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— Let’s get started.
Born
Passion
As a kid, I couldn't stop making
my own video games
(including playing them)
Career
Computer Graphic Artist
& Software Engineering
Sun Creature — Early
Pipeline Manager &
Technical Director
(Oscar-nominated Flee)
Sun Creature — Mid
Technical Producer &
Project Manager
Sun Creature — Late
Head of Production
& Technology
Crossroad
Founder, Animation Studio.
Fully freelance & remote based
Now
- Crossroad rebranding into Web
- Building Creativeshire (Webbuilder for freelancers)
- Freelance Full Stack Creative Developer
- Teaching
Your Journey Today
- The Landscape
- The AI Question
- Your Identity
- Inside the Studio
- Style & Market Fit
- Online Presence
- Q&A
Chapter 1: The Landscape
Understanding the Industry
Work for Hire
Execute someone else’s vision
- Commercials
- Music videos
- Commissioned series
- Corporate / explainers
- Game cinematics
Product
Build and own what you make
- Original IP (films, series)
- Short films
- Games
- Web content / YouTube
- Co-productions
How Work for Hire Flows
Every step in the chain = a cut of the budget
How Product Flows
Company owns the upside. And the risk.
Types of Animation Work
The Reality Today
- The audience has never been bigger
- Fewer people, more output
In 2024, the #1 film worldwide was animated. 3 of the top 5 were: Inside Out 2, Moana 2, Despicable Me 4. — Variety / Box Office Mojo, 2024
“500 artists, five years to make a world-class animated movie. I don't think it will take 10% of that.” — Jeffrey Katzenberg, DreamWorks (Bloomberg, 2023)
The Reality Today
- AI is reshaping the pipeline
- What can't be automated
Roles are evolving. Some tasks disappear, new ones emerge. The pipeline is shifting. — paraphrased, Animation Guild / CVL Economics, 2024
“AI is meant to give you the most predictable outcome. That is the opposite of what a filmmaker is trying to do.” — Ted Sarandos, Netflix (Variety, 2025)
Working Models
Employment
“I like safety”
Permanent
- Full-time at a studio
- Lower salary, stable income
- Structured growth path
Project-Based
- Contract with monthly salary
- No CVR needed
- Best of both worlds, or worst of both
Entrepreneurship
“I am responsible”
Freelancer
- Sell your time (daily rate)
- You are your brand
- The hustle never stops
Company Owner
- Sell a product or service
- Build your own brand and team
- Full risk, full ownership
Generalist vs Specialist
Generalist
Pros
- Fits many roles
- Great for small teams
- Bridges departments
- Path into management
Homework
- Three types of animation work that excite you
- Working model: permanent, project, freelance, or founder?
- Generalist or specialist? Why?
What's Next
The AI Question: The Elephant in the Room
Chapter 2: The AI Question
The Elephant in the Room
Let's Talk About AI
It’s changing things. It won’t replace you. Understand what’s happening.
What Did We Just See?
- Known characters, millions of references
- Action replicated from existing work
- Pre-existing environments
- No personality, no character acting
Now imagine new characters, a new universe, untold stories. Can it hold up?
What's Actually Changing
- Predictable tasks go first (cleanup, coloring, in-betweening)
- Faster concept art and pre-vis
- New roles: operating and directing AI
- AI enters more pipeline steps
- Use it or fall behind
What's Not Changing
- Lived experience
- Emotional storytelling
- Creative vision and taste
- Character acting
- Imagination
- Collaboration
- Innovation
- Intention
Your Voice Matters More Than Ever
How to Think About It
- AI tools are here to stay
- Stay curious
- Understand the tool
- Focus on what makes YOU irreplaceable
Homework
- Three things AI cannot replicate about your work
- Find AI animation online: what’s missing?
- Explore one AI tool: what can it do?
What's Next
Your Identity: Knowing Who You Are
Chapter 3: Your Identity
Knowing Who You Are
Who Are You?
Not your portfolio. Not your reel. You. As a professional, what kind of artist are you?
Know Your Type
Working Style
- Entrepreneur vs Employee
- Chaotic vs Structured
- Remote vs On-site
Creative Style
- Specialist vs Generalist
- Trendsetter vs Craftsperson
- Conceptual vs Technical
Social Style
- Introvert vs Extrovert
- Leader vs Contributor
- Independent vs Collaborative
Drive
- Security vs Freedom
- Mastery vs Exploration
- Recognition vs Fulfillment
Don’t know? Personality tests. Friends and family. Reflect.
Your Type Shapes Perception
An adjective in front of your role changes everything.
- Technical Producer → animation
- Creative Developer → software
Same person. Different audience, different adjective.
Finding Your Direction
General Inspiration
- Hobbies outside of art?
- How do others describe you?
- Shows you keep rewatching?
- Topics you talk about for hours?
Artistic Clues
- What do you draw when nobody’s watching?
- Favourite artist, and why?
- Games you keep replaying?
- Films you’ve watched repeatedly?
You Don’t Need All the Answers
Start asking now. Most people never do.
Homework
Start a journal.
- What motivates you?
- What do you care deeply about?
- What would you love to make?
- What kind of life do you want?
- …
These shape every decision that follows.
Break: 10 min
What's Next
Inside the Studio: How Hiring Actually Works
Chapter 4: Inside the Studio
How Hiring Actually Works
Think Like a Studio
Think like the person doing the hiring.
But first…
Let's understand how studios work
The Pitches
Projects begin with pitches
Model 1: Client-Initiated
Client sends brief, studios compete
Lower risk, fierce competition
Model 2: Studio-Initiated
Studio pitches its own idea
High risk, high reward
Model 1: Client-Initiated
Many compete, few win
Model 2: Studio-Initiated
Funding often comes in rounds: development, preproduction, production.
Where Do You Enter?
The Service Work Chain
Where you enter = your pay, freedom, and credit
How Freelance Hiring Works
Service Work
- Freelancers contacted during pitch
- Pitch wins, project greenlit
- Team picks freelancers
- Confirmed or released
Trusted freelancers may join the pitch phase itself.
Studio Projects
Limited, self-funded budgets.
- Freelancers contacted after funding
- No hard deadline, more time to choose
How Permanent Hiring Works
Built on trust and recognition
- Long-term need identified
- Hire someone they already know
- Or: referrals → internal posting → public listing
- Portfolio review, interview, trial period
Recognition
Repeated exposure builds familiarity and trust.
- First impressions stick
- Were you pushy? Shy? Honest? Generous?
- People hire people they know
How to Build Trust
- Get an internship
- Start as freelance, build the relationship
- Visit the studio, be curious
- Build relationships, expect nothing
What Studios Look For
They need to trust you in…
- Your craft
- Showing up
- Communication
- Delivering on time
- Being you
What They Don't Care About
- Your GPA or school name
- Years of experience
- Zero weaknesses
- Covering every discipline
- Being perfect
The Hidden Job Market
- Most jobs filled through referrals
- Your network = your job market
- Be someone worth recommending
Make It Easy to Know You
Clear portfolio. Relevant work. Professional communication.
Homework
- Three dream studios: what are they producing now?
- One person at each you could connect with
- Rate yourself: craft, communication, reliability
What's Next
Style & Market Fit: Finding Your Sweet Spot
Chapter 5: Style & Market Fit
Finding Your Sweet Spot
The Central Tension
Be authentic enough to stand out. Be employable enough to get hired.
Too Generic
Easy to overlook in a crowded field
Too Niche
Nobody is hiring for it
Too Generic
Clean, polished, round. The “default style.”
High competition for the same roles.
Great craft. Shared by thousands.
Too Niche
One director, one project. That’s a risky bet.
Unique is powerful. Just know which path it leads to.
Zdzisław Beksiński. Genius. You’d build your own path.
Combine Them
Generic foundation + niche twist = yours.
The Reward
D&D and fantasy (generic) + fresh art style (niche).
The Sweet Spot
Authentic
- Your personal voice
- What you'd draw for fun
- What makes your work recognizable
Employable
- Matches production needs
- Adaptable to art direction
- Range within your style
How to Find It
- Which of your favourites overlap with real jobs?
- Fan art / spec work in styles you admire
- Show range, keep a signature
Market Analysis
Seeking a Job
Research
- What studios are producing right now
- What's being greenlit
- Which styles are in demand
Execution
- Tailor your portfolio to target studios
- Apply, network, get referrals
- Show you can adapt to their style
Creating Jobs
Research
- Who is your audience?
- What do you want to make?
- What platforms fit your work?
Execution
- Kickstarter, grants, investors
- Build audience before you need it
- Your style is your brand
Case Study: Western Anime
The Line, Eddy, Sun Creature: East meets West.
- Massive growth
- Netflix, Prime, HBO investing
- Gaming cinematics booming
- Early movers got first pick
Here, Tomorrow
Riot Games project by The Line.
Other Growing Niches
Emerging Styles
- Adult animation (streaming boom)
- Stylized 3D / 2D hybrid
- Traditional anime coming west
Steady Demand
- Preschool and children's content
- Advertising and motion design
- Gaming cinematics
Outside the Industry
Non-animation companies commissioning animation
Homework
- Your style: where between generic and niche?
- Are you seeking a job, creating one, or both?
- Mood board: your current style vs. where you're heading
Break: 10 min
What's Next
Next up: Online Presence
Chapter 6: Online Presence
You Are a Brand
If They Can’t Find You, You Don’t Exist
Your portfolio works while you sleep.
Two Career Strategies
Reactive
Inbound: When they find you
- Portfolio
- Profiles
- Reel, posts, bio
Proactive
Outbound: Before opportunities exist
- Reach out with an angle
- Offer value, not just a request
- Build relationships early
You need both.
Filters of Judgement
How fast you get judged
0s
- First filter: 3–5 seconds
- Second filter: 6–15 seconds
- Third filter: 16–30 seconds
Pass the third and you’re on the shortlist.
Showcase vs Signal
Portfolio Website
- Who you are
- Your best work
- Recruiters go here to decide
- Quality over quantity
Social Media
- Process and personality
- Community and network
- Discovery
- Regular posts, quality bar
Portfolio Must-Haves
- 5–10 best pieces only
- Clear contact info (email)
- Short bio: what you do, what you want
- Mobile-friendly
- Fast loading
A polished website changes how you are perceived.
Example
Social Platforms
Your platform depends on your niche.
- ArtStation: gaming, VFX, 3D
- Instagram: 2D, illustration, discovery
- X / Twitter: anime, Asian market, community
- Behance: motion graphics, design
- LinkedIn: all niches, but poor at showing work
- YouTube / TikTok: tutorials, process, discovery
Social Media Stack
You don’t need to be everywhere.
- LinkedIn: producers and recruiters
- One art platform: process, personality, discovery
- Portfolio: best work, business card
A dead account is worse than no account.
Do’s and Don’ts
Avoid
- Off-brand work
- Stale portfolio
- Dumping everything at once
- Posting without interacting
- Broken links, outdated bio
Best Practices
- Every post = first impression
- Show process, not just results
- Post consistently
- Engage: comment, share, participate
- Email visible, availability updated
Consistency Beats Virality
One post a week for a year beats one viral post that leads nowhere.
Strength in Numbers
Collectives
- Freelancers who vouch for each other
- Shared values, visibility, trust
- One gets noticed, everyone benefits
- Common brand
- Studios see a talent pool
You stay freelance. You just stop being invisible alone.
Example
Homework
- Audit portfolio: remove off-brand work
- Set up: LinkedIn + one art platform + portfolio
- Write a one-line bio
- Post one process piece this week
What's Next
Q&A: Your Questions, Answered
Chapter 7: Q&A
All Homework
Ch 1: The Landscape
- Three types of animation work that excite you
- Working model: permanent, project, freelance, or founder?
- Generalist or specialist? Why?
Ch 2: The AI Question
- Three things AI cannot replicate about your work
- Find AI animation online: what’s missing?
- Explore one AI tool: what can it do?
Ch 3: Your Identity
- What motivates you?
- What do you care deeply about?
- What would you love to make?
- What kind of life do you want?
Ch 4: Inside the Studio
- Three dream studios: what are they producing now?
- One person at each you could connect with
- Rate yourself: craft, communication, reliability
Ch 5: Style & Market Fit
- Your style: where between generic and niche?
- Are you seeking a job, creating one, or both?
- Mood board: your current style vs. where you're heading
Ch 6: Online Presence
- Audit portfolio: remove off-brand work
- Set up: LinkedIn + one art platform + portfolio
- Write a one-line bio
- Post one process piece this week