Agora.Community

Agora.Bites | Q & A 18 | What Challenges You The Most?

03 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

David and Brent get asked what challenges them the most when it comes to animating. This is a great clip if you’d like to hear how even industry pro...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 18 | Game Cinematic Reel Advice

03 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Brent gives a quickfire response to the question of what should go on a cinematics demo reel? A decent question. It’s acting, but also requires game...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 18 | Advice For Industry Newbies

03 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A question that gets asked so many times, but honestly, the answer can’t be said enough! And we’ll keep answering this question in as many differe...

Q&A + Unreal Matrix Trailer With David And Brent #18

03 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, David and Brent begin by watching the new Unreal Engine Matrix trailer and try to figure out if any of it is real. This leads to a di...

Agora.Bites | JOHN HOFFMANN | Clash Of The Departments

02 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

John answers a question on how big studios deal with any clash between departments to get everyone on the same path.

Agora.Bites | JOHN HOFFMANN | Try Everything

02 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

John had such a diverse career that has lead him to this amazing piece of advice. Listen to this little nugget of motivation if you are feeling like y...

Agora.Bites | JOHN HOFFMANN | Audience Screenings

02 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this clip, John talks about audience screenings and gives his opinion on if he thinks they benefit a movie, or not.

Agora.Bites | JOHN HOFFMANN | Staying Motivated

02 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this clip, John talks about what it can take to stay motivated and make it through the long process of making a film.

Agora.Bites | JOHN HOFFMANN | Don’t Be Precious

02 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

John talks about his personal experience of how much he hated receiving notes on his work, and the mindset that helped him start to overcome it.

Agora.Bites | JOHN HOFFMANN | Mentoring

02 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this clip, John talks about why you should start recognizing people who could one day become a very valuable mentor.

Agora.Bites | JOHN HOFFMANN | Pitching Your Idea

02 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

John tells a story on how story ideas were pitched on when making Luca, with a story about how an artist didn't do what he was told to do, but created...

Agora.Bites | JOHN HOFFMANN | Protecting The Story

02 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There are certain hallmarks in a story that need to stay. John talks about his experiences on Luca and how important it is to at times protect your st...

Interview with John Hoffmann | Story Supervisor | Pixar |

02 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Seen Luca yet? Our next conversation is with John Hoffmann, he's just finished working as story supervisor on the film. He has also put in some of his...

Q&A With David And Brent #17

01 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of our Q & A sessions, David and Brent answer a question about studios lying on their websites to attract potential employees, val...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 17 | Is The Company Lying?

01 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

One of our community members had been applying to a company that said they allowed part time work and ability to study during work hours, yet weren’...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 17 | Explaining An Art Career To Non Artists

01 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We had a question from a member about how do you explain that a career in animation is a viable career path to people, like parents for example, who m...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 17 | Should I Wait Until My Reel Is Ready?

01 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We all want to have the most polished, professional-looking demo reel to present to studios. But is it really that necessary? You may be a lot closer ...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 17 | Valuable Game Animation Skills

01 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

David gives Brent 2 minutes to answer this question about valuable skills you should have if you want to get into game animation! If you want to know ...

Agora.Bites | TROY QUANE | The Art Of Pitching A Story

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Troy didn’t start as a great board artist, in fact his very first pitch could have gotten him fired. In this clip, he talks about what you need to p...

Agora.Bites | TROY QUANE | The Job Of The Director

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Troy talks about the role of the director. A great clip to listen to if you are an aspiring director yourself!

Agora.Bites | TROY QUANE | What Makes A Good Board Artist

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In our conversation, Troy talked about the job of a board artist, and in this clip, he talks about what makes a good board artist.

A Conversation With Troy Quane

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our next guest on our ‘A Conversation With’ series is Troy Quane. Troy’s career has spanned over 25 years starting as a 2D animator at Disney Ca...

Agora.Bites | TROY QUANE | Raising The Bar As A Junior

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Troy gets asked what he looks for on a junior’s reel, and how can a junior raise the bar and rise above the rest.

Agora.Bites | TROY QUANE | A Director’s Advice To Animators

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Troy Quane has directed some great films and has picked up some tips along the way to impart with animators on how what they should do to contrinute t...

Agora.Bites | TROY QUANE | The Job Of A Storyboard Artist

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve been thinking of becoming a board artist, Troy Quane gets into what it means to be a storyboard artist.

Agora.Bites | TROY QUANE | Learn To Let Go

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes the shot or sequence that you love so much could be what’s holding the film back. When talking to Troy, he talks about his own experiences...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 16 | Why Can I Never Start?

28 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

One of our members in chat had a big question about being super excited about starting a new shot, but never does because when they start thinking abo...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 16 | Getting Rid Of Pose To Pose

28 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this clip from our Q&A David and Brent were asked how to get rid of the pose to pose feeling in your animation. Some nice little tips for anyon...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 16 | Blacklisting Studios

28 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve heard the rumors that studios will blacklist artists, but should this happen the other way around? Should artists blacklist studios that may n...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 16 | If A Studio Owes You Money

28 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We had a huge question in this Q&A where a studio still owed an artist money for the work they performed. And while they are by no means lawyers, ...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 16 | Can Work Ever be Family?

28 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Studios try and create a friendly, family like atmosphere. But when you’re on a contract and it doesn’t get renewed, can a studio every really be ...

Q&A With David And Brent #16

28 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of our Q & A sessions, David and Brent answer if you should blacklist a studio, the different styles of animation and can work eve...

Agora.Bites | ALEXIS WANNEROY | Studios Run By Artists

27 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

David has read an article that the co-founders of Fortiche are all artists themselves and how that has an impact. Alexis gives his thoughts about the ...

Agora.Bites | ALEXIS WANNEROY | Helping Artists You Supervise

27 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this short clip, Davis asks Alexis if he ever had to take a shot from one artist and give it to someone else to finish. This is a great clip to lis...

Agora.Bites | ALEXIS WANNEROY | Animation Stylistic Whiplash

27 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this clip, Alexis talks about stylistic whiplash from having to change animation styles so quickly and his own personal journey.

A Conversation With Alexis Wanneroy

27 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Surely we've all seen Arcane by now? No? Ok, go watch it and then come back. This week we had on the show Alexis Wanneroy, Lead Animator for the serie...

Agora.Bites | ALEXIS WANNEROY | Difference In Studio Cultures

27 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Alexis has worked in two completely different cultures. In this clip, he talks about the differences he found between working in France and the States...

Agora.Bites | ALEXIS WANNEROY | Interview Tips

27 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

During our chat with Alexis so many people wanted to know if Fortiche was hiring for season 2 of Arcane. This lead to the question of do you have any ...

Agora.Bites | ALEXIS WANNEROY | Demo Reel Tips

27 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Alexis shares his advice on what would make a good demo reel for anyone wanting to get into the industry, and what he would look for if he was going t...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 15 | 4 Years Learning & No Job!

26 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

One of our followers has been learning animation for 4 years, and still feels they aren’t good enough to get a job. They ask us if anyone can learn ...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 15 | How Recruiters Watch Demo Reels

26 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s super important to grab the attention of someone in the first few seconds of your demo reel. Find out how some studios watch your reel so that ...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 15 | A Big Shot, Little Time

26 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

One of our chat participants was in the middle of working on an 8 second shot, and only had a day and a half to complete it. Is this possible? And how...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 15 | Allocating Time To Enjoy Life

26 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s so easy to get caught up in work mode. Especially if you’re passionate about what you do. But, how do you allocate time to relax and enjoy li...

Q&A With David And Brent #15

26 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of our Q & A sessions, David and Brent discuss one of our follower's success stories using the advice of Manny Fragelus and answer...

Agora.Bites | RICHARD LICO | Content Creation In VR

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Is creating something while inside VR a thing? It sure is and Brent and Richard discuss what happening with creating content in VR.

A Conversation With Richard Lico

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Two-time Annie nominated, and DICE nominated Director, Animator, and Game Developer for his work on Moss. Richard Lico has 20 Years of experience dire...

Agora.Bites | RICHARD LICO | Game Animators Should Be Gamers

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We get asked the question a lot if Game Animators should be gamers, and in this clip you’ll find out just exactly why we always say “YES!”

Agora.Bites | RICHARD LICO | The Feeling Of Game Animation

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Animating in games should be more about the feeling and not focussing on if it looks pretty in the graph editor. You’ll have a better understanding ...

Agora.Bites | RICHARD LICO | Richard Discovers His Method

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you know Richard Lico, you’ll know about his out of the box workflow that he uses. You know, the one that leaves most people scratching their hea...

Agora.Bites | RICHARD LICO | Richard’s Method 101

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ok, now that you how Richard found his method, listen to a quick rundown on what exactly it is. If you’d like to learn it for yourself, you can head...

Agora.Bites | RICHARD LICO | Keep Game Animation Simple

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Creating detailed, amazing game animation can cause a lot of heartaches. Want to know why? Listen to this clip!

Agora.Bites | RICHARD LICO | Solve Problems Elegantly

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Richard gives an example of solving technical problems elegantly. If you can do this, you’ll be the studios favourite new artist!

Agora.Bites | RICHARD LICO | True VR Immersion

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve only just scratched the surface on creating VR experiences and there’s still so much potential. Listen to this clip and it may just inspire ...

Q&A With David And Brent #14

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of our Q & A sessions, David and Brent answer questions such as how to add excitement back into your career if you're bored, commo...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 14 | I’m Bored With Animating

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

One of our followers was starting to get tired of the same animation routine. They loved the industry, but just felt they needed a change or wanted to...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 14 | How Professional Animators Work

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This was a great question we got asked, because it helps to know just how a professional animator does their job. That way you might not feel in over ...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 14 | Preparing For Your Dream Studio

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Pixar, Dreamworks, Ubisoft…you know, that studio that you’ve always dreamed of being a part of. Just how do you prepare for the that moment when i...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 14 | Smart Ways To market Your Reel

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Social media is an amazing tool to promote yourself and your work. What are some smart ways to market your reel across these platforms. Some good litt...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 14 | How Often Should You Update Your Reel?

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It is recommended to update your reel so recruiters don’t just see the same thing over and over again. But just how often should you be doing this?

Agora.Bites | Q & A 14 | Does Age Affect Your Career?

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There are people out there that decided to get into the industry when they were pushing 40…is it even possible for this to happen? If this is you, l...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 14 | Common Flight Animation Mistakes

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Flight animation is a tricky beast. It’s not easy to get the mechanics of flight correct. Take a listen to this so you know at least what NOT to do!

Agora.Bites | LANCE LEFORT | Handling Gaps Between Jobs

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You’re in your interview after taking some time off in between jobs and the studio asks you to explain the large gap in your reel…what do you say?...

Agora.Bites | LANCE LEFORT | Why Juniors May Now Struggle

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

While working remotely has been great for some artists, it could have a detrimental effect on artists just graduating and getting their first jobs in ...

Agora.Bites | LANCE LEFORT | Recruiters & Anonymity

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When dealing through a recruiter they may just say they have a really awesome job in a great company. Why won’t they tell you anything more? There’...

Agora.Bites | LANCE LEFORT | Recruiting Post-Pandemic

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How has the pandemic changed the way studios recruit in the new world? An interesting insight into this one.

Agora.Bites | LANCE LEFORT | Do Studios Check Social Media?

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A studio is intereste din hiring you. How likely is it that they’ll check your social media accounts, and quite possibly pull the plug? Is it time t...

Agora.Bites | LANCE LEFORT | Why Studios Give Tests

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A studio has asked you to do a test…but you’ve had years of experience…do you really need to? Probably, but it’s a good reason to know why. It...

Agora.Bites | LANCE LEFORT | Recruiter Insight On The Blacklist

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The blacklist…we’ve all heard about it. Mess up at one studio, and you’ll have a hard time getting into another one. In our Q & A David and ...

Agora.Bites | LANCE LEFORT | Canada: Working Remote & Taxes

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Different provinces in Canada have different Tax profiles. If you work in one province, and move to another mid year, you may end up getting taxed mor...

Agora.Bites | LANCE LEFORT | Demo Reel Piracy

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Yes, unfortunately, it happens. Your amazing work may be stolen and put on another artist’s reel. But, don’t worry…studios talk. Take a listen t...

Agora.Bites | LANCE LEFORT | Demo Reel Tips From A Recruiter

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The question that doesn’t die! This time, get the answer from a man whose job it is to make sure reels are good enough to get passed on to a studio!

Agora.Bites | LANCE LEFORT | Interview Advice From A Recruiter

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Getting ready to start applying for jobs in the business? Get some first-hand tips from a professional recruiter and you can’t go wrong!

Agora.Bites | LANCE LEFORT | What’s Expected Of Juniors

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Just what exactly is expected of a new artist in the industry, and how getting promoted may not take as long as you think!

Agora.Bites | LANCE LEFORT | Mental health & Interviewing

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re someone who experiences anxiety or other mental health issues, do you bring these up in an interview? Lance Lefort gives some great advice...

Agora.Bites | LANCE LEFORT | You May Not Have Heard Back Yet

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

They said they’d draw up a contract and get back to me, but I haven’t heard anything yet. What’s the deal? This is probably why you haven’t he...

A Conversation With Lance Lefort

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of 'A Conversation With'. we chatted with Lance LeFort, President of the LeFort Talent Group, a company dedicated to providing talent ...

Agora.Bites | LANCE LEFORT | How Do I Become A Supervisor?

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You’ve gone from junior, to mid level…maybe you’re a lead now but, the real aim is to get up to a supervisory role! Get a recruiter’s thoughts...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 13 | Adapting To A Project’s Style

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What's the best way to adapt to a project's style? This is especially something to know if you're going from a super realistic VFX project onto a supe...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 13 | Planning Crazy Body Mechanics

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Super cartoony shots are amazing to watch! There's no way you could get reference for some of those extreme poses. So just how do you plan for crazy b...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 13 | Surviving A Bad Project

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever had a bad project that was one of the toughest experiences of your life? It's important to know how to survive these things to make your...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 13 | Are Key Poses Important?

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Of course they are! Aren't they? Listen to how Jacob's animation style evolved over time to a point where he stopped pulling out key poses from his re...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 13 | What Junior Reels Miss

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The question came up about what do a lot of junior animator reels lack when applying for jobs? You may think you need a highly polished demo reel, but...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 13 | Improving Facial Animation

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do you make facial animation a lot less overwhelming? Jacob has some advice on how to tackle facial animation so that you're able to make it a mor...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 13 | Big Vs. Low Budget Projects

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Where is the most pressure? Big budget or low budget projects? A very interesting question to consider. Jacob and Brent give their thoughts.

Agora.Bites | Q & A 13 | Creating A Mocap Reel

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Just exactly how do you show off your Mocap skills on a demo reel? Jacob isn't able to answer this one, so Brent steps in and gives some great advice ...

Q&A With David And Brent #13

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of our Q & A sessions, Jacob Gardner joins Brent to answer questions such as adapting to a project's style, surviving a bad projec...

Agora.Bites | JORGE VIGARA | Guilt Caused By Exhaustion

18 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In our conversation with Jorge Vigara, he was asked if he ever felt guilty about taking a break after being burnt out. A very good question! We want t...

Agora.Bites | JORGE VIGARA | I Wasn’t Having Fun!

18 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jorge talks about his experience of pouring his heart and soul into his animation and art, only to find that he wasn’t really enjoying it. He’s no...

Agora.Bites | JORGE VIGARA | Make Your Art YOU!

18 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jorge and the team talk about how you should make your art YOU. Meaning, put some of your personality and quirks into your artwork to make it stand ou...

Agora.Bites | JORGE VIGARA | Meditate!

18 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The title may have already put a lot of people off, but hear us out! Meditation is a very important tool, especially if you are in crunch time or a ti...

Agora.Bites | JORGE VIGARA | Personal Accounts Of Burnout

18 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Burnout. We shudder at the word. If you’re going through burnout, or been through burnout, you’re not the only one. The team talk about their expe...

Agora.Bites | JORGE VIGARA | Play When You’re Planning!

18 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jorge has done some amazing cartoony animation. In this clip, he talks about his process in planning his crazy shots.

Agora.Bites | JORGE VIGARA | Re-Inventing The Workspace

18 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The pandemic has caused a huge disruption in the way studios operate. In this clip, our team discusses this disruption and what it means moving forwar...

Agora.Bites | JORGE VIGARA | Remove Toxicity From Your Life

18 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes the things and people we love the most could be what’s holding us back from achieving our full potential. If you think this is you right n...

Agora.Bites | JORGE VIGARA | Talk About It!

18 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our conversation with Jorge Vigara revolved a lot around mental health and burnout. Talking about it is something that comes up a lot in our streams. ...

A Conversation With Jorge Vigara

18 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Founder & Director at Animawarriors.com, Jorge has more than 15 years of experience in the industry as an animator, animation director, teacher, a...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 12 | Should My First Job Be Remote?

17 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With remote work now an option, it could be easier to get a job in the animation industry. However, if it’s your first job…is it better to be in a...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 12 | Identifying Juniors And Seniors

17 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do you distinguish between the different titles in the industry? What makes a junior, and what makes a senior? Especially if the junior seems to h...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 12 | What To Show On Your Gaming Reel?

17 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The team got asked the question, “Is it ok to put a boss fight animation on your demo reel?” A question that comes up a lot, just how much do you ...

Agora.Bites | Q & A 12 | Thoughts On NFTs

17 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

NFTs, the craze that has swept the industry. David and Brent give their thoughts!