Michael Woodside is an Animator who has been working in the industry for 15 years. Currently at Walt Disney Animation Studios, he has contributed as an Animator on films that include Frozen, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, and Moana. He was an Animation Supervisor for Frozen 2 and Encanto, helping to shepherd the musical sequences through Animation. In 2022,…

In this episode we finally tackle our own jobs! Listen to find out what a typical day is like for a CG character animator for feature film. We ran out of time for listener Q&A so make sure to subscribe and keep an eye out for part 2 coming soon! Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/day-in-the-life-of-a…

We all know it’s not the tools that make an artist successful, what’s more important is how an artist uses their tools…But, let’s just admit that we’re all still curious to know what pencil, tablet, mouse, etc. everyone else is using. In this episode, Garrett, Katie, and Ben discuss their favorite and least favorite animation tools and accessories.…

Burnout impacts many people in the animation industry, and can happen to anyone regardless of their age or position. In this episode, we discuss burnout symptoms, prevention, and treatment, and share some of our own personal journeys with mental health. Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode-24-b…

Good news! After a much needed hiatus, the Animation Happy Hour is back with a brand new episode in 2024. Listen in as we discuss what we’ve been up to, the current state of the animation industry, and future episodes coming your way. A huge thanks to all who expressed their support while we were on our break! The band is back together! Episode Out…

This month's episode is all about things that surprised us working for a big studio. We hope you enjoy! Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode-22-studio-surprises Support Animation Happy Hour by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour…

As promised, our next episode will conclude our deep dive into a Day in the Life of a Layout/Previz artist! Listen in as we discuss everything from useful resources for students, to what kind of people might enjoy layout, favorite parts of the job, and more! Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode…

We are honored to have had the opportunity to sit down with two incredible Disney artists, Dorian Bustamante @layoutsketches and Corey "Rocco" Florimonte, to talk about all things Layout and Previz. This is a crucial, and often underrepresented step in the pipeline that requires a vast array of filmmaking and storytelling skills in addition to some…

Feedback and critiques are essential in the creative world, but that doesn't mean giving or receiving it is easy. Everyone, from seasoned professionals to first-year students, has to grapple with this aspect of our jobs, but you don't have to go it alone! In our next episode, we discuss our experiences with feedback, and give some helpful tips for …

Garrett, Katie, and Ben have a light and lengthy conversation about the various ways that bad habits can creep into our work lives. Our hosts not only give advice on what to watch out for as you pursue your career in animation, but also how to overcome bad habits when you encounter them! Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animation…

In episode 17, we dive into the world of stop motion animation! Our special guest Dan MacKenzie @mackmation draws upon his years of experience in feature film, TV, advertising, and more to give us a picture of what life as a stop motion animator is like. We cover a LOT of ground in this episode--we'll hear what his average day is like at LAIKA, dis…

Storyboards are one of the earliest and most integral elements in an animation pipeline, and we have the pleasure of chatting with a couple industry superstars who have extensive experience storyboarding in both TV and feature film. Natalie Nourigat and Isabelle Gedigk join us to talk about all things storyboarding, from what it takes to break into…

Assessing yourself as an artist can be difficult. In episode 15, we cover some practical ways to objectively evaluate where you are in your journey from new student to seasoned professional, and provide tips on how to advance to the next level! Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode-15- Support A…

Are you nervous about transitioning from school to the professional world? Do you feel overwhelmed or confused when you hear words like 401k, contracts, benefits, etc? Are you nervous about not landing your dream job right out of school, or possibly being exposed to a toxic work environment? If any of this feels familiar, this next episode is for y…

Can I work in the animation industry and have a normal life? What if I want to have a family? Is the industry all just all-nighters and unpaid overtime? We are pleased to announce that in episode 13, we sit down with married couple and industry veterans Rebecca Perez and David Stodolny, to answer these questions and more as we talk all things work …

We're starting off our Day in the Life series with a bang! Production management professionals are intricately involved with every single step of the pipeline, from initial development all the way to image finaling and marketing, so we could not imagine a better way to start this series. Have you ever found yourself wondering, what's the difference…

In episode 11, we sit down and give an overview of the entire CG pipeline. Sip on a glass of pipe-wine and find out where you fit in! Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/o1l2xx0837oih5jtyr8428uy7hrjxb Support Animation Happy Hour by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animatio…

Are online schools better than brick and mortar schools? Is art school worth the money? In episode 10 we sit down with animators Laura Han and Joe Holmark and compare all of the options. Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode-10-is-art-school-worth-it Support Animation Happy Hour by contributing …

Does the animation industry suck? How do you “practice” animating? What is life like in LA? In Episode 9 - Quarantine Q&A, we sit down and answer fifteen of our listeners’ top questions. Check out our detailed show-notes here:https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode-9-quarantine-qampa Support Animation Happy Hour by contributing to their…

In Episode 8, we tackle one of the industry’s most delicate subjects. Listen and learn about student loans, wage negotiation, and more! Disclaimer that we aren’t financial experts, but we aim to share the knowledge we have acquired over the years. Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode-8-lets-tal…

In Episode 7 of the Animation Happy Hour, Garrett, Katie, and Ben cover the ins and outs of applying to jobs! We discuss everything from networking, cover letters/resumes, interviews, negotiations, and more! We know this task can seem a little daunting, especially for students just entering the workforce, so we start with the basics and do a deep d…

In Episode 6 of the Animation Happy Hour, we sit down with Josh Slice, feature film animator and creator of the viral YouTube series Lucas The Spider! We talk about independent content, making money outside the studio system, and the pros and cons of going viral. Check out our detailed show-notes here:https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/epi…

In Episode 5, we discuss the setbacks and rejections we have experienced throughout our careers. We emphasize that rough periods which feel like failures in the moment can turn out to be temporary setbacks in the long run. Check out our detailed show-notes here:https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode-05-dealing-with-setbacks-and-rejecti…

In Episode 4, we interview DreamWorks lead animator Guillermo Careaga about his top 10 tips for animation demo reels. We cover a wide range of questions pertaining to demo reels including: Does it matter what rig I use in my animations? How should I order my demo reel? Should I light and texture my animation reel? Among others. Check out our detail…

in Episode 3, we interview Paula Benedicto Martinez, a feature film animator from Spain. We discuss moving to the US for the Walt Disney Animation Studios Apprentice Program, visas, Paula’s workflow and the best advice she’s ever received. Check out the detailed show notes for this episode at https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode-03-m…

In Episode 2, We discuss the top ten things that we wish we knew when we were in animation school. Topics covered include: specialization, on-campus recruiting, personal finance, CTN Animation Expo, and more. Check out the detailed show notes for this episode at https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode-02-things-we-wish-we-knew…

In our very first episode of the Animation Happy Hour podcast, our three hosts Garrett Lewis, Katie Low, and Ben Girmann introduce the mission of the podcast, and discuss future episodes, our backgrounds, and why we love working in animation. We encourage you to read on for additional content called out in the episode, including our first demo reel…