Animation Industry Podcast

This episode features Dave Thomas, a Director, Creator, and Animator on how he carved out a path in stop motion in Toronto. You’ll also learn: *The kind of ingenuity it takes to get paid for something you love to do *How to get studios to notice you when you’re just starting out *Why studios aren’t investing in stop motion and what it would take for them to do so More about Dave Thomas: Drawing and dreaming since childhood, Dave’s original plans were to go into physics… but then he changed his mind. He also originally had no plans to enter the world of animation and enrolled in Sheridan College’s Media Arts program, majoring in Film Production. However, he started to experiment with plasticine animation in first year and got bitten by the animation bug. He realized that stop-motion is an exciting mix of live-action film principles and elements (real cameras, lights, sets) and the complete control of frame-by-frame animation. Over the years, Dave has directed award-winning series, specials, show opens an

This episode features filmmaker and stop motion animator Sylvie Trouvé who shares what you can learn at the newly created See-Learn Online Stop Motion Academy. *What sort of materials you need to start animating right now *A full breakdown of the classes and the type of feedback you’ll get *You’ll also learn how Sylvie built a career in stop motion for herself Sylvie Trouvé is a professional filmmaker and stop motion animator who lives in Montreal, Canada. With more than 20 years of experience in animation, she has worked on a wide range of productions, from education documentaries, feature films such as The Little Prince and commercials for clients like Honda and Lego. In 2009, she was part of the NFB’s Hothouse apprenticeship program where she created the film (Orange), where her passion for photography and animation truly merged. Subsequently, she created the abstract film Reflection in 2012 and in 2018 she finished the animated short Bone Mother, a dark, folkloric tale also produced by the NFB. Her shor

This episode of the Animation Industry Podcast features Glow in the Dark Concept Studios Mastermind Katia Grifols who shares how to create a killer pitch bible from scratch. You’ll also learn: *How to write believable flaws into characters *The number one question you’ll need to be prepared for in a pitch meeting *A rundown of all the animation conferences you can pitch at ~[Sponsored Message]~ This episode is sponsored by the awesome team at Startastudio.com Start A Studio, is a new online school focused on the business side of animation. They have both free and paid courses, an online community and downloads to help you succeed in your animation career, and build your own cool, creative and viable animation studio. You can use the unique discount code ‘AIP’ in the checkout to save 20% on their popular Pro Studio Startup course. So, whether you’re looking to up your freelance game or plan and launch your own animation company, check out https://startastudio.com/ ~ More about Katia Grifols: Born and

This episode of the Animation Industry Podcast features Alan Castaños, a Mexican 2D Freelance Animator, who shares his insights into the animation industry in Mexico. You’ll also learn: *How to land gigs on the freelancing site Upwork *The top 3 things that will make your clients happy *How many projects you need to take on per year to realistically survive in freelance ~[Sponsored Message]~ This episode is sponsored by Bloop Animation, which is an animation learning platform packed with premium online video courses for aspiring animation filmmakers. They have courses for all major animation programs like Maya, Animate CC, Toon Boom, Blender, TVPaint, and many others, as well as some non-software courses like a storyboarding course, Animation foundations course, and even one about making graphic novels, which covers absolutely everything you need to know from start to finish. The courses are all in video-form, so there’s no deadlines or application process, you simply pick a course and start learning in

This episode of the Animation Industry Podcast features animator and game developer Jess Stilwell (who’s also a fellow classmate of mine at Sheridan College!), who shares her journey into indie game development. You’ll also learn *Three free software tools to start making your own indie game *How Jess is developing an audience for her game before it launches *Why you shouldn’t develop your “passion project” as your first game ~[Sponsored Message]~ This episode is sponsored by Bloop Animation, which is an animation learning platform packed with premium online video courses for aspiring animation filmmakers. They have courses for all major animation programs like Maya, Animate CC, Toon Boom, Blender, TVPaint, and many others, as well as some non-software courses like a storyboarding course, Animation foundations course, and even one about making graphic novels, which covers absolutely everything you need to know from start to finish. The courses are all in video-form, so there’s no deadlines or application

This episode features Joseph Karwal, a fourth-year animation student at CalArts. He shares what he did to get accepted into the program, what it’s like, and the career opportunities it’s created for him. You’ll also learn: *What kind of mentality you need to create an accepted portfolio *The nitty-gritty details of what the program actually teaches you *His top 5 tips for producing student films that get noticed ~[Sponsored Message]~ This episode is sponsored by Bloop Animation, which is an animation learning platform packed with premium online video courses for aspiring animation filmmakers. They have courses for all major animation programs like Maya, Animate CC, Toon Boom, Blender, TVPaint, and many others, as well as some non-software courses like a storyboarding course, Animation foundations course, and even one about making graphic novels, which covers absolutely everything you need to know from start to finish. The courses are all in video-form, so there’s no deadlines or application process, you

This episode features Disney Director John Musker who’s known for Moana, Treasure Planet, The Princess and the Frog among other films. He shares how he got his start at Disney and worked his way up to become a director. You’ll also learn: *John’s strategy for getting into Disney *A first-hand experience of what working at Disney was like during the 80s and 90s *John’s 9 pieces of advice for those pursuing animation ~[Sponsored Message]~ This episode is sponsored by Bloop Animation, which is an animation learning platform packed with premium online video courses for aspiring animation filmmakers. They have courses for all major animation programs like Maya, Animate CC, Toon Boom, Blender, TVPaint, and many others, as well as some non-software courses like a storyboarding course, Animation foundations course, and even one about making graphic novels, which covers absolutely everything you need to know from start to finish. The courses are all in video-form, so there’s no deadlines or application process, y

This episode of the Animation Industry Podcast features Stop Motion Animator and Professor, Erik Goulet who shares how he founded the first stop motion film festival in the world. You’ll also learn: *What will make your stop motion film stand out (Erik has seen hundreds!) *A brief overview of what’s been fueling the stop motion industry these last few decades *Erik’s 3-phase master plan to build up the stop motion industry in Montreal ~[Sponsored Message]~ This episode is sponsored by Bloop Animation, which is an animation learning platform packed with premium online video courses for aspiring animation filmmakers. They have courses for all major animation programs like Maya, Animate CC, Toon Boom, Blender, TVPaint, and many others, as well as some non-software courses like a storyboarding course, Animation foundations course, and even one about making graphic novels, which covers absolutely everything you need to know from start to finish. The courses are all in video-form, so there’s no deadlines or app

This episode of the Animation Industry Podcast features Morr Meroz, the Founder of Bloop Animation, an online learning platform for aspiring animation filmmakers. Morr shares what he’s learned from producing three animated short films. You’ll also learn: *Three surprising reasons your short film will flop *The stage you should spend 90% of your time in *The number one way to make sure your film is a success Morr Meroz is an animation filmmaker and the founder of Bloop animation, an animation learning platform and a popular youtube channel which focuses on teaching the process of animation filmmaking. Morr graduated from the School of Visual arts in 2013, where he focused on 3D character animation. Before starting his work on Bloop Animation he worked as a character animator in a number of different New York animation studios like Framestore and Aardman Nathan Love, but is now working full time at Bloop, creating more courses for aspiring animators. And, after 3 animated shorts he’s taking his first step int

This episode of the Animation Industry Podcast features Jonni Phillips, an independent filmmaker, animator, and cartoonist. She shares the nitty-gritty details of how she creates her absurdly wonderful, and absolutely unique mixed-media animation style. You will also learn: *What CalArts’ Experimental Animation Program is like *How she developed Rachel and Her Grandfather Control the Island with Frederator Studios *How she made Wasteland and The Final Exit of the Disciples of Ascensia ~[Sponsored Message]~ This episode is sponsored by Bloop Animation, which is an animation learning platform packed with premium online video courses for aspiring animation filmmakers. They have courses for all major animation programs like Maya, Animate CC, Toon Boom, Blender, TVPaint, and many others, as well as some non-software courses like a storyboarding course, Animation foundations course, and even one about making graphic novels, which covers absolutely everything you need to know from start to finish. The courses ar

This episode of the Animation Industry Podcast features Toronto Stop Motion Department Inc. Founders Philip Eddolls and Evan DeRushie, and Production Manager Annick Counihan. They share how the studio came to be and how they’ve managed to grow the business over the last year. You’ll also learn: *3 opportunities you have to get into stop motion in Toronto right now *The most difficult part about starting a stop motion focused studio *What a budget break-down looks like for a stop motion project ~[Sponsored Message]~ This episode is sponsored by Bloop Animation, which is an animation learning platform packed with premium online video courses for aspiring animation filmmakers. They have courses for all major animation programs like Maya, Animate CC, Toon Boom, Blender, TVPaint, and many others, as well as some non-software courses like a storyboarding course, Animation foundations course, and even one about making graphic novels, which covers absolutely everything you need to know from start to finish. The c

In this episode of the Animation Industry Podcast, Animator, Filmmaker, and Coordinator of Sheridan College’s Animation Program, Christopher Walsh shares his journey into stop motion animation. You’ll also learn: *How Chris pitched and sold Moogaloops to Sesame Street *The top 3 things that make students at Sheridan successful animators when the graduate *How Chris wrote the ultimate guide on stop motion animation for beginners (and where to get it) Christopher Walsh is co-owner of Mad Lab Productions, an animation production company specializing in stop motion. He has worked extensively in the stop-motion television industry, and his own short films continue to screen at animation festivals, internationally. His first book Stop Motion Filmmaking is published by Bloomsbury Publishing. He has an MFA in Film Studies from York University. He is the Coordinator of the Honours BA Animation Program at Sheridan College. I also had Chris as a professor in first year where he taught Animation History and Story. C

This episode of the Animation Industry Podcast features Sean Glaze (otherwise known as Lord Spew on the internet). He shares how he lands gigs at Adult Swim, Cartuna, and more. You’ll also learn: *How he ended up storyboarding on Teen Titan Go! *The 3 career benefits of developing your own style in your spare time *5 ways to make your animations catch your audience off guard (in a good and bad way) ~[Sponsored Message]~ This episode is sponsored by Bloop Animation, which is an animation learning platform packed with premium online video courses for aspiring animation filmmakers. They have courses for all major animation programs like Maya, Animate CC, Toon Boom, Blender, TVPaint, and many others, as well as some non-software courses like a storyboarding course, Animation foundations course, and even one about making graphic novels, which covers absolutely everything you need to know from start to finish. The courses are all in video-form, so there’s no deadlines or application process, you simply pick a c

In this episode Naseer Pasha, a Toronto-based 2D Animator shares what he did to break into 2D animation. You’ll also learn: *What it was like working on Netflix’s Castlevania *How to understand your dollar-value as an animator (when taking on a new role or freelance) *A model for making the best choice when faced with tough decisions ~[Sponsored Message]~ This episode is sponsored by Bloop Animation, which is an animation learning platform packed with premium online video courses for aspiring animation filmmakers. They have courses for all major animation programs like Maya, Animate CC, Toon Boom, Blender, TVPaint, and many others, as well as some non-software courses like a storyboarding course, Animation foundations course, and even one about making graphic novels, which covers absolutely everything you need to know from start to finish. The courses are all in video-form, so there’s no deadlines or application process, you simply pick a course and start learning in seconds. They even offer a free ebook

This episode of the animation industry podcast features Neil Sanders, an Illustrator, Animator, Lecturer, and Honcho of LoopdeLoop. He shares how to create something everyday and where that can lead to in your career. You will also learn: *What the animation market is like in Australia *Three benefits that come when you post every day *How to submit your short animated loop for LoopdeLoop’s bi-monthly animation challenge ~[Sponsored Message]~ This episode is sponsored by Bloop Animation, which is an animation learning platform packed with premium online video courses for aspiring animation filmmakers. They have courses for all major animation programs like Maya, Animate CC, Toon Boom, Blender, TVPaint, and many others, as well as some non-software courses like a storyboarding course, Animation foundations course, and even one about making graphic novels, which covers absolutely everything you need to know from start to finish. The courses are all in video-form, so there’s no deadlines or application proc

In this episode, stop motion animator and video wizard Kevin Parry shares his journey from animating feature films at Laika to gaining over a million followers and developing a career out of social media. You will also learn: *The specific things Kevin has done to gain over a million followers *An exclusive behind-the-scenes look of what it’s like animating at Laika *Kevin’s best advice for aspiring stop motion animators Today I am chatting with Kevin Parry, who is very well known for working at Laika on the feature films, The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings, and the Missing Link. His career started back in 2010 after making a short stop motion animated film called, The Artctic Circle at Sheridan College. He’s also been part of Variety Magazine’s 10 Animators to watch in 2016 and in 2018, he moved back to Toronto to focus on social media full time. Follow Kevin on Instragram: https://www.instagram.com/kevinbparry/ Follow Kevin on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/kevinparry Follow Kevin on Twitter

This episode features John Little, a seasoned Video Game Art Director based out of Toronto. In our chat he shares how he got into the scene, and his latest endeavor at a video game start up. You’ll also learn: *The specific skills studios are looking for *How to ask for your first raise *The current state of the job market in video games (in Toronto) ~[Sponsored Message]~ This episode is sponsored by Rocket Sky 3D Animation School, where you can learn everything from basic drawing for animation to producing your own short film. They offer low tuition rates and installment plans, so if you're interested in a career in the amazing animation industry, or want to level up your skills quickly, all you have to do is sign up at www.rocketsky.ca and they'll send you more info about the program and free ebooks with top tips and tricks from the pros. ~~ More about John Little: John Little and he is a Toronto-based multi-disciplinary artist who works in video games, animation, illustration and television. His fir

This episode features Colin Lepper, a stop motion animator who helped develop and animate the stop motion episodes of the Storybots (Jib Jab) on Netflix. He shares how he got into stop motion after graduating animation school, and the types of challenges small stop motion studios face. You’ll also learn: *5 safety tips most people don’t know about when working with hazardous stop motion materials (like resin) *3 super time-saving tips when it comes to shooting stop motion videos *The attitude Colin has that’s helped him make life-altering decisions ~[Get 10% Off Stop Motion Supplies]~ This episode of the podcast is sponsored by AnimateClay.com, where you can get 10% off any of the stop motion Bend-D armatures, Bend-D rigs, or a copy of Stop Motion Pro Software by using code AIP. Here are the links: *Bend-D Armatures (use coupon code AIP for 10% off): www.stopmotionstore.com/index.php?mai…x&cPath=25_55 *Bend-D Rigs (use coupon code AIP for 10% off): www.stopmotionstore.com/index.php?mai…x&cPath=25_56 *Stop

This episode of the Animation Industry Podcast features Rho “Rhopunzel” Watson, the Founder of Igloosoft, the developer of Outworlder, and former Pixel Artist from RimWorld and Starbound. Rho shares their journey into indie game development and how to make the best pixel art. You’ll also learn: *Rho’s top tips to get noticed as a pixel artist *Where to get really good reference for creating pixel art *The easiest and best way to get into the Indie Game Development scene *Which healthy habits will help you avoid burnout from art and animation ~[Sponsored Message]~ This episode is sponsored by Rocket Sky 3D Animation School, where you can learn everything from basic drawing for animation to producing your own short film. They offer low tuition rates and installment plans, so if you're interested in a career in the amazing animation industry, or want to level up your skills quickly, all you have to do is sign up at https://www.rocketsky.ca and they'll send you more info about the program and free ebooks with

This episode of the Animation Industry Podcast features Ben Treat, otherwise known as Frantic Frames on Instagram. He shares how he challenged himself to create 100 stop motion posts over 100 days, and how he because sought after for branded sponsorships on Instagram. You’ll also learn: *Ben’s top 5 hacks to animate with a budget of zero dollars *The surprising tactic Ben took to get his first sponsored post *How Ben intentionally grew his Instagram following. *Plus, he answers all your submitted questions ~[Get 10% Off Stop Motion Supplies]~ This episode of the podcast is sponsored by AnimateClay.com, where you can get 10% off any of the stop motion Bend-D armatures, Bend-D rigs, or a copy of Stop Motion Pro Software by using code AIP. Here are the links: *Bend-D Armatures (use coupon code AIP for 10% off): www.stopmotionstore.com/index.php?mai…x&cPath=25_55 *Bend-D Rigs (use coupon code AIP for 10% off): www.stopmotionstore.com/index.php?mai…x&cPath=25_56 *Stop Motion Pro Software (no code needed, this