Animation Portfolio Workshop

Taking it from theory to practise

Ready to level up your animation portfolio and land your dream job? Our intensive one-month mentorship program provides personalized guidance from industry professionals to refine your skills and showcase your best work.

This mentorship program is designed to provide personalized guidance and feedback to aspiring animation professionals focusing on developing a standout animation piece that will impress potential employers.

Up to five participants will receive focused, one-on-one feedback tailored to their specific project and career goals.

Who Should Apply

This program is ideal for recent animation graduates and aspiring professionals who have a foundational understanding of animation principles and a desire to refine their portfolio for industry application.

Schedule

Four one-hour sessions held at the end of each week on Friday or Saturday over one month. Sessions will be held in person at the Kelowna Innovation Centre or remotely from 10am to 11am PST. Exact dates will be announced once there are enough applicants to fill the seats available.

Eligibility Requirements

Proof of existing education (e.g., graduates diploma in animation)
Presentation of an existing animation portfolio demonstrating foundational animation skills
Submission of a detailed breakdown of the animation project to be worked on during the program, including concept, storyboard (if applicable), and intended technical approach.
Applicants should have a working knowledge of industry-standard animation software (e.g. Maya, Toon Boom, Blender) This mentorship is not intended to solve animation software problems and is focused on skill development.

What's the Commitment

Members: $160
Non-Members: $200

This investment includes:

Four focused one-hour group mentorship sessions with an experienced animation professional
Personalized feedback on a key portfolio piece
Guidance on portfolio presentation
Valuable industry insights.
Showcase on the Okanagan Game Developers’ Association’s website

Program Outcomes

Our experienced Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EiR) will guide you through every essential element of a compelling one-page GDD, ensuring you leave with a comprehensive document that can propel your project forward. The workshop covers:

Elevated Hireability

Develop a polished portfolio piece that demonstrates industry-ready skills and significantly improves your chances of securing animation employment.
Confident Showcase

Learn how to strategically present your animation projects, highlighting your key strengths and artistic vision to potential employers.
Practical Mastery

Gain hands-on experience applying core animation principles under expert guidance, solidifying your understanding and improving your animation quality.

Valuable Industry Connections

Receive direct feedback and build a relationship with an experienced industry mentor, gaining invaluable insights into the professional animation landscape.
Personalized Action Plan

Receive a tailored action plan for continued portfolio development beyond the program.
Portfolio Review

The mentor will offer a brief review of the participant's full portfolio in the final session, suggesting best and worst work to highlight or remove to improve hiring chances.

Expert Guidance

Personalized feedback from professionals who have worked in the industry

James Smith

3d Animation & CEO of BlackCap Creative

Required Materials

Participants are expected to have their own hardware and software.

Hardware

Computer sufficient for animation work loads.
- May be mobile or desktop, mobile recommended.
Any additional hardware required to support the participant, mouse, keyboard, etc.

Software

Access to an industry standard animation software.
Access to a video editing software, for portfolio assembly.

Digital Assets

Participants are expected to have all models, characters, assets ready for animation prior to the second session.
All assets must be in working order in the software of choice as this mentorship is not intended to solve software integration problems between assets.
- Testing digital assets prior to application is recommended
- Proper working knowledge of the character/animation rigs is required, the mentorship is not the place to become acquainted with first time assets.
Paid or Royalty free assets are allowed to be used, participants are expected to understand licensing requirements of any assets they wish to use.

Ready to Elevate Your Portfolio?

Spaces are limited! Sign up today and take the first critical step towards making your game a reality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can anyone apply to this program?

Yes, as long as you meet the requirements of having a portfolio showcasing current skills and the tools to do the work, you can be accepted.

Will I be able to focus on just my portfolio project?

Yes, while the mentorship is done in small groups, each participant is required to work on their own personal animation piece.

Do I have flexibility to do the work assigned to me?

Yes, to a degree. There are specific due dates but a full week is given to complete the work done and assigned each week. If you fall outside of those dates, you may have to reapply for another session.

Is the session available online?

Yes we may be able to facilitate the mentorship digitally, however to get the most out of the networking benefits it would be best to attend in person.