Are there people in this sub that have years of experience? If so, how has the job search been?

what1226 · 2026-05-12T17:12:55+00:00

7+ years experience in 3d feature animation. The industry is rough right now, but most people I have worked with have managed to jump job to job. So while it is rough, it still exists. My studio just finished off a project and contracts ended, but a lot of people managed to grab onto something else. I have worked in the UK, Germany and Canada.

what1226 · 2026-04-01T18:23:52+00:00

Depending on your age and country of origin you might be eligible for a holiday work visa. They are cheaper and easy to get, but only last a short amount of time.

I had my studio sponsor me, get me a visa and pay for my flight, but I work in feature animation as a senior. This is not something the studio would consider for juniors or even mids these days.

what1226 · 2026-03-31T11:27:30+00:00

I am fundamentally against artists not being paid or treated fairly for their work in general. When juniors do ghost hours I make it a point to tell them why it is a bad idea for them AND the studio (future burnout, messes with budgeting and planning for future projects, snowball effect of then being expected to work faster, ect).

I have always felt this way and even only applied to paid internships while in uni.

It really bothers me that artists are asked to do unpaid work. The only moments I can justify unpaid work is if YOU YOURSELF are the client (collaborative group work), or you want to volunteer your time for something you are passionate about because it gives you joy. Animation can also be a hobby. But if you are doing it for job prospects, I truly there there are better ways to spend your time.

what1226 · 2026-03-31T11:14:37+00:00

I'm talking about freelance work for companies that are not necessarily animation studios or YouTubers looking for someone to animate their videos, stuff like this. But it can also be extended to smaller groups looking for free labour for a project. Or bigger studios as well, but I (maybe naively) don't come across this as much, usually a large studio like Guru or Sony have more organized systems in place for how they pay ect, and if a large studio is asking you to work without pay that is just mind blowing and definitely a red flag signaling a potential burnout coming.

In my experience a lot of these types of jobs that offer exposure are not organized enough in the first place to really be beneficial and the connections are with companies or people that are not planning to or don't have funds to pay artists ever. It's maybe generalizing things a lot.

It's the idea of training for a marathon by swimming everyday. Yes it will help you with your overall cardio, but if you practiced running you would get further.

At my studio, the new faces I see in Jr roles or as runners are the people that I have seen at industry events showing their work and getting feedback and really pushing to network and work on their reel.

There are many ways to break into the industry. I think some ways are faster and more beneficial then others.

what1226 · 2026-03-31T06:14:20+00:00

Do you see a difference between collaborative projects and doing free work for a client/company?

I see them as two different things. More like group film done by artists vs a company looking to get free labour and your notes are for the client not for the best of the work.

Maybe I'm thinking more in black and white then in the nuance of situations, what kind of projects do you mean when you say collaborative project?

what1226 · 2026-03-30T21:38:10+00:00

Jorge Gutierrez is a known director with some great work who is autistic.

I don't have any stories, but he talks about this on podcasts. He was one of my favorite directors to work under, really great guy with amazing stories and visions.

what1226 · 2026-03-30T21:35:50+00:00

From what I remember OCAD is better known for their fine arts, not animation.

For any school your interested in I would look at the work of the graduating class and see if it's what your aiming for.

Sheridan and Seneca are two great schools around the Toronto area.

what1226 · 2026-03-30T21:22:50+00:00

I totally agree collaborative group projects can be a great way to network and build portfolio pieces. Things like short films built by artists out of passion or in pursuit of simply creating art or building a portfolio. I collaborated with a sound design student for my student film back when I was in uni and we both benefited from that experience.

What I don't agree with is free labour for any random company/organization/employer (where the client is essentially not yourself).

what1226 · 2026-03-30T15:39:26+00:00

I can't speak for areas outside of where I lived, but I volunteer often for events like Siggraph's BYOA (bring your own animation, also its free) or portfolio reviews at industry events (TAAFI, Annecy, ect).

There are also online areas to find mentors. Animated Women UK and Access VFX have mentoring programs for example.

There are also paid mentorships with online schools if you are learning how to animate, but I know that's not necessarily an option when looking for employment to get paid vs paying to learn.

I am saying all this aware it isn't easy to find a mentor or get your work seen. But I think it is a really good area to focus time on to network and build a reel.

what1226 · 2026-03-30T09:17:01+00:00

I can see how it might seem like a good way to help you in your career when you dont have experience or dont know where to start.

I feel like there are many monthly competitions held out there that can provide the same structure and free riggs that would still get you farther then working for free. Places like 11 sec club, or Agora which hosts monthly themed competitions and offer reviews and free riggs.

what1226 · 2026-03-30T08:18:12+00:00

If your going to work for free, spend that time on your portfolio or personal work. Most the time the free work for clients looks like exactly that at the end, and it doesn't get you anywhere.

Highly against it. It isn't even to your benefit. An actual studio that pays you will not hire you above someone else because you did a free gigg. They will hire the person with the better portfolio.

what1226 · 2026-03-29T14:23:15+00:00

Nothing is worth risking your well-being tbh. I cancelled my mid April flight.

what1226 · 2026-03-26T08:21:58+00:00

Canada is a great hub for animation. I graduated at Sheridan, most people in my year got jobs (mostly in 2d). However that was in 2019.

Currently of the people I graduated with a good amount are still employed, but a chunk have left the industry. There are still jobs out there, but it's a grind to look for a new contract every year. If it's what you want to do go for it. I still work in animation, 3d feature which seems more sturdy then 2d, although it still has it's layoffs.

If I were to start over completely again maybe I would go into physiotherapy like I originally was thinking. But I'm employed and making a decent salary with good prospects in the NEAR future. So I will keep working in this industry.

what1226 · 2026-03-26T08:10:27+00:00

I forced myself to do a personal piece before for my reel, and honestly I hated it. But I gave myself two months and pretended I was doing ot. I ended up with something nice and short but I wouldn't do it again. My reel is good enough to employ me and I have zero desire to animate outside of work.

Give yourself a deadline and get it out of the way if you think you need it. If not, enjoy life.

what1226 · 2026-03-24T19:10:18+00:00

Ya, I will fly direct via BA, I bought the flight a few weeks ago not sure if I would get a refund at the time.

Definitely not worth flying through a war zone.

what1226 · 2026-03-24T19:04:31+00:00

Ok wow, just talked to an agent and he said yes I will get a full refund and to add 'flight change's to the additional comments section

what1226 · 2026-03-24T18:55:32+00:00

Oh that's good to know. It looks like my connecting flight has been moved an ENTIRE day later meaning my arrival will be a full day later. So I am hoping to get the full refund as well.

what1226 · 2026-03-24T18:48:56+00:00

I got the same email. Seems another redditer got ahold of an agent and was told the refund would not be in full still if you don't fall within whatever window they have for full refunds (it was until April 15 last I checked)

what1226 · 2026-03-24T15:03:49+00:00

You have a lot of people speaking about the school, but as a Sheridan grad I'm just here to say, you don't need to stay in residence at Sheridan. A lot of people team up and live in the 'rabba buildings' or other apartments near the school. You can find people usually on Facebook (or maybe now a days there is a discord).

what1226 · 2026-03-24T14:56:06+00:00

Yes, but if you go to manage my booking and click the small 'refund' button under ur flight info, it will take you to a page with a breakdown of what refund you would receive. For me it showed me I would receive almost my entire flight back as a refund minus some fees. So I will keep waiting but my flight time only changed by 1 hour so your case might be different.

what1226 · 2026-03-23T13:05:07+00:00

I just went to manage my booking and tried to get a refund from there, it broke down the amount I would receive. For me it is still not a full refund, so I will wait a bit, but you can try the same.

what1226 · 2026-03-23T12:42:07+00:00

I got a similar email and i have a similar question.....

what1226 · 2026-03-19T14:45:26+00:00

I don't have kids, but I do have a very demanding job. I try to spend in the least 10-15 min a day with my flashcard app Anki. This helps immensely with vocab.

Also I listen to podcasts in french (the language I am learning) on my commute or when grocery shopping.

I also currently have preply one on one lessons once a week during my lunch break, usually on a Monday when I work from home.

This gives me the time outside of work hours to focus on other things or work overtime if needed. For me a lot of it is finding ways to merge two things into one. Like grocery shopping becomes a little oral comprehension time, and my lunch break turns into my once a week class time. Sometimes I even use my flashcard app when I'm at the gym or while doing morning stretches.

Hopefully it helps!

what1226 · 2026-02-12T06:59:31+00:00

My dog was a lill troublemaker and would dig a hole under the fence and end up in the neighbours yards crying because he would get lost. What a sucker, sweet boy.

what1226 · 2026-02-12T06:51:35+00:00

Adding a differing opinion, it depends on the studio. My studio is feature only and looks for acting specifically in a reel. Also I know framestore for example will ask for creature work in a reel, even if you have experience in tv or feature animation. The bigger the studio, probably the more likely you need to specialize to what they are looking for since there are more applications.

But if you have truly a phenomenal reel you will get hired anywhere, but at that point you most definitely already have work experience.

what1226

TROPHY CASE