CG Lighters are truly the unsung heroes of the 3D animation pipeline. In fact, often when people say “The animation looks so good,” they are really talking about the lighting! Being at the back of the pipeline, lighters face extreme crunches and work harder than anyone else to get our movies across the finish line. Today we are talking with two incredible Disney artists, Justine Codron Moulayess and Mason Khoo, about their day to day jobs. Tune in to learn how Justine and Mason first got into li...
Jul 01, 2025•2 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 33
In this episode we talk all about personal projects, whether it’s something on the side of work or your personal project is your full time job! We’ll quickly touch on drawing, podcasting, screenwriting etc., but spend the bulk of our time discussing our host Garrett’s big move into independent animation. Check out our detailed show-notes here! Enjoying the podcast? Consider donating to help support our show! https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour Support Animation Happy Hour by contr...
May 05, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Switching careers can be incredibly risky and intimidating, but potentially life changing in the long run. In this episode we chat with special guests, Allen Ostergar and Tyler Mahn, about their career pivots from animation to story and accounting to animation respectively. Our very own host Katie will also talk about her major pivots from pre-med to animation, and production assistant to CG animator. Check out our detailed show-notes here! Enjoying the podcast? Consider donating to help support...
Apr 01, 2025•2 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Congratulations! You just scored your first internship, apprentice gig, or temp job, but now you must be wondering: how do I turn this opportunity into a long term offer? In episode 30, we go over our top do’s and don’ts that can help make or break your reputation and score you a job. Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode-30-how-to-turn-an-internship-into-an-offer Enjoying the podcast? Consider donating to help support our show! https://tips....
Mar 01, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Season 1Ep. 30
In this episode, we are talking about staying inspired! Both the importance of actively keeping yourself inspired as a member of the animation community and some specific ways each of us does this in our day to day lives. Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode-29-what-inspires-us Special thanks to our first sponsor, AnimBot! Use code “animationhappyhour” for 15% off of a new Eco or Pro edition license through 2024. https://animbot.ca/home/ Che...
Oct 21, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 29
In this episode, we cover the basics of unions and The Animation Guild (TAG). We interview Justin Weber, a union board member, shop steward, and Disney animator, and Allison Smartt, a professional organizer for TAG. Listen in to learn more about the history of TAG, the importance of solidarity, union perks & benefits, organizing 101, and the top myths and misconceptions about unions. Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode-28-the-animation-...
Aug 01, 2024•2 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 28
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, Michael received the VES Award for Virtual Cinematography for his participation in the construction of the “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” sequence. Chec...
Jul 01, 2024•2 hr 41 min•Season 1Ep. 27
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-an-animator-part-1 Support Animation Happy Hour by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour...
May 06, 2024•1 hr 57 min•Season 1Ep. 26
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. This is a lighthearted and fully unsponsored episode, all recommendations are made from the heart! Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://ww...
Apr 01, 2024•1 hr 51 min•Season 1Ep. 25
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-burnout Support Animation Happy Hour by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour...
Feb 01, 2024•2 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 24
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 Outline: 10:04 State of the Industry 18:38 Artificial Intelligence 29:11 New Animation That’s Inspiring Us Scavengers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWQ...
Jan 01, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 23
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
Apr 01, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 22
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-20-day-in-the-life-layout-artist-5xbxd Support Animation Happy Hour by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-h...
Feb 01, 2022•1 hr 58 min•Season 1Ep. 21
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 impressive technical know-how. In fact, there's so much packed into this step of the pipeline, that we couldn't contain it to just one episode, so jo...
Jan 01, 2022•Season 1Ep. 20
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 ways to gracefully give and receive feedback in the professional world. Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new...
Dec 01, 2021•Season 1Ep. 19
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.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode-18-top-5-bad-habits-and-how-to-avoid-them Support Animation Happy Hour by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.p...
Nov 01, 2021•1 hr 22 min•Season 1Ep. 18
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, discuss what types of other jobs are available at stop motion studios, go over some practical advice for how best to prepare yourself for a career in sto...
Jun 01, 2021•Season 1Ep. 17
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 the industry, to what an average day for a storyboard artist entails, and more! Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhou...
May 01, 2021•2 hr 38 min•Season 1Ep. 16
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 Animation Happy Hour by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour...
Apr 01, 2021•Season 1Ep. 15
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 you! Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode-14-top-10-tips-for-your-first-job Support Animation Ha...
Mar 01, 2021•2 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 14
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 life balance! Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode-13-work-life-balance UPDATE: On 11/2/2020, w...
Nov 01, 2020•2 hr 53 min•Season 1Ep. 13
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 between a PA and a PC? Why is Shotgun so important? Is everyone in production management an extrovert? Well in episode 12, we sit down with our frien...
Oct 01, 2020•2 hr 45 min•Season 1Ep. 12
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/animation-happy-hour...
Sep 01, 2020•2 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 11
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 to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour...
Aug 01, 2020•2 hr 58 min•Season 1Ep. 10
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 tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour...
Jul 01, 2020•2 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 9
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-talk-money
Jun 01, 2020•2 hr 21 min•Season 1Ep. 8
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 dive from there. Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode-7-applying-to-jobs...
May 01, 2020•2 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 7
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/episode-6-indie-content-amp-going-viral
Apr 01, 2020•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 6
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-rejections
Mar 01, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 5
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 detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode-4-demo-reels-with-guillermo-careaga...
Feb 01, 2020•1 hr 42 min•Season 1Ep. 4
