Animation

Discuss, share content and offer advice or tips regarding technique, trends, software, advice, tips and all other pertinent issues related to animation

We're Building a Creative Army (And We Want You In It)

We're Building a Creative Army (And We Want You In It)

Week 2: Bring Two

This week's prize: a FREE Stage 32 Pitch Session. A live pitch to a working executive with notes and feedback on your project. Hone your pitch under real conditions, gain professional insight from someone who knows today's market, and expose your work to a working pro who can ask to read more if the project interests them.

WEEK 2: BRING TWO
Monday, September 7 through Sunday, September 13

Your mission: personally invite two friends or collaborators who haven't joined Stage 32 yet. A text, an email, a DM. The two people you'd actually want in your corner here. You can send invites at https://www.stage32.com/invite

To claim your Pitch Session, comment on the Week 2 Creative Army post and tell us who you're bringing into the fold. Ashley will send your code directly. Prefer to keep it private? Email Community@Stage32.com instead. One prize per member per week.

Week 2 post: https://www.stage32.com/lounge/producing/Why-Your-Creative-Community-Is-Your-Career-Creative-Army-Drive-WEEK-2

The Creative Army Drive runs all September. Five weeks, five missions, a prize every single week, and a Grand Prize drawing at the end for members who complete three or more: a FREE Stage 32 Career Development Call.


Liked by Daniel Cronin

Joshua Powell
Stage 32 Animation World Cup — Pixar: Round 1: Part 2

(2) Toy Story vs. (7) Monsters, Inc.

Toy Story — The film that changed animation forever. Woody, Buzz, friendship, jealousy, growing up, and the beginning of one of Pixar’s defining franchises.

Monsters, Inc. — A wildly creative world built around screams, anchored by the friendship between Mike and...

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Daniel Cronin

Toy Story takes this one. Monsters, Inc, I like because of the connection between Sully and Boo, but Toy Story takes this one because of what it started which was the use of CGI in a feature-length mo...

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Liked by Jaspreet Kaur and 7 others

Joshua Powell
The Stage 32 Animation World Cup — Disney Classics: Round 1, Part 2

(4) Aladdin vs. (5) Lilo & Stitch

This one feels especially tough because these films suceed in very different ways.

Aladdin brings the music, spectacle, comedy, romance, and one of Disney's most unforgettable performances with the Genie, Robin Williams.

Lilo & Stitch is smaller and more intimate, a s...

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George Ruiz

Aladdin, very entertaining. And the last one with Will Smith was also good!

Tony Berru

Alladin for sure. Robin Williams is the greatest animated character of all time. The story and writing are creative and energetic, and the music fits perfectly.

Josiah Cosgrove

Honestly, I feel like Aladdin is overrated (except for the genie, he's awesome, Robin Williams never disappoints).

Jaspreet Kaur

Lilo & Stitch for me. Aladdin is iconic, but I love how Lilo & Stitch builds such a big emotional story around loneliness, family, and belonging. The quieter character moments are what stay with me.

Joshua Powell

This was a very close one. Down to the wire. But Aladdin ended up with the near victory! Thank you again for the amazing activity. Check out this weeks round... Toy Story vs. Monsters inc.!

Maya Dennis
Looking for an Art Partner - Chicago

Hi all! I am currently working on a YA fantasy/sci-fi adventure tv pilot called Avalon Legends that is intended to be animated. The worldbuilding, the characters, the plot and pilot are completed but I am looking for a partner to help with character and setting design to be ready to pitch. Looking f...

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Dylan Oriondo Montalbo

Hi there Ms.Dennis!

is it possible to communicate with someone outside of Chicago? like maybe online? I may be able to be of assistance on this project if yours. please do let me know as soon as possible.

Andrew Crutcher
Cinematic trailer/ teaser for the film market

Hey you guys I have too features. I’m trying to find someone who can do a cinematic trailer/teaser so that I may take it to the film market in November. I also edit therefore I was hoping to find someone with more experience than me. That can make the trailer look great.

Olivia J Reynolds

Hey Andrew, I came across your post about the cinematic trailer/teaser for your two features. I’d definitely be interested in helping with that. I do video editing with a focus on making the final pie...

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Mike Boas
Who submits their animation to film festivals?

I have found it to be a great experience to show my work at festivals, especially when I can attend and talk with other filmmakers and audiences. I'd recommend submitting to fests, and find ones in your area where you can go in person.

I frequently recommend festivals to my students, and now my colle Expand post

Clarke Keaton

Mike Boas I really like this question because I think animation sometimes gets put into a strange box when it comes to festivals. A lot of general film festivals will have an animation category, but t...

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Leonardo Ramirez
Stage 32 Community Open House FREE Webcast: Wednesday, September 23rd at 12pm PT

Join our Head of Community, Ashley Smith as she helps us get the most out of everything Stage 32 has to offer. She’ll walk us through resources available to you, how to use them, and how to build real connections here.

It's free, and registering gets you the full recording even if you can't make it...

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Banafsheh Esmailzadeh
South Park

On tonight's episode of "How Freaking Sheltered IS Banafsheh?!?"... ;P

I started watching South Park at long last lol. I'm only about halfway through the first season but I'm digging it and know I wouldn't've appreciated it back when I was younger half as much as I do now.

There's something so charmin...

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Adam J. Spencer

"How Freaking Sheltered Is Banafsheh"

I get that. My episode title is:

"How Long Has Adam Been Living Under a Rock"

So I'm with you—separately—individual shelters and rocks notwithstanding.

William Goeyns
What Makes an Animated World Feel Truly Alive?

A city can float. A character can transform mid-scene. Mythology can become physical. Color, movement, sound, and design can tell parts of the story before a single line of dialogue is spoken.
That freedom fa Expand post

Kyle Chavira

Okay, so my favorite moments in animation are the ones that can really express a character's emotions through the world itself. A warrior struggling with people seeing him as useless gets chi-blocked...

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William Goeyns

Exactly. That’s when animation hits different. It’s not just showing movement, it’s showing emotion through the rules of the world. One limp arm can tell you the character’s confidence got crushed, th...

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Joshua Powell
The Stage 32 Animation World Cup — DreamWorks Bracket: Round 1

We've made it to DreamWorks, and we're starting with a matchup between two very different animated adventures.

#1 The Prince of Egypt vs. #8 The Road to El Dorado

On one side, The Prince of Egypt — epic scale, powerful music, stunning animation, and one of DreamWorks' most ambitious films.

On the other...

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Joshua Powell

Ashley Renée Smith That’s a great point about rewatchability. The Prince of Egypt is the film I admire more, but El Dorado may be the one that’s easier to throw on again and again. I hadn’t really con...

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Karen Ross

The Road to El Dorado - characters/relationships over spectacle every time. I still quote The Emperor's New Groove, and it's just a series of gags supporting two fantastic "buddy" relationships.

Ashley Renée Smith

I'm just gonna leave this right here...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd824LhgIUc

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

Having seen both of them for the first time a couple months ago... The Road to El Dorado because I love Kenneth Branagh's performance lol

Joshua Powell

Well, recalculating the votes. It appears we have an UPSET! THE ROAD TO EL DORADO advances to the next round!

Jason McArdle
BOTCO WIP Fenra

Animation has to be one of the hardest things I've done in my life. I feel like I'm getting better, but at the same time it just doesn't look as good as I want xD Is this a normal feeling for any animators? https://youtube.com/shorts/OsA8rCXuLXA?si=uHFl3gIZZMPejqBy...

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BOTCO WIP - Fenra
BOTCO WIP - Fenra
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
Joshua Powell
The Stage 32 Animation World Cup — Region 4: Animation Around the World, Round 1

We’ve made it to our fourth and final region!

This bracket celebrates animated films that stand apart through distinctive visual styles, filmmaking approaches, and storytelling traditions. And we're starting with two films that helped prove just how far animated filmmaking can be pushed visually.

(1)...

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Ashley Renée Smith

Okay, I have to declare my bias immediately: SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE is my favorite movie. Not a favorite. My favorite.

I have plenty of films I love, comfort watches I return to constantly f...

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Kendall Bear

Hmm... This is a tough one. I've always loved Coraline for its dark beauty and I'm a real sucker for claymation, but Spider-verse was stunning as well! I think both of them had a lot of detail, love,...

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Chase Carmichael

I haven't seen neither movies. But I would go with Into the Spider-Verse.

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

I don't know if my vote counts but I have to vote for Coraline simply because I haven't seen Into the Spider-Verse.

Jahnavi Kannan

Coraline! The animation is uniquely stunning, the plot is perfectly translated from the book, and it's simply unlike other animation movies I've seen- it mixes creepy visuals with a "value your family...

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Chikadibia Uchegbu
Introducing My Animated Series “The Naija Kids

Hi everyone! I’m developing an animated multiverse comedy series called The Naija Kids

The show follows ten Nigerian‑American siblings living in Queens whose scientist parents invent the QUADNAV, a machine that lets them travel to alternate realities (superhero worlds, zombie apocalypses, anime unive...

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