Agora.Community

NFTs, the craze that has swept the industry. David and Brent give their thoughts!

Is it likely that a studio is going to spend money to bring a mid-level animator into the country to work on their latest film? Here are David and Brent’s opinions, and how has the situation changed in the latest years.

Animating in games is very different to animating in film or television. Here are some things to keep in mind when on the path to becoming a games animator.

In this episode of our Q & A sessions, David and Brent answer some great questions about just how much does an entry-level artist make, will a studio get a visa for a mid-level animator, and what should you be putting on your demo reels? You can also check out our Agora Bites clips if you want to listen to a specific question from this episode!Subscribe to our channel on whatever platform you listen on to receive updates when new episodes are posted and don't forget to head on over to agora.community and sign up for access to more free resources, animation reviews, and content. Thanks for listening!

Just how fast are juniors expected to animate? David & Brent give their thoughts!

“What are your salary expectations?” A phrase many of us have heard when starting a new job in the animation industry. But how does someone new to the industry answer this when they have no idea how much they should be making? A good one to listen to if you’re just starting out on your animation journey.

You’ve pushed your shot to the limit, had multiple reviews, and just don’t know how much further you can push it. When is it ok to stop and say that your shot is ready to go out into the world?

Can you imagine? You run a massive studio with a break-away hit of a film or game. Time to hit an island and drink some cocktails on the beach, right? Jalil might have a different opinion on that idea!

It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day life of being an artist, or running a business. In this clip, three dads talk about the importance of family, and making sure there is always time in the day to connect with them.

David asks Jalil his thoughts on where the industry may be headed. Jalil talks about how it’s somewhat scary, and yet it’s an exciting time in the industry. Have a listen to what Jalil thinks the shift in the industry is.

You might not see these people around the studio very often and may think that they aren’t doing much. But there’s more that goes on behind the scenes of your studio than you get to see. Jalil talks about the stresses of being a CEO.

Big growth in a short amount of time can be a tricky situation. Jalil gives some insight into how as a CEO, he’s handled large growth in a short amount of time.

Jalil Sadool gives a glimpse at a week in the life of being a CEO. The answer might not be as straightforward as you think!

Jalil is the co-founder and CEO of Steamroller Studios. Prior to the creation of Steamroller, he was an Animation Lead at Weta Digital Ltd where he worked on such films as Avatar, and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. At DreamWorks, he was Animation Lead on the mighty Bewilderbeast for How to Train your Dragon 2. He was also part of the animation team that brought Jack Frost to life in Rise of the Guardians. His previous films include Narnia, Tintin, The Water Horse, and more. We'll discuss his passion for animation, the creation of Steamroller, the daily challenge of running a successful animation studio, how they manage the transition to remote work during the pandemic and his view on the future of our industry.

This clip from our Q & A session gives you an insight into what the supervisors and directors are looking for when they sit down to interview you.

In this clip, David and Brent answer the questions about what is the most overlooked part of animating, and what animators should focus on more. A great clip if you are wondering how you can push yourself to the next level.

One of our community members had heard that studios use remote tracking software to keep an eye on how productive you are being. Is this true? A good clip to listen to if you’ve heard the same thing!

It happens! You have been working on a shot for AGES, and little by little you find it harder to push through to making it just right. What can you do to find the extra push you need?

When are studios allowed to track your movements on the computer? Believe it or not, studios can do this! This is a great clip to know when your rights are being breached and when it’s 100% ok for the studio to do this.

This question relates more to not being credited in video games, but there’s also some information in there that might help you understand why you weren’t credited on a project that you spent a majority of your time on, and does it even matter?

This was a very juicy question from one of the people in the chat for this Q & A session. A lead gave one of their animators feedback to change their shot, only to have the animation director give critique to make it more like the animator had originally had. Was the lead wrong? And how do you approach this situation?

In this episode of our Q & A sessions, David and Brent answer some great questions about just how much can a studio track your movements, how to deal with a lead you feel isn't good at their job, and why at times artists don't get credited. You can also check out our Agora Bites clips if you want to listen to a specific question from this episode!Subscribe to our channel on whatever platform you listen on to receive updates when new episodes are posted and don't forget to head on over to agora.community and sign up for access to more free resources, animation reviews, and content. Thanks for listening!

If you’ve listened to our conversation with Manny Fragelus podcast and all of these clips from the episode, you’ll know that personal branding has been brought up a LOT! We’re going to drive it home again, the importance of a personal brand, why you should have one, and how it’s going to help your career as an artist.

This is quite possibly some of the best career advice you’ll ever get as an artist. Even David and Brent didn’t think of this one. Manny Fragelus gives a little tip on how to build relationships with recruiters that could mean the world for your career!

When it comes to entrepreneurship, it’s not just about burning the boats, quitting your job and going all in. This is a really great clip to listen to if you’re embarking on some kind of entrepreneurial endeavour. Manny Fragelus, CEO if CGMA shares what it took for him to start one of the best CGI learning platforms on the internet!

Do you see yourself sitting in the chair animating, modeling, rigging, compositing or whatever you do for the rest of your life? Even when you’re 60 years old? For a lot people the answer is no. If this is you, you should have an exit strategy. You should also listen to this clip to get some insight into how you can develop one.

When you finish your study, you may think you’re ready to get your first job in the industry. A lot of us know, that’s not always the case. There’s a simple mistake that a lot of grads make, and this is what it usually is!

Manny is the founder and CEO of CG Master Academy, a leading online digital arts school that provides students from all over the world access to top-quality professionals that work at major studios such as Pixar, Disney, and Dreamworks Animation.In this discussion, we'll discuss the rise of online education, the creation and operation of one of the most successful online schools in our industry, his view on the future of education in a post-pandemic world, and the evolution of the animation industry. If you'd like to watch this episode you can find it here:https://agora.community/content/a-conversation-with-manny-fragelusAlso, check out Agora.Community for daily content, free rigs, and assets, and order an animation review from one of our industry experts:https://www.agora.communityThanks for listening!

When people think of branding, they usually think of a brand logo. But, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Branding goes so much deeper than a pair of golden arches. Some great things to consider in this clip from our conversation with Manny Fragelus.

When’s the best time to start developing your own personal brand? The answer is right now! Yesterday, even! This is a great clip if you need some inspiration in kickstarting your own personal brand and why you should start asap!

A question was asked during our stream with Manny Fragelus about how to brand as a freelancer. The team get into a pretty lengthy discussion about the different types of branding and how you can use it to its fullest potential when freelancing.

Do you think you need to be a creative genius in order to build a career on YouTube? The answer might not be what you think. In this clip, Manny Fragelus gives an example of someone he knows and how they have built a solid living off of producing videos on Youtube.

Does your animation need to look good from all angles? Interesting question…it depends! Listen to this clip to know when it’s ok to break your rig and achieve a great pose to the camera, and when it’s not ok.

Background characters are an important part if any animated film or game. They bring life to every scene. But, how do you animate background characters without them overshadowing the main character in the scene?

In this clip from our Q&A session, David and brent answer the question, what exactly should go on a demo reel catered to Creature animation? If you’re considering a career in VFX, this is definitely one for you!

In this episode of our Q & A sessions, David and Brent answer some great questions about what should your curves be when blocking, a personal question about if what they're doing now is what they envisioned for their lives, and how to animate walks with personality. You can also check out our Agora Bites clips if you want to listen to a specific question from this episode!Subscribe to our channel on whatever platform you listen on to receive updates when new episodes are posted and don't forget to head on over to agora.community and sign up for access to more free resources, animation reviews, and content. Thanks for listening!

The standard walk cycle is a staple in your education as an animator. But once you’ve mastered the vanilla walk cycle, how do you punch it up with some personality? Listen in to hear David and Brent’s thoughts!

The age-old question! Do I block my animation in stepped or in spline? In this clip from our Q&A session, David and Brent give their personal experiences and advice on which method you should use, when you should use it and why!

The greater the risk, the greater the reward. Marc gives his thoughts of risk vs. reward when starting a studio.

The craze has hit us, everyone should know what an NFT is by now, but if you don’t, have a listen to this clip and get listen to what our gang and Marc-Olivier think of this new phenomenon.

Crunch time, a thousand different projects going at once, or agreeing to a crazy amount of work for little pay. All of these things can push us to our absolute limits. Doesn’t sound like fun, does it? In this clip Marc-Olivier and the gang discuss that while it may not be recommended, there can be some valuable reasons to do this at least once in your life.

Marc-Olivier runs Keos Masons, a company dedicated to providing high-end models for video games and more. If you’re interested in modeling, or an animator that wants to get more of an idea of what makes a good model, this Agora.Bite is for you!

Two key ingredients that make up the equation of getting employed. Some great thoughts in this clip. Listen and be inspired!

It’s no doubt that having a mentor, someone that has succeded in doing what you want to do, can be an absolute game changer. But, where do you find mentors? And when you find someone you’d like to mentor you, how do you approach them? There are some great insights in this clip from our conversation with Marc-Olivier Plouffe!

Really going after your goals can mean a lot of sacrifices. You might need to put down the remote, or controller. Marc-Olivier has first-hand experience in this. However, you don’t have to sacrifice these things, but this is when you have to listen to and trust your gut.

Marc-Olivier is a veteran character artist and co-founder of Keos Masons, an outsourcing company that provides character modeling and concept design services for the video game, movie, and collectible industries. With contributions to franchises such as Fortnite, Borderlands, the Elder Scroll, Rainbow 6, and Batman Arkham City to name a few, their rapid rise to success is undeniable.If you'd like to watch this episode you can find it here:https://agora.community/content/a-conversation-with-marc-olivier-plouffeAlso, check out Agora.Community for daily content, free rigs, and assets, and order an animation review from one of our industry experts:https://www.agora.communityThanks for listening!

This is a double-headed question! David thinks it means an artist is unhappy on their current team and wants to switch. Do they contact HR? Brent takes it to mean the artist wants to join a particular studio. Listen to both of their answers!

Games cinematics are pretty awesome, right? But how is the best way to get into cinematic animation? What are studios looking for in your reels? David and Brent give their best answers.

Body mechanics can be a tough one to come to grips with. If they are incorrect, anyone watching your animation will spot it. Here are some great ideas on what you can learn to help improve your body mechanic animation.

Imagine you are working on a project and it’s just broken. There are things happening in your scene that make it 10 times harder to animate. Do you start from scratch with a cleaner setup, or do you continue to fight with the issue until the work is done? David and Brent discuss their thoughts, because it can be a tricky one if you’re working in a large studio!