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  1. AM Blog
  2. T. Dan Hofstedt

T. Dan Hofstedt Articles

ANIMATION TIPS & TRICKS

Tutorial: Animating a Sneak Walk Cycle with Personality

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3QlIrbxGXo In this tutorial, Animation Mentor Game Animation and Character Animation mentor Natasha Krinsky shows how to build a sneak walk cycle that feels stealthy, physical, and full of character. She starts from classic walk‑cycle...

Tutorial: Using Green Screen Reference in Maya

https://youtu.be/w-PS_-ew9hQ In this lesson, Animation Mentor mentor Zachary Rahman shows how to use a green screen to shoot clear acting reference and then bring that reference into Maya in a way that supports staging, clarity, and efficient blocking. He walks...

Tutorial: How to Animate a Character Opening a Door

https://youtu.be/u0wX4qO65dY In this lesson, Animation Mentor mentor and Rant Senior 3D Animator Gleb Sitnichenko walks through how to animate a character opening a door in a way that feels physical, clear, and story‑driven. He focuses on planning with reference,...

Tutorial: How to Animate First Person and POV Shots

https://youtu.be/rvudIbcVLm8 In this tutorial, Animation Mentor alum and game animator Marta Perez Garcia breaks down how to plan and animate first person and POV shots that feel immersive, readable, and comfortable to watch. She covers what first person really means,...

Tutorial: Overlap and Pendulum Motion in Animation

https://youtu.be/KPqPcBN90fk In this tutorial, veteran animator and Animation Mentor instructor Anthony Wong explains how to understand and animate overlap using pendulum motion, then shows how to apply the same ideas to a more complex figure‑eight motion in Maya....

DEMO REEL ADVICE

Free Reel Workshop with DreamWorks Head of Character Animation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJn_Jv-XgZg Learn the essentials of what makes a demo reel truly stand out in this focused workshop with DreamWorks Head of Character Animation Sean Sexton. You’ll walk through the 5 key things every strong show reel needs, along with...

Free Workshop: Creating a Standout Animation Demo Reel

https://youtu.be/Hh_rgOsFMwM You’ve spent countless hours animating your best shots but translating them into a demo reel that will make your work shine above the rest isn’t always a clear task.  In this free workshop, Disney Animation Supervisor Ere Santos gives...

Dos and Don’ts For Developing Your Character Animation Reel

The field of animation is becoming more popular with each passing year. As the demand for unique and entertaining content grows, the demand for skilled animators is also on the rise. But there’s a catch: this sector is also remarkably competitive! That’s especially...

Top 3 Reasons You Need Creature Animation on Your Demo Reel

Just a few of the films on Shawn Kelly's IMDb page Shawn Kelly, Lead Animator at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Animation Mentor Co-Founder educates us on why you need more creature animation in your demo reel and reminds us that we are all animators. Sit back,...

Animation Demo Reel Review Etiquette

So, you've secured a demo reel review at a convention, job fair, etc., but it's not just about the work! You want to make a good impression too. There are definitely do's and don'ts to abide by when getting your demo reel reviewed—learn what they are from Image Engine...

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