What scenes or characters throughout your career have been your favorites to animate and why?
Victoria: I really love subtle scenes that show a character’s thought process and emotional struggles. There’s something truly magical about being able to jump into a character‘s head, driving their thoughts and emotions, and allowing the audience to experience those feelings — often even without any dialogue. It’s incredible how much can be communicated through facial expressions and breaths. These moments can be especially challenging to animate, as the action often slows down or becomes almost entirely still. Yet they’re vital to the story, offering a deeper connection between the audience and the character. These quiet, introspective moments really ground the performance, making the character’s emotions feel authentic and relatable.
Animation Mentor: What is one of the most challenging shots you’ve ever animated and what did you learn from it?
Victoria: I think every shot comes with its own set of challenges, especially early on in your career. One shot that stands out as particularly tough for me was a scene from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, where Miles and Spot are fighting and smashing into a scaffolding.
It wasn’t a very long shot, but it was challenging for me because I hadn’t done many physically dynamic shots up until then – I was mostly given Acting shots, which I felt more comfortable with.
I really appreciated that my Lead on Spider-Verse encouraged me to take on the challenge, and I learned a lot from it. It pushed me to think more about dynamic posing, as well as animating the camera to support the action and make it feel more physical.
Animation Mentor: Have you seen a piece of animation recently that inspired you? What was it?
Victoria: I recently watched the Over The Garden Wall 10th Anniversary Short from Aardman. I’ve always loved stop-motion animation, and this short is a wonderful homage to the original Over the Garden Wall mini-series, capturing its quirky charm and heartfelt storytelling in such a beautifully crafted way.
Experience as an Animation Mentor Student
Animation Mentor: How did Animation Mentor help prepare you for the industry?
Victoria: Animation Mentor really helped prepare me for the industry by giving me a solid foundation in both the technical and creative aspects of animation.
The mentorship model was one of the most valuable parts of the experience. Being able to work closely with professional animators gave me an inside look at the expectations and workflows that I would face once I entered the studio environment. They weren’t just teaching animation principles – they were helping me understand how to think like an animator, how to approach problems, and how to refine my craft in ways that would resonate with a director or a team.
The feedback from mentors was incredibly detailed and constructive, and it really pushed me to improve with every shot. I learned how to take feedback and use it to elevate my work, which is an essential skill in the industry, where collaboration and constant iteration are key. Animation Mentor also provided a structured environment with deadlines, which helped me build good habits and learn how to manage my time effectively — a must when you’re juggling multiple shots or projects in a professional setting.
The networking opportunities that AM offers were also invaluable. Through the online community, I connected with fellow animators from all over the world, many of whom are now my peers in the industry. The exposure to different styles, techniques, and experiences helped broaden my understanding of animation as a craft.
Overall, Animation Mentor didn’t just teach me how to animate — it prepared me for the demands of the industry, from working under pressure to collaborating with teams, while also helping me build the confidence to take on big challenges and keep growing as an animator.
Advice for Animation Students
Animation Mentor: Is there one thing every successful animator has in common? If so, what is it?
Victoria: A successful animator is someone who can blend creativity with technical skills and work well in a collaborative environment.
Every project introduces new challenges and excitements, and I believe the best animators are those that never stop learning, continually pushing themselves to grow, and adapt to new situations.
They bring their own unique style and ideas to each project, while also understanding how to work within the needs of the job and/or the studio.
Animation Mentor: What advice do you have for current or future Animation Mentor students?
Victoria: My biggest piece of advice would be to not be afraid to reach out to animators you admire, whose work inspires you.
The amount of knowledge and inspiration you can get from others is incredible, and it’s also a great way to build connections.
For me, the biggest growth I experienced came from asking for feedback and brainstorming ideas with others. It helped sharpen my eye, refining my skills and to think more creatively outside the box. Whether it was a friend, a coworker, or even an animator I didn’t know personally but reached out to, the industry is filled with people who are genuinely happy to help. You can gain so much just by starting that conversation.
Victoria Hauser in the Credits
• Moana 2
• Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
• Spirit Untamed
• My Dad the Bounty Hunter
…….and more!
See what other projects Victoria has worked on on IMDB or connect with her on Instagram.
Want to be mentored by professional animators?
Follow your animation dreams just like Victoria did by learning from animators at studios like Disney, Pixar, ILM, Riot Games, and Blizzard! Get more information about Animation Mentor’s Character Animation Program or check out our Game Animation Program.
