Featured Workshop
Maya Survival Skills for New Animators
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 skills to the next level.
Animation Tips & Tricks
Animating Dialogue
Learn how to make your characters truly speak on screen. Mentor Jay Jackson shares timeless dialogue animation principles passed down from Disney’s Nine Old Men and shows how these ideas bring depth and authenticity to both 2D and 3D performances in this recorded session.
Acting Craft for Animators
Deepen your understanding of how actors approach story and character in this free recorded workshop led by acting consultant Allen Simpson. He breaks down key concepts in script analysis, character development, and performance vocabulary.
Building a Standout Demo Reel
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 practical do’s and don’ts for selecting, editing, and presenting your work.
The 12 Principles of Animation
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 to apply them to your own work.
Push Appeal & Clarity in Your Posing with Jason Martinsen
Unlock the secrets of compelling animation! Join Animator Jason Martinsen and learn how to craft poses that clearly communicate your intent, feature strong lines of action, and showcase striking silhouettes.
Transitioning from School to Pro Game Animator
Gameplay Animator Natasha Krinsky will guides you through the essential skills needed to succeed as a game animator. Learn how to apply these skills in real game studio workflows and understand what studios look for in applicants.
animBot Global Offset Tool
Dive deep into animBot’s Global Offset tool in this free workshop with Disney Animation Supervisor Ere Santos! Ere discusses how to use this tool, as well as other ways Global Offset can be utilized in your workflow.
animBot Tween Machine & More
Look at some of Sony Pictures Imageworks Animator Nicolás Burmester’s go-to animBot tools and how they can make your workflow in Maya faster and more flexible in this live-recorded workshop. He shares real examples from production, like using Tween Machine to build breakdowns quickly, Blend to Buffer to losslessly explore ideas, and Temp Pivot to better control your rigs.
animBot Temp Controls for Maya
ILM Senior Animator Mario Orlando teaches you how to easily implement sophisticated constraints in Maya for stronger control and adaptability with your characters and props. He shares practical techniques for using animBot tools to quickly prototype, adjust, and explore new possibilities in your animation.
Getting Started in Autodesk Maya
If you’re just starting out in animation, getting comfortable with Maya is a key first step. In this free workshop, Image Engine Senior Animator Denis Dvoryankin will guide you through the basics of Autodesk Maya and help you build a solid foundation for your animation workflow.
Breaking the Rules: When & How to Push Animation Beyond Reality
Riot Games Animation Lead Barry Rooney examines the relationship between intent, emotion, and clarity – and uncovers why bending the rules can lead to stronger, more memorable moments.
Rigging for Animators
Creating believable animation starts with understanding how characters move—and that means understanding rigging. In this free workshop, Chris Nelder, Founder and CEO of Twisted Mountain Animation, breaks down the essentials of character rigging for animators.
2D Animation vs 3D Animation: What’s Different and How to Transition
Animation Director T. Dan Hofstedt discusses similarities and differences between 2D & 3D while reviewing practical strategies adapt 2D skills to 3D character animation.
Acting for Animators: How to Create Believable Character Performances
Animator and Director Don Kim shares examples and his top advice for creating compelling and believable animated character performances.
Creating a Standout Animation Demo Reel with Ere Santos
Disney Animation Supervisor Ere Santos shares his top strategies for making a killer demo reel that studios will notice.
Storyboarding for Animators: How to Plan Your Shots Like a Director
Eisner and Annie Award-winning cartoonist Mike Kunkel helps you build your storytelling knowledge and inspiration from an animator’s point of view.
Animating Subtle Performances
DreamWorks Animator Drew Adams gives his top tips and tricks for crafting professional level character animation performances to help you create more emotive, subtle, and lifelike animation.
Autodesk Maya for Beginners with Paul Allen
Longtime AM Mentor and id Software Senior Animator Paul Allen shares his best tips for getting started with the Autodesk Maya software.
Unreal Engine for Animators with Olivier Zurcher
Blizzard Senior Animator Olivier Zurcher discusses how every animator can use Unreal Engine.
Cameras and Cinematography for Animators with Ere Santos
Disney Animation Supervisor Ere Santos shares his best tips for elevating your animation with dynamic cinematography.
Maya for Blender Users with Myles Jackson
Know how to animate in Blender but don’t know where to start with Autodesk Maya? Learn some simple steps on how to get started in Maya with the skills you already have.
Careers in Previs Animation
Gain insight into careers in previs and workflows used on major projects. Led by Netflix Senior Character Animator and Previs Supervisor Nicole Herr.
How a Pixar Animator Uses 2D
Pixar Animator Youri Dekker shows how he utilizes 2D animation as part of his process for animating 3D shots for films like Inside Out 2, Lightyear, and Luca.
Getting Started as a Game Animator with Luke Madden
Call of Duty Animator Luke Madden shares his advice for building a “game-ready” showreel, including a checklist of animations to include on any games reel.
Animating Natural Walk Cycles
Animator and Director Don Kim breaks down the process of animating a natural biped walk, delving into the body mechanics involved and doing a demonstration on the workflows to animate the walk.
Animating Facial Expressions with Brendan Gottlieb
In this workshop, Disney Animator Brendan Gottlieb discusses how to craft 3D poses from a 2D standpoint by understanding how a 2D animator would draw facial expressions. He shares practical tips on how to manually craft expressions rather than relying on a rig’s default output – and when it’s ok to break the rules.
Unlocking Unreal Engine: An Animation Introduction
Sony Lead Animator Ethan Hurd shows how to start animating directly within Unreal Engine, enabling you to utilize real-time tools to create high-quality animations for both games and films.
Free Workshop: Introduction to Substance 3D Painter
Learn how to utilize Substance 3D Painter to simplify and superpower your 3D workflow in this free hour-long workshop. This workflow will allow you to interactively paint and layer materials on your 3D model to make it look however you want.
Mastering Lip Sync with Ere Santos
Disney Animation Supervisor Ere Santos shares his tips and tricks for effective lip sync, emphasizing planning and polishing techniques. He stresses the significance of timing and synchronization between audio and visual elements.
Introduction to Maya with Nicole Herr
Netflix Senior Character Animator and AM Mentor Nicole Herr will help you simplify getting started with the industry standard software, Autodesk Maya.
Career Advice
Getting Started as a Game Animator with Luke Madden
Call of Duty Animator Luke Madden shares his advice for building a “game-ready” showreel, including a checklist of animations to include on any games reel.
Navigating AI in the Animation and VFX Industries with Michael Tanzillo
Michael Tanzillo, Head of 3D Technical Artists at Adobe Substance 3D, met with the Animation Mentor community to discuss the impact of AI on the animation and VFX industries.
State of the Animation Industry and AI with Alessandro Camporota
Animator Alessandro Camporota sat down with Animation Mentor to discuss the state of the animation industry including recent layoffs and the growth of AI.
Animation Career Advice from Shawn Kelly & Carlos Baena
What should I put on my animation demo reel? What can animators do to improve their skills? How do I build my confidence as an animator and an artist? ILM Lead Animator Shawn Kelly and Paramount Director Carlos Baena answer these and other questions in this animation webinar. Don’t miss two of Animation Mentor’s Co-Founders sharing their stories and advice!
Is Your Demo Reel Ready for a Major Studio? – With Shawn Kelly
Learn how to get your demo reel noticed by major studios! Shawn Kelly—Animation Mentor Co-Founder and Industrial Light & Magic Lead Animator—took a little break from working on the next blockbuster to review and critique some student demo reels and to talk about do’s and don’ts, creature animation, and what studios are looking for in your demo reel.
How to Become an Animator with Blue Sky Animators
We were lucky enough to sit down with Animation Mentor alumni and former Blue Sky Animators Travis Tohill and Dan Segarra to chat with them about their work and animation experience. Enjoy the advice from these pros!
