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.