Agora.Community
Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
Episodes
Agora.Bites | Q & A 06 | Career: Changing Direction
17 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It can happen after a long period of time, that things can start to feel stagnant, and you start to question if what you are currently doing is right....
Agora.Bites | Q & A 06 | Blocking: Changing Direction
17 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When you start a new shot and perhaps it’s not working, how do you know when to stop and change direction?
Agora.Bites | Q & A 06 | Presenting Your Work
17 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Should you present your work in a way that will draw the attention of recruiters and people in the departments that will make the decision on if you g...
Agora.Bites | Q & A 06 | The Blacklist
17 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Are studios no longer talking to you? Did you make a really bad impression? You could be on the dreaded blacklist. What is it? Does it exist? And how ...
A Conversation With Ted Ty
10 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ted has over 30 years of experience at the feature animation level. He has animated on 20 feature films and is now Global Head of Character Animation,...
Agora.Bites | TED TY | Anxiety
10 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As an artist, it's hard not to let anxiety creep into our minds. In this clip, Ted Ty talks about the different types of anxiety he's noticed in the i...
Agora.Bites | TED TY | Was Your Shot Taken Away?
10 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It can happen that things get overwhelming for an artist on a project. Sometimes a shot may get taken away from you. In this clip from our conversatio...
Agora.Bites | TED TY | Burnout
10 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ted Ty and the team discuss the all too commonly known burnout and where the industry fails in keeping it at bay. Brent also raises a good point about...
Agora.Bites | TED TY | Don’t Be A Jerk
10 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In our Conversation With Ted Ty we discuss how your attitude at work can affect your career. Nobody wants to work with a jerk, so try not to be one! T...
Agora.Bites | TED TY | Relax
10 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In our conversation with Ted Ty, he's asked what advice he'd go back and give to his younger self. After a long pause, he says 'Relax'. He then goes o...
Agora.Bites | Q & A 05 | Studios: It’s Time To Adapt
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We’re going through a huge change in the industry thanks to the global pandemic. It’s been proven that artists are capable of working remotely, an...
Q&A With David and Brent #5
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this Q & A session, David and Brent answer some great questions to help you in your career. Topics such as negotiating salary, how to approach recr...
Agora.Bites | Q & A 05 | Approaching Recruiters
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What is the best way to approach recruiters without coming off too pushy or needy? Remember, recruiters are super busy and have a lot of positions to ...
Agora.Bites | Q & A 05 | Getting Experience
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A question that’s asked way too often! How do I gain experience if studios are only looking for experienced artists?
Agora.Bites | Q & A 05 | How Long Should I Wait?
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve been talking to a recruiter or you’ve applied for a position and then you wait for the email to appear in your inbox offering you the job. ...
Agora.Bites | Q & A 05 | Negotiating Salary Across Borders
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A good question! How do you negotiate your salary when applying to a studio in another country? David and Brent give their best answers.
Agora.Bites | Q & A 05 | Pay vs Experience
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Should you take a pay cut if the project your applying for will give you good experience, or a project you dream of working on? David recounts his own...
Agora.Bites | Q & A 05 | Dealing With Self-Doubt
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Self-Doubt, anxiety, imposter syndrome. It’s hard not to experience this at least one time in our lives as artists. This is a good one to listen to ...
A Conversation With Simon Otto
05 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Simon Otto is a Swiss film director and animator. He is best known for working as the Head of Character Animation of the Oscar-nominated How to Train ...
Agora.Bites | SIMON OTTO | Finding Creativity
05 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this bite-size piece of gold from our conversation with Simon Otto, he discusses his process of finding creativity within his scenes.
Agora.Bites | SIMON OTTO | Negativity Will Crush You
05 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the industry, it’s hard not to get pulled under by demanding deadlines, constant feedback and even your shot getting removed from the final produ...
Agora.Bites | SIMON OTTO | Standing Out As An Artist
05 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A question was asked to Simon Otto about “How do I stand out as an artist when there is so much talent coming through the ranks?”. Simon gives a v...
Agora.Bites | SIMON OTTO | Stay Open To Opportunity
05 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A lot of us have that dream studio. The dream project that we want to work more than anything. Simon Otto talks about his journey and while it’s ok ...
Agora.Bites | Q & A 04 | They Said They’d Get Back To Me
26 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What’s the deal when a studio says they’ll get back to you by a certain time, and yet they don’t? It’s ok, just relax and have a listen to thi...
Agora.Bites | Q & A 04 | Politics!
26 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ugh…office politics…something we can definitely all do without. Have a listen to David and Brent’s thoughts on Politics in a studio environment.
Agora.Bites | Q & A 04 | I Have A Destructive Workflow
26 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this Q & A session, someone from the chat has a question about how they can fix their destructive workflow.
Agora.Bites | Q & A 04 | Are 2D Skills Necessary?
26 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A question that will continue to be asked for the rest of time! Are 2D Skills necessary. David and Brent give their opinions on how 2D skills can help...
Q&A With David and Brent #4
26 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this Q & A session, David and Brent cover topics such as how to fix a destructive workflow, what happens when a studio doesn't get back to when the...
Agora.Bites | DAVID GIBSON | When Animators Struggle
26 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Being a leader means you’ll be working with animators of different levels in their animation journey. David Gibson gives some great advice for what ...
Agora.Bites | DAVID GIBSON | For Aspiring Game Animators
26 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
David Gibson gives his advice to anyone considering a career in game animation.
Agora.Bites | DAVID GIBSON | Management Vs Leadership
26 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Management and leadership sound like the same thing, but there are definitely some differences between them when it comes to a production. David Gibso...
Agora.Bites | DAVID GIBSON | Leadership & Vulnerability
26 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Leaders are expected to lead a team over the finish line with great success…but what happens when a leader doesn’t have all of the answers? Listen...
Agora.Bites | DAVID GIBSON | Knowing Your Character
26 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
During the Q & A with David Gibson, a question was asked “How well do you know your character before animating”. Have a listen to his answer!
Agora.Bites | DAVID GIBSON | Making Games Vs Films
26 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
David Gibson has worked over a variety of disciplines from film to games. In this clip from our conversation, he talks about the differences between e...
A Conversation With David Gibson
26 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
David has been animating professionally for 16 years. Previous to his Lead Animator position at Riot Games, he was part of Overwatch animation team at...
Agora.Bites | Q & A 03 | Office Romances?
18 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A very spicy question got thrown David and Brent’s way on their thoughts of office romances. They are bound to happen, some studios studios don’t ...
Agora.Bites | Q & A 03 | How Do You Stay Motivated?
18 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Some days on the job can be a drag. We’ve all faced times when we just don’t feel motivated to perform. What are some ways to overcome this? Some ...
Agora.Bites | Q & A 03 | How We Lead Our Teams
18 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Anyone that is a lead, thinking of becoming a lead, or in a higher position should take a listen to this clip about how David and Brent run their team...
Agora.Bites | Q & A 03 | How Do I Become A Lead?
18 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We all want to get promoted at some point in our careers, but how? In this clip David and Brent give their best advice, but also throw back the questi...
Agora.Bites | Q & A 03 | Animators With High Egos
18 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever come across an entry level artist that just seems to have a little bit too much of a high ego? David and Brent discuss how to handle the...
Q&A With David and Brent #3
18 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the third episode of our Q&A series with David and Brent, the dynamic duo answers the following questions:How do I become a lead?What's your opinio...
Agora.Bites | ANDREW GORDON | Advice To His Younger Self
18 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A question that was posed in our previous conversation with J. D. Haas is asked again to a different industry pro. In this clip, see if their advice i...
Agora.Bites | ANDREW GORDON | Demo Reel Advice
18 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew was asked a question, “As a junior, what advice do you have for demo reels?” Here is some great advice from someone who's spent 25 years of...
Agora.Bites | ANDREW GORDON | The Pixar Brain Trust
18 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew Gordon talks about the Pixar Brain Trust and his thoughts on how beneficial they can be to the creative process.
Agora.Bites | ANDREW GORDON | Creating Collaborative Culture
18 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One of the followers from our social accounts posed Andrew the question of “How do I create a more collaborative culture within the workplace?” A ...
Agora.Bites | ANDREW GORDON | Follow Your Instinct
18 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew Gordon spent a majority of his career at Pixar, and deciding to leave was an exciting and scary experience. In this clip, Andrew gives his advi...
Agora.Bites | ANDREW GORDON | Pixar In The 90’s
18 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Take a little trip back in time to hear about how Pixar was in its infancy of becoming one of the greatest animation studios in the world! A fun littl...
Agora.Bites | ANDREW GORDON | The Pain Of Perfection
18 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this clip from our conversation with Andrew Gordon, he talks about the pain that can be involved with creating an amazing piece of animation.
A Conversation With Andrew Gordon
18 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew has more than 25 years of experience in feature animation at Pixar and additional years at Warner Bros., DNEG, and Cinesite as head of animatio...
Agora.Bites | Q & A 02 | Why Programmers Get Tested.
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this clip from our Q & A session, Brent talks heavily about why programmers get tested more than animators and what you should really be mindful of...
Agora.Bites | Q & A 02 | Technical animator vs. regular animator?
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
You may have heard the term ‘technical animator’, but what exactly is a technical animator and what is the difference from a regular animator? Als...
Agora.Bites | Q & A 02 | What do you think about animation tests at the point of getting hired?
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Animation tests. Are they still around and are they really necessary? Listen to the gang’s thoughts on this topic of why studios may still be asking...
Agora.Bites | Q & A 02 | How do I prepare for an interview after completing a test?
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Did a studio give you a test and then get asked for an interview? Well, that’s a good sign! How should you prepare for this interview with a studio ...
Agora.Bites | Q & A 02 | Can your socials cost you a job?
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Did you party a little too hard on the weekend and have incriminating evidence blasted across Facebook? How mindful should we be of our social media a...
Agora.Bites | Q & A 02 | Developing unique skills and qualities.
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We all have access to great learning material in this digital age, so how exactly can an animation artist stand out amongst the crowd of so many other...
Agora.Bites | Q & A 02 | Animation programmer vs gameplay programmer?
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this clip from our Q & A session, the gang talks about what differentiates the two types of programmers that you’ll find in any given studio. Han...
Agora.Bites | Q & A 02 | Do I need connections to get a job?
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A question that gets asked all too often. Do you need contacts to get into the industry, and if so, how do you get those contacts?
Agora.Bites | Q & A 02 | Will learning mocap help me become a better animator?
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s often asked if motion capture will eventually replace keyframe animation. We discussed this very issue in our conversation with J.D. Haas. In t...
Agora.Bites | Q & A 02 | How important is quadruped animation on your reel?
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We want to make our demo reels as appealing as possible for the studios we are applying to, but how much do we really need to put on them? It is impor...
Q&A With David and Brent #2
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the second episode of our Q&A series with David and Brent, the dynamic duo answers the following questions:How important is it to have a quadruped ...
Agora.Bites | J.D. HAAS | Surviving Another Revision
12 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Revisions. We all get them, and depending on what field of animation you work in, you may get 100 of them. In our conversation with J.D. Haas, the tea...
Agora.Bites | J.D. HAAS | Mocap Can Make You Better
12 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
J.D. was asked if he thought mocap would eventually take over keyframe animation. His answer is a flat out "No". The team then go on to discuss mocap ...
Agora.Bites | J.D. HAAS | Industry Misconceptions
12 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
"Surely you just push a button and it moves?" How many times have we heard this and many other misconceptions about what we do in our day to day jobs?...
Agora.Bites | J.D. HAAS | The Future Of Remote Work
12 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We are definitely living in a new normal. It's been proven that artists can work from home, and some even preferring this, or wanting a hybrid lifesty...
Agora.Bites | J.D. HAAS | Finding Full Time Positions
12 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Full-time positions in the animation industry. Do they exist? And if so, how and where do I get this elusive Golden Ticket? Find out in this sound bit...
Agora.Bites | J.D. HAAS | Animation: It’s Not For Everyone
12 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
J.D. Haas and the gang discuss how animation may not be for everyone. Listen to this bite to find out why!
Agora.Bites | J.D. HAAS | Advice To My Younger Self
12 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this clip from our conversation with J.D. Haas the team ask him if he had any advice to his younger self when getting into the industry, what would...
A Conversation With J.D. Haas
12 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Jean-Denis Haas, associate animation supervisor at ILM, a teacher at Animation Mentor, Spungella Animation Workshop, and the Acade...
Agora.Bites | Q & A Episode 01 | Overtime: Is It Worth It?
05 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Overtime is a common thing in our industry. In this clip from our first Q & A session, David and Brent discuss if overtime is really worth it, given h...
Agora.Bites | Q & A Episode 01 | Do I Need Good Acting Skills?
05 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this clip from our first Q & A session, David and Brent talk about getting into the industry if you don't have good acting or lip sync skills and i...
Agora.Bites | Q & A Episode 01 | How Long To Learn Animation?
05 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this clip from our first Q & A session, David and Brent talk about the learning process of animation and just how long it may take to become good e...
Agora.Bites | Q & A Episode 01 | What Makes A Good Animator?
05 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this clip from our first Q & A session, David and Brent give some ideas about what it takes to become a good animator.Don't forget to head on over ...
Agora.Bites | Q & A Episode 01 | Game Character Interaction
05 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this clip from our first Q & A session, Brent talks about video game animation and how to animate characters interacting with each other. Don't for...
Agora.Bites | Q & A Episode 01 | Feedback Does Not Equal Incompetence
05 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this clip from our first Q & A session, David and Brent talk about how feedback from your lead, supervisor, or director doesn't necessarily mean yo...
Agora.Bites | Q & A Episode 01 | Employer Red Flags
05 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this clip from our first Q & A session, David and Brent talk about the red flags that you as an employee should look out for when interviewing for ...
Agora.Bites | Q & A Episode 01 | Interview Trick Questions Part 02
05 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this clip from our first Q & A session, David and Brent give some more ideas about the interview process and any questions they may ask to see if y...
Agora.Bites | Q & A Episode 01 | Interview Trick Questions Part 01
05 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this clip from our first Q & A session, David and Brent give some ideas about the interview process and any questions they may ask to see if you re...
Q & A With David and Brent | Episode 01
05 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The first episode in our weekly series of Q & A live streams with David and Brent. In these episodes, the duo answer questions from our chat and backl...
Agora.Bites | Amaru Zeas | Will Technology Replace Artists?
05 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this clip from our Meet The Expert chat with Amaru Zeas, he answers a question from chat about will the new processes in technology eventually repl...
Agora.Bites | Amaru Zeas | Unreal Engine: What To Focus On First
05 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this clip from our Meet The Expert chat with Amaru Zeas, he answers a question from the chat about where to start when learning Unreal Engine.
Agora.Bites | Amaru Zeas | Rabbit Hole Of Information
05 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this clip from our 'Meet The Expert' episode with Amaru Zeas, he and Brent answer a question from the chat about staying out of the rabbit hole of ...
Agora.Bites | Amaru Zeas | Megascans: What Are They?
05 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In our Meet The Expert episode with Amaru Zeas, he explains to us the vastly growing technology of Megascans and creating assets for Unreal Engine.
Agora.Bites | Samantha Youssef | Reference: Get Out Of Your Chair!
05 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In our Conversation With Samantha Youssef, she touches upon how important it is to physically understand your reference. You might not be a pro skateb...
Agora.Bites | Samantha Youssef | It's All About Fundamentals
05 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Aka: Why 2D is still so relevant! In our conversation with Samantha Youssef, the gang talked about the fundamentals of 2d animation and classic art sk...
Agora.Bites | Samantha Youssef | When You're Better Than Your Supervisor
05 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In our conversation with Samantha Youssef, she touches upon her experience with feelings of frustration when she saw people in higher positions that s...
Agora.Bites | Samantha Youssef | Animation: It's A Team Sport!
05 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this clip from our conversation with Samantha Youssef, she discusses how animation really is a team sport. Samantha relates how she would sometimes...
Agora.Bites | Samantha Youssef | A Message For Students
31 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In our conversation with Samantha Youssef, we asked if she had any advice on students who are about to graduate. Watch the video for her response with...
Meet The Expert: Amaru Zeas
31 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Amaru Zeas is a prolific Senior Level 3D artist working at Amazon Game Studios (please see below for links to his amazing work!).Amaru has just finish...
A Conversation With Samantha Youssef
20 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Samantha is the founder and Artistic Director of Studio Technique. She is the creator of The Youssef Drawing Syllabus, an elite figurative drawing pro...