The Best Mentors

The Original, Online Animation School

Animation Mentor pioneered the concept of mentor-led, online education. Students in our animation courses develop a one-on-one relationship with experienced professionals working in the best studios around the globe. Mentors lead small, focused classes—no more than 9 students per class—and provide students with critical, up-to-the-minute insights into the industry, studio best practices, technology tips, and animation workflows.

Students don’t need to relocate to get an education from world-class animators, they just need wifi. Using our cutting-edge, proprietary technology and virtual campus, our mentors provide live instruction, offer feedback, and build lasting relationships with their students around the globe.

See Mentor Roster

Instructors from Every Major Studio

Students at Animation Mentor can choose from the most studio-diverse roster of professional animators at any educational institution in the world. We have over 100 mentors on our faculty!

Our instructors come from the best studios in the world, including:

Pixar Animation Studios
Walt Disney Animation Studios
DreamWorks Animation
Industrial Light & Magic
Sony Pictures Imageworks

… and many more. Check out our entire list of animation mentors—we know you’ll be impressed!

mentors-pic-robyne-powell-critique

The Highest Quality Mentors

Instructors at Animation Mentor undergo a vigorous screening and training process. This careful evaluation ensures that they are prepared to give our students the best education and experience.

Here’s how it works:

Our mentors are almost exclusively referred to us by other professionals in the industry
We conduct a formal interview and scrutinize their demo reel. We carefully review their accomplishments, the quality of their work and their ability to provide mentorship to students.
Our mentor manager trains our instructors on the finer points of our educational methodology — including Live Review protocol, assignment flow, directorship, critiquing, class management, grading, and more
It doesn’t stop there – our mentors are constantly trained to become better instructors and better resources for their students

Featured Mentors

Our mentors are the heart and soul of Animation Mentor. Veteran studio pro animators from powerhouses like Pixar, DreamWorks, and Industrial Light & Magic, teach you the ins and outs of production level animation from the very beginning, starting with Animation Basics – the first course of the Core Character Animation Courses.

<img decoding="async" width="150" height="150" alt="Martin Hopkins - Animation Basics Mentor" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mentor-Martin-Hopkins-150.jpg" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" src="/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mentor-Martin-Hopkins-150.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Martin Hopkins - Animation Basics Mentor" />

Martin Hopkins

Senior Animator
DreamWorks Animation

Martin Hopkins has been a professional animator since 1994 and has a background in 2D animation as well as 3D. He joined DreamWorks on the Bee Movie and went on to work on major hits including the How to Train Your Dragon series.

<img decoding="async" alt="Anthony Wong - Animation Basics Mentor" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mentor-Anthony-Wong-150.jpg" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" src="/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mentor-Anthony-Wong-150.jpg" alt="Anthony Wong - Animation Basics Mentor" />

Anthony Wong

Animator
Pixar Animation Studios

Anthony Wong has been a professional animator since 1991 and has worked on Disney classics like Hercules, Mulan, and Tarzan. As a 3D character animator at Pixar, he's worked on Cars, Ratatouille, Toy Story 3 and many others.

<img decoding="async" alt="Jane Cassidy - Animation Basics Mentor" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/mentor-jane-cassidy-150-2.jpg" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" src="/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/mentor-jane-cassidy-150-2.jpg" alt="Jane Cassidy - Animation Basics Mentor" />

Jane Cassidy

Animator
Pixar Animation Studios

Jane Cassidy has been a professional animator since 2013 and is currently an animator at Pixar Animation Studios. At Pixar, she's worked on blockbusters like Coco, Onward, Monsters University, and Finding Dory.

<img decoding="async" alt="Nick Kondo - Introduction to Acting Mentor" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Mentor-Nick-Kondo.jpg" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" src="/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Mentor-Nick-Kondo.jpg" alt="Nick Kondo - Introduction to Acting Mentor" />

Nick Kondo

Supervising Animator
Sony Pictures Imageworks

Nick Kondo has been a professional animator since 2005 and is currently a lead animator at Sony Pictures ImageWorks. He worked on the Oscar-winning, groundbreaking film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and other films including The Mitchells vs. The Machines.

<img decoding="async" alt="Ere Santos - Body Mechanics Mentor" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/mentor-ere-santos-150.jpg" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" src="/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/mentor-ere-santos-150.jpg" alt="Ere Santos - Body Mechanics Mentor" />

Ere Santos

Senior Animator
Sony Pictures Imageworks

Ere has been a professional animator since 2017 and is currently a senior animator at Sony Pictures Imageworks. Originally from Canada, Ere has worked at prominent studios including Pixar, MPC, and DEG.

<img decoding="async" alt="Paul Allen - Body Mechanics Mentor" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/mentor-paul-allen-150.jpg" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/mentor-paul-allen-150.jpg" alt="Paul Allen - Body Mechanics Mentor" />

Paul Allen

Senior Animator
Id Software / Xbox Game Studios

Paul Allen has been a professional animator since 1997 and is currently a senior animator at id Software, known for the DOOM video game franchise, and Xbox Game Studios. He started his career in television and was a character animation supervisor for the Nickelodeon classic, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.

<img decoding="async" alt="Drew Adams - Advanced Body Mechanics Mentor" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/mentor-drew-adams-150.jpg" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" src="/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/mentor-drew-adams-150.jpg" alt="Drew Adams - Advanced Body Mechanics Mentor" />

Drew Adams

Animator
DreamWorks Animation

Drew Adams has been a professional animator since 2001 and is currently an animator at DreamWorks Animation. He started as an in-between 2D animator on Atlantis: The Lost Empire and transitioned to 3D animation on DreamWorks films including How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.

<img decoding="async" width="150" height="150" alt="Martin Hopkins - Animation Basics Mentor" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mentor-Martin-Hopkins-150.jpg" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" src="/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mentor-Martin-Hopkins-150.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Martin Hopkins - Animation Basics Mentor" />

Martin Hopkins

Senior Animator
DreamWorks Animation

Martin Hopkins has been a professional animator since 1994 and has a background in 2D animation as well as 3D. He joined DreamWorks on the Bee Movie and went on to work on major hits including the How to Train Your Dragon series.

<img decoding="async" alt="Anthony Wong - Animation Basics Mentor" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mentor-Anthony-Wong-150.jpg" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" src="/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mentor-Anthony-Wong-150.jpg" alt="Anthony Wong - Animation Basics Mentor" />

Anthony Wong

Animator
Pixar Animation Studios

Anthony Wong has been a professional animator since 1991 and has worked on Disney classics like Hercules, Mulan, and Tarzan. As a 3D character animator at Pixar, he's worked on Cars, Ratatouille, Toy Story 3 and many others.

<img decoding="async" alt="Jane Cassidy - Animation Basics Mentor" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/mentor-jane-cassidy-150-2.jpg" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" src="/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/mentor-jane-cassidy-150-2.jpg" alt="Jane Cassidy - Animation Basics Mentor" />

Jane Cassidy

Animator
Pixar Animation Studios

Jane Cassidy has been a professional animator since 2013 and is currently an animator at Pixar Animation Studios. At Pixar, she's worked on blockbusters like Coco, Onward, Monsters University, and Finding Dory.

<img decoding="async" alt="Nick Kondo - Introduction to Acting Mentor" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Mentor-Nick-Kondo.jpg" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" src="/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Mentor-Nick-Kondo.jpg" alt="Nick Kondo - Introduction to Acting Mentor" />

Nick Kondo

Supervising Animator
Sony Pictures Imageworks

Nick Kondo has been a professional animator since 2005 and is currently a lead animator at Sony Pictures ImageWorks. He worked on the Oscar-winning, groundbreaking film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and other films including The Mitchells vs. The Machines.

<img decoding="async" alt="Ere Santos - Body Mechanics Mentor" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/mentor-ere-santos-150.jpg" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" src="/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/mentor-ere-santos-150.jpg" alt="Ere Santos - Body Mechanics Mentor" />

Ere Santos

Senior Animator
Sony Pictures Imageworks

Ere has been a professional animator since 2017 and is currently a senior animator at Sony Pictures Imageworks. Originally from Canada, Ere has worked at prominent studios including Pixar, MPC, and DEG.

<img decoding="async" alt="Paul Allen - Body Mechanics Mentor" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/mentor-paul-allen-150.jpg" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/mentor-paul-allen-150.jpg" alt="Paul Allen - Body Mechanics Mentor" />

Paul Allen

Senior Animator
Id Software / Xbox Game Studios

Paul Allen has been a professional animator since 1997 and is currently a senior animator at id Software, known for the DOOM video game franchise, and Xbox Game Studios. He started his career in television and was a character animation supervisor for the Nickelodeon classic, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.

<img decoding="async" alt="Drew Adams - Advanced Body Mechanics Mentor" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/mentor-drew-adams-150.jpg" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" src="/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/mentor-drew-adams-150.jpg" alt="Drew Adams - Advanced Body Mechanics Mentor" />

Drew Adams

Animator
DreamWorks Animation

Drew Adams has been a professional animator since 2001 and is currently an animator at DreamWorks Animation. He started as an in-between 2D animator on Atlantis: The Lost Empire and transitioned to 3D animation on DreamWorks films including How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.

<img decoding="async" width="150" height="150" alt="Martin Hopkins - Animation Basics Mentor" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mentor-Martin-Hopkins-150.jpg" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" src="/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mentor-Martin-Hopkins-150.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Martin Hopkins - Animation Basics Mentor" />

Martin Hopkins

Senior Animator
DreamWorks Animation

Martin Hopkins has been a professional animator since 1994 and has a background in 2D animation as well as 3D. He joined DreamWorks on the Bee Movie and went on to work on major hits including the How to Train Your Dragon series.

<img decoding="async" alt="Anthony Wong - Animation Basics Mentor" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mentor-Anthony-Wong-150.jpg" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" src="/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mentor-Anthony-Wong-150.jpg" alt="Anthony Wong - Animation Basics Mentor" />

Anthony Wong

Animator
Pixar Animation Studios

Anthony Wong has been a professional animator since 1991 and has worked on Disney classics like Hercules, Mulan, and Tarzan. As a 3D character animator at Pixar, he's worked on Cars, Ratatouille, Toy Story 3 and many others.

<img decoding="async" alt="Jane Cassidy - Animation Basics Mentor" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/mentor-jane-cassidy-150-2.jpg" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" src="/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/mentor-jane-cassidy-150-2.jpg" alt="Jane Cassidy - Animation Basics Mentor" />

Jane Cassidy

Animator
Pixar Animation Studios

Jane Cassidy has been a professional animator since 2013 and is currently an animator at Pixar Animation Studios. At Pixar, she's worked on blockbusters like Coco, Onward, Monsters University, and Finding Dory.

<img decoding="async" alt="Nick Kondo - Introduction to Acting Mentor" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Mentor-Nick-Kondo.jpg" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" src="/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Mentor-Nick-Kondo.jpg" alt="Nick Kondo - Introduction to Acting Mentor" />

Nick Kondo

Supervising Animator
Sony Pictures Imageworks

Nick Kondo has been a professional animator since 2005 and is currently a lead animator at Sony Pictures ImageWorks. He worked on the Oscar-winning, groundbreaking film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and other films including The Mitchells vs. The Machines.

<img decoding="async" alt="Ere Santos - Body Mechanics Mentor" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/mentor-ere-santos-150.jpg" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" src="/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/mentor-ere-santos-150.jpg" alt="Ere Santos - Body Mechanics Mentor" />

Ere Santos

Senior Animator
Sony Pictures Imageworks

Ere has been a professional animator since 2017 and is currently a senior animator at Sony Pictures Imageworks. Originally from Canada, Ere has worked at prominent studios including Pixar, MPC, and DEG.

<img decoding="async" alt="Paul Allen - Body Mechanics Mentor" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/mentor-paul-allen-150.jpg" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/mentor-paul-allen-150.jpg" alt="Paul Allen - Body Mechanics Mentor" />

Paul Allen

Senior Animator
Id Software / Xbox Game Studios

Paul Allen has been a professional animator since 1997 and is currently a senior animator at id Software, known for the DOOM video game franchise, and Xbox Game Studios. He started his career in television and was a character animation supervisor for the Nickelodeon classic, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.

<img decoding="async" alt="Drew Adams - Advanced Body Mechanics Mentor" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/mentor-drew-adams-150.jpg" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" src="/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/mentor-drew-adams-150.jpg" alt="Drew Adams - Advanced Body Mechanics Mentor" />

Drew Adams

Animator
DreamWorks Animation

Drew Adams has been a professional animator since 2001 and is currently an animator at DreamWorks Animation. He started as an in-between 2D animator on Atlantis: The Lost Empire and transitioned to 3D animation on DreamWorks films including How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.

See More Mentors

Choose Your Mentor

Once you've applied and been accepted into Animation Mentor, you can choose your mentor and register for class.