2026 Animation Apprentice Demo Reel

Above is our 2026 student demo reel, a selection of the best work done at Animation Apprentice over the last year. This selection of our students' best animation includes work by Alice Bishop, Arnand Sembhi, Briony Davies, Mark Wong, Mike Acosta, Lisa Springett, Maeva Israel, Matt Lawson-Hall, William Roberts, and William Thomas. Congratulations to them all on their excellent work.

Alex Williams Animation Supervisor Reel

Above is a selection of shots I supervised (but did not animate) on "Racing Stripes", "Underdog", "Beverly Hills Chihuahua", "Charlie & Yip", "Deepo's Undersea Adventure" and "Marmaduke". The animation was completed at a number of studios, including Cinesite, Digital Dimension, Hybrid Animation, Tumblehead and Digiscope.  

Why Animators Must Ignore Imposter Syndrome

Imposter Syndrome affects almost everyone

I'm always looking for opportunities to bring my current or former students onto productions, ideally for a paid job but, failing that, for an internship.  

Recently I brought a student onboard the feature film I'm working on, only to find that he almost backed out of the job because he wasn't sure he could pull it off.  In short, he is suffering from "Imposter Syndrome". 

The thing is, almost everyone suffers from this at some point in their career, especially early on.  The trick is to push through - and get help from others for the bits you can't tackle yourself.  Like the T Shirt says - you can do it. 

Alex Williams 3D & VFX Animation Demo Reel

Above is my updated 3D Animation & VFX Animation Demo Reel, including as many HD copies of my work as I can find. Some of the shots, such as those from Monster House, are still pretty low resolution, but most of the others are decent. This reel includes clips from Robots (my first 3d animated feature) Open Season, Monster House, Underdog, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Marmaduke, Voyage of The Dawn Treader, and two of the Harry Potter films.  Edit by Miguel Teixeira. Music from Pixabay. 

Why Failure is Feedback

Why Failure is Feedback

Failure is feedback.  Every time you apply for a job in the animation industry, the chances are high you will be rejected.  

Most likely, the studio isn't hiring right now, so don't be disheartened. Just apply again in a few months. If they are hiring now, and you didn't get the job, ask for feedback. What was missing from your demo reel? What needs improvement?

Now you have feedback - information. You can work on your weak spots, improve your work, and apply again. 

 

Alex Williams 2D Animation Reel

Recently I've been digging around online to find HD copies of some of the best shots I have done on various 2D animated feature films over the years (my existing 2D animation demo reels were of doubtful quality, with low resolution images). Above is a selection of my best work on films from "Roger Rabbit" in the 80s and 90s all the way through "Thief and The Cobbler", "Iron Giant" and "Sinbad" (my last 2d feature) in the early 2000s.  Edit by Miguel Teixeira, music by Pixabay.  All in full HD. 

What I Learned Animating on "The Lion King"

"I know that your powers of retention..."

In the summer of 1993 I had the great good fortune to work at the Walt Disney Studios in Los Angeles on The Lion King, animating under the guidance of lead animator Andreas Deja, who supervised the animation of Scar, voiced by Jeremy Irons.

For a junior animator, it was a dream job, and an education in character animation.

Pete Nicholson Starts Anchor Animation

Many congratulations to Animation Apprentice Pete Nicholson who has founded a new startup animation studio - Anchor Animation.  Anchor Animation specialises in "high-quality animation that enables brands to communicate with confidence.”  We wish Pete every success with his new venture; you can find out more here at the official site: www.anchoranimation.co.uk/

"Open Season" Animation Reel

A compilation of shots I animated on "Open Season" at Sony Imageworks in Culver City, Los Angeles, back in 2005. This was a really fun film to work on; Boog and Elliot were great characters, with lots of opportunities for broad, cartoony animation.  Thanks to Sony Pictures for the opportunity to work on this excellent film. 

"Rollercoaster Rabbit" Animation Demo Reel

This is a short compilation reel of the shots I animated on "Rollercoaster Rabbit" at the Disney MGM Studios in Orlando, Florida in 1989. It was a huge pleasure working on this project, directed by the very talented Rob Minkoff.  This was a summer job for me (I was a student in London at the time), and the storyboards were delayed, so I only managed to complete a few shots.  Still, I was proud to have worked on this very entertaining short film. 

New Year Class Starts 6 Jan 2026

Animation by Joris Van Laar

Our New Year's  Animation Class begins on Monday 6th January 2026.  It's not too late to book a place; all you need to do is visit the main Animation Apprentice site and go through a few simple steps. 

If you want to learn 3D animation to a professional level, and start your new career as an animator - your journey starts here.

"Piglet's Big Movie" Animation Demo Reel

A compilation of my work on the Disney animated film "Piglet's Big Movie", animated in Tokyo, Japan in 2002.  It was such a pleasure to work on AA Milne's characters, some of the most appealing characters ever created for the medium of animation. They were a delight to bring to life.  Sad to say, the Disney Animation studio in Tokyo closed two years later, in 2004. 

How to Succeed at an Animation Job Interview

Smash that job interview

Landing your first animation job is mainly about having a strong demo reel - and making sure that your demo reel is easy to find, not password protected, and (ideally) embedded at your Linkedin profile. 

Once you get to the interview, the studio is already very interested.  But, they want to hire animators who not only produce great work, but who are collaborative, easy to work with, and ready for the realities of production.  Below are a few key tips to help you succeed at an animation job interview.

"Quest For Camelot" Animation Demo Reel

Quest for Camelot, Animation Demo Reel.  In the summer of 1996 I worked as an animator at Warner Bros. Feature Animation on Quest for Camelot, directed by Frederik Du Chau.  I was the lead animator on the villain "Ruber", voiced by Gary Oldman.  As animators, we share our performance with the actor who delivers the lines - and their job comes first.  My role was to capture Oldman's performance on screen, and I was invited to attend the recording sessions, and I was fortunate enough to be able to draw Oldman acting out his lines. Above is an assembly of shots I completed on the movie. 

Why Animators "Progress The Action"

Brer Fox: "I specs I'm gonna skin ya"

One of the most common mistakes made by junior animators is not progressing the action in their animation.  In other words, creating animation that is too static and immobile and, well, not animated.

"Progressing the Action" is a concept developed in the Animator's Survival Kit, in which Williams describes it as the "secret of lipsync".  But what does progressing the action really mean?

5 Mistakes by Junior Animators (& How to Fix 'Em)

Leopard leap with live action reference by Daniel Amor

Below are five common mistakes beginner animators often make - and how to fix them.  Learning animation is an exciting journey – but it can also feel overwhelming. 

Beginners often run into the same issues. But the good news is this: once you know what to look for, you can fix errors quickly.  Below are five of the most common mistakes new animators make – and how to fix them.

Demo Reel Needs a Quadruped Walk, Trot & Run

Horse gallop by Mark Lawson-Hall

Most student demo reels focus on human characters, but if you are looking to get hired onto animal and creature projects, you will need to show an understanding of quadruped locomotion - one of the core skills we teach at Animation Apprentice. 

A solid walk, trot, and run cycle for a four-legged character shows range, versatility, and an understanding of animal and creature mechanics.  Layer in some acting and personality, and you have a great demo reel. 

Animators - Embed Your Demo Reel at Linkedin

Animation recruiters "live at Linkedin" 

A strong demo reel is essential for launching an animation career — but it only works if people see it. Too many graduates upload their reel to YouTube or Vimeo and stop there. 

One of the smartest places to share your reel is LinkedIn.  It’s quick, it’s professional, and it’s where animation recruiters are already looking. Your reel is your most important asset. Don’t hide it. Put it where the industry can find you easily.

What I Learned on "Quest For Camelot"

Death of Ruber by Alex Williams (FX by Michael Gagne)

In the summer of 1996, I started work as an animator at Warner Bros. Feature Animation on Quest for Camelot, directed by Frederik Du Chau. 

It was an exciting time — Warner Bros. was building its feature animation division, hoping to rival Disney animation, and was recruiting artists from all over the world (including me) to join its team. 

Lamp Hop - a Great Addition to Your Demo Reel

Lamp hop by Lisa Springett

A simple lamp hop exercise can be a great addition to your animation demo reel.  One of the most iconic pieces of character animation ever created is Luxo Jr. — the hopping desk lamp that launched Pixar into the spotlight back in 1986. 

The lamp hop is one of the first exercises that students tackle at Animation Apprentice, and a reminder that you don’t need a complex character rig to show personality, weight, and storytelling.  A simple lamp hop animation can still be a great addition to a demo reel - just keep it short and witty - like the example above by Lisa Springett. 

Why Animators Should Light (& Render) Their Shots

Character walk with lighting by Joris Van Laar

Why You Should Light Your Animation Shots (and not just rely on greyshade or Maya Playblasts).
A strong demo reel isn’t just about great animation — it’s also about great presentation.  

Many student reels rely on greyshade renders or raw playblasts, but taking the time to add simple lighting can make a huge difference to how your work is received. 

You don’t need to be a lighting artist to benefit from a basic setup. A little polish goes a long way, and you can follow one of our super simple lighting tutorials to get a great result in just a few minutes.