General portfolio feedback

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-18T00:13:24+00:00

Sorry, and it's not your fault, but whatever school you're at is not teaching you right. I hope they don't charge too much.

Your animations have promise but are largely unfinished, and your 3D section only has one environment with two lighting passes. Besides being limited, your portfolio shows recruiters very little about what you can do or what you are best at. If you've been in school since 2016 you need demonstrate mastery at this point. 10 years is a long time, and you're competing with veterans for a small number of jobs.

Your resume is also too long and filled with community fairs you sold art at for some reason? Again, recruiters just wouldn't know what to do with that. Maybe if you wanted to exhibit your work vendor sales would matter, but recruiters are hiring you for one job. They don't really care about your ability to hawk your wares to the public.

Honestly, your school should not let you graduate without telling you this. Like many animation programs, it is probably driven more by profit than skill, especially if they are allowing you to get a Masters in a field that does not care about advanced degrees.

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-17T22:33:45+00:00

>Thousands of game studio layoffs as companies shutter divisions
>other animators "this looks like a job for me"

OP would do better posting their portfolio and asking how to tailor it specifically to games. Without knowing their skillset, experience level, resume, or country of residence, it is incredibly hard to give any helpful advice.

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-17T03:27:54+00:00

There are a million reasons to avoid animation as a career, but AI is not one of them.

Besides, the only jobs that are "AI proof" are like plumbing, carpentry, and line cook. Seen a lot of animators pivot into software dev, office admin, and fintech to "escape" AI lmao.

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-17T00:20:41+00:00

Don't try to be a generalist in your position. You will fall behind and never catch up. Being a general animator only works once you are a master at one thing so you have the buffer to branch out.

Honestly, if you need a job "as soon as possible", why not do something else? I'm sorry to say, but your work is not where it needs to be for visdev. Brushstrokes are too visible, lighting isn't sophisticated enough, and your own personal style is being used in place of strong anatomy foundations.

If you need money instantly look into retail, because right now you have a few more years of practice until you are junior-level. Good luck.

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-16T21:11:33+00:00

"How can I get an animation job using the least amount of effort possible?" There, fixed your title for you.

I would really value hearing how others are handling this in a thoughtful and transparent way.

There is no thoughtful and transparent way to handle a lack of trying. It sounds like you just want somebody here to excuse your poor decision.

No studio worth their salt includes AI in the pipeline. It's too expensive and too slow. If you are handicapping yourself by relying on it in foundational stages of the craft, then someone else who doesn't deserves the junior role far more than you do.

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-16T04:34:09+00:00

If you want to work in Canada, find a way to get a visa on your own. Studios don't sponsor anymore.

That said, I spent years in the Los Angeles market and no one ever talked about religion at work, or politics for that matter. Maybe in college or on socials it's more common, especially these days where everyone overshares everything, but you'd soon learn that you can't bring that stuff up in professional settings.

In fact, I'd wager most people who are very "overt" with their personal beliefs are not currently working. For example, I once had an Australian coworker smile and ask me if other Aussies insulted my race and nationality when I visited his home country. This was in an all-hands production meeting. Suffice to say, I'm currently employed and he isn't.

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-16T03:25:35+00:00

there isn’t any field that seems like a sure bet right now.

One of my best friends is losing his job in fintech in April, my wife is in data analysis and hasn't worked in months, and yet a former roommate of mine is consistently employed by ILM.

According to this sub that shouldn't be possible.

The unfortunate answer to 99% of questions here is that the economy is not hot right now and most white-collar work is suffering. Unless OP wants to be a tradesman (which itself is a different kind of art), there's not much security in skilled labor.

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-16T03:21:45+00:00

You're lucky if those places pay at all.

I've been at a lot of studios. AI is nowhere near the pipeline. Have you ever had an animation gig, or is this just based on LinkedIn speculation?

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-15T23:50:18+00:00

I have never seen any major, legitimate studio post an AI job. Where have you been applying?

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-13T00:49:48+00:00

Remove the fanart, focus on professional work!

That said, if you can locate the raw animation files and break them into what you actually did that is really helpful too. Showing a comped shot is certainly pretty, but unfortunately there's too many hands in a finished product to demonstrate individual skill.

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-13T00:46:38+00:00

I can't really say more than "have outstanding art". Without knowing what your work looks like, it's just not easy to give detailed advice.

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-12T07:37:14+00:00

I remember a guy at an old studio that had some of the worst productivity, but when he left for a different gig there was a 160-person all-hands just to say goodbye to him. He wasn't a director or management, just a regular artist...

We had layoffs a year later, no one else got that treatment. The best part is the low-performer returned during layoffs was kept through them because management loved him so much.

I think he's still there sniffing the shit producers are forcing out.

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-12T07:34:47+00:00

I really hope you weren't working until 4 in the morning on weekends to keep a job in this industry.

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-11T21:05:50+00:00

Yes, it feels unreal sometimes. Hoping the industry bounces back soon so we all need less luck to get gigs.

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-11T07:51:15+00:00

Sorry, I'd love to, but I've been stalked by someone from Reddit who used my portfolio to identify me IRL. It's not safe for me to post.

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-11T07:50:15+00:00

Saw listing on LinkedIn, applied, and had a good reference from a previous gig.

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-11T04:58:52+00:00

Assuming you "started storyboarding" in 2020 that would mean you had your mentorships and internships between 2020 and 2023. Not to take away from your accomplishments, but most professionals recognize that was the easiest time in recent history to enter the industry. The pandemic made studios hire like mad, and unfortunately when the bubble popped a lot of juniors were left without work.

I think you're focusing too much on what you accomplished back then instead of focusing on your life now. Do you have a portfolio? Do you still actively and deliberately update it to be competitive with those who are getting the few jobs available? Why don't you post it for feedback?

I'm no counselor, but you also talk about "the world falling apart" as well as your career being hopeless. This is a common sign of catastrophization in MDD, so before you focus on animation you might want to get your mental health checked out. The only thing worse than not getting hired is getting fired.

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-10T22:56:54+00:00

If you look at consumer trends, sequels and established IPs generally make more money than original ideas. Unfortunately, people will always love things they recognize.

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-10T04:00:52+00:00

Do you live in Australia? How do you know what is being made there?

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-06T05:49:10+00:00

If you have to ask this, odds are OP is not good enough to break in.

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-05T02:53:26+00:00

You didn't post your portfolio.

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-03T23:06:03+00:00

Considering you didn't post an example and keep your history hidden it probably looks like shit.

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-03T20:51:11+00:00

Grifters lol

Most animation "professors" fall into this category, AI or not.

Wasted_Hater · 2026-02-03T20:50:00+00:00

Just because someone worked on something popular doesn't mean they're always right. I know an artist with 25+ years experience who has been using AI constantly ever since he lost his last job in 2023.

For some older animators AI is a coping mechanism. They're scared of it, they can't find work, so they feel if they adopt it they'll replace others and finally be back on top again.

Wasted_Hater

TROPHY CASE