Episodes
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Oscar-winning director Gints Zilbalodis just proved you don't need fancy film school or million-dollar software to snag that golden statue. See the corresponding blog post with key takeaways here: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/gints-zilbalodis-flow
EJ sits down with animation's newest golden boy, Gints Zilbalodis, the genius behind "Flow" (yep, the one that just took home an Oscar). From doodling in Flash to accepting Academy Awards, Gints' journey is the ultimate inspo for anyone who's ever thought, "Maybe I could make cool stuff too?" Spoiler alert: You absolutely can.
👉CHAPTERS👈
00:00 Intro
00:18 Chapter 1: Journey Into Animation
03:00 Chapter 2: Transitioning to Blender ∑
09:41 Chapter 3: From Working Solo to Teamwork
16:09 Chapter 4: Custom Workflows and Tools
19:15 Chapter 5: The Aesthetic of Flow
24:32 Chapter 6: Pushing Blender to Its Limits
26:42 Chapter 7: Future of Blender
28:37 Chapter 8: Advice for Aspiring Animators
32:35 Wrap Up
ARTISTS
Gints Zilbalodis https://x.com/gintszilbalodis
Martin https://x.com/_martinshPIECES
Flow (2024) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4772188/
Away (2019) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8288450/RESOURCES
Geo-Scatter https://www.geoscatter.com/
Ghibli https://www.instagram.com/ghibliusa/
DillonGoo https://80.lv/articles/goo-engine-devs-team-up-with-blender-foundation-on-blender-npr-prototype
ClayPencil 2 https://www.instagram.com/_pepeland_/reel/DDt21XWsvne/ -
What happens when a small group of motion designers in Detroit evolves into a powerhouse of collaboration and innovation? The crew from Cart & Horse sat down with Joey on the School of Motion podcast to share their journey—from navigating the tight-knit creative community in Detroit to pioneering new workflows in Unreal Engine. Check out the corresponding blog post and key takeaways here: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/cart-and-horse
👉 CHAPTERS 👈
00:00 Chapter 1: Welcome!
01:27 Chapter 2: Chris's Experience in Detroit
03:08 Chapter 3: Dan's Journey from LA to Detroit
04:34 Chapter 4: Unreal Engine Early Adopters
08:06 Chapter 5: Why Is Unreal Engine Making Its Break Out Right Now?
11:58 Chapter 6: Live Working Sessions with Clients
17:43 Chapter 7: Unreal Engine's Learning Curve
24:22 Chapter 8: What Types of Projects Are You Using Unreal For?
28:44 Chapter 9: Virtual Production and the Travelers Spec Collab Project
43:22 Chapter 10: The Value Proposition of Virtual Production
57:42 Chapter 12: Cart and Horse OriginsArtists:
Dan Maurer https://www.linkedin.com/in/maurerdan/
Kris Bargen https://www.linkedin.com/in/krisbargen/
Julie Craft https://juliecraft.work/
John Einselen https://jeinselen.com/
Clemens Conrad https://www.linkedin.com/in/clemens-conrad/
Elliot Ruddy https://www.elliotruddy.com/
Jonathan Winbush https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmzWP6o2cw73moEF7LO_KvA
John Bugg https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonbugg/
Joel Pilger https://www.joelpilger.com/
Andy Blondin https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyblondin/
Geoff George https://www.geoffgeorgedp.com/contactStudios:
Cart and Horse https://www.cartandhorse.studio/
Launch by NTT DATA (formerly Vectorform) https://launch.nttdata.com/
Gunner https://gunner.work/
Rocket Mortgage https://www.rocketmortgage.com
Activision https://www.activision.com/
Golden Hour https://www.goldenhourgr.com/
Lunar North https://www.lunarnorth.tv/Work:
Travelers https://vimeo.com/938752533
The Mandalorian https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mandalorian
8 Mile https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8_Mile_(film)
Michigan Lottery commercial https://vimeo.com/938889801Resources:
MoGraph Mondays https://www.mographmondays.com/
Unity https://unity.com/
LightWave https://www.lightwave3d.com/
Rive https://rive.app/
After Effects https://www.adobe.com/products/aftereffects.html
Cinema 4D https://www.maxon.net/
Unreal Engine https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US
Octane https://home.otoy.com/render/octane-render/
Redshift https://www.maxon.net/en/redshift
Nanite https://dev.epicgames.com/documentation/en-us/unreal-engine/nanite-virtualized-geometry-in-unreal-engine
Lumen https://lumenandforge.com/services/animation-visual-storytelling/
Activision https://www.activision.com/
Viz Artist (Vizrt) https://www.vizrt.com/products/viz-artist/
Chyron https://chyron.com/products/all-in-one-production-systems/3d-real-time-graphics/
Fox Sports https://www.foxsports.com/
Miro https://miro.com/
Datasmith https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/datasmith
Cineware for Unreal https://support.maxon.net/hc/en-us/articles/4411492995730-Cineware-for-Unreal -
Missing episodes?
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Territory Studio’s creative minds behind Dune: Prophecy, Call of Duty Black Ops 6, and Vast Haven-1 spill the beans on designing for Hollywood, gaming, and the ever-evolving world of motion design.
Check out the corresponding blog post here: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/t...
Ever wonder how mind-blowing sci-fi interfaces, cinematic VFX, and hyper-realistic game graphics come to life? In this episode, Joey Korenman sits down with the brains behind Territory Studio—Marti Romances, Luke Kaile, Russ Gautier, and Liam Proniewicz—to talk shop. They’re the artists making blockbuster visuals happen, and trust us, you’ll want to hear what they have to say. If you’re a motion designer, VFX artist, or just someone who geeks out over killer design, this is a must-watch.
Hey, listeners! If you want to see the discussed works and fun behind the scenes shots, check out this episode on our YouTube channel!
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Blender artist and motion designer Elijah Sheffield shares how he transitioned into 3D, built a standout demo reel, and turned personal projects into career-defining moments. Check out the corresponding blog post (with episode highlights) here: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/elijah-sheffield-blender
👉 CHAPTERS 👈
00:00 Coming Up
00:22 Elijah Sheffield's Background and Early Career
01:29 Discovering Motion Design
03:32 College and Grad School Experience
13:30 First Job and Career Challenges
18:11 Finding the Motivation to Make Demo Reel Pieces
23:31 Transition to Freelance
26:41 Social Media's Impact on Career
34:52 Having a Freelance Plan
42:00 Pain and Rainbows of Freelance Work
44:18 Challenges and Rewards of Learning Blender
49:35 Finding a Style
55:16 Blender Learning Curve
01:03:28 Integrating Blender into Your 3D Pipeline
01:20:21 The Future of Blender
01:24:12 That's a Wrap!🗒️ SHOW NOTES
Artists:
Elijah Sheffield https://www.behance.net/sweetboymotion#
EJ Hassenfratz https://www.youtube.com/@eyedesyn/videos
Myles Bolden https://mylesjbolden.myportfolio.com/
Jonathan Winbush https://www.youtube.com/@JonathanWinbush/
Norm MacDonald https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norm_Macdonald
Chris Smith https://csmithstudios.com/
Joey Korenman https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeykorenman
Andrew Kramer https://www.videocopilot.net/Studios:
School of Motion https://www.schoolofmotion.com/
SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) https://www.scad.edu/
Pixar https://www.pixar.com/
DreamWorks https://www.dreamworks.com/Work:
Museum of History and Magic https://www.museumhm.org/
Killdozer https://www.instagram.com/sweetboy.motion/p/Cw0os46AIZN/
Spider-Verse https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider-Man:_Across_the_Spider-Verse
Ninja Turtles
Arcane https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcane_(TV_series)
Resources:
Greyscalegorilla https://greyscalegorilla.com/
Maya https://www.autodesk.com/products/maya/overview?term=1-YEAR&tab=subscription
ZBrush https://www.maxon.net/en/zbrush
Cinema 4D https://www.maxon.net/en/cinema-4d
Blender https://www.blender.org/
Unreal Engine Course https://www.schoolofmotion.com/courses/unreal-engine-for-3d-artists
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/
Demo Reel Dash https://www.schoolofmotion.com/courses/demo-reel-dashArnold https://www.autodesk.com/products/arnold/overview
Eevee https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/render/eevee/introduction.html
Grease Pencil https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/grease_pencil/index.html
Clay Pencil https://pepeschoolland.gumroad.com/l/ibbls
Donut Tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0J27sf9N1Y&list=PLjEaoINr3zgEPv5y--4MKpciLaoQYZB1Z
STL files https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STL_(file_format)
Blender Market https://blendermarket.com/
Freelance Manifesto https://www.amazon.com/Freelance-Manifesto-Modern-Motion-Designer-ebook/dp/B071JRYMSG -
In the latest episode of the School of Motion Podcast, host Joey Korenman sits down with industry veteran Joel Pilger—a name synonymous with success in the motion design world. With a career spanning over two decades, Joel has: - Founded and led Impossible Pictures, a top creative studio that grossed over $40 million and garnered major awards. - Advised leading independent studios worldwide, including Cream, Giant Ant, Laundry, Mighty Nice, Polyester, Sarofsky, and STATE. - Launched FORUM, a community where studio founders master the art of business together. Tune in as Joel shares invaluable insights on not just surviving, but thriving, in the evolving motion design landscape.
See the corresponding blog post here: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/joel-pilger
🗒️ SHOW NOTES
Joel Pilger https://www.joelpilger.com/forum
Joel Pilger’s Podcast, Fabulist https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fabulist/id1657890871
Erica gorichow https://gorochow.com/
Hayley Akins http://www.hayleyakins.com/
Amanda Russell https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-russell-cream-studio/
Barton Damer https://www.linkedin.com/in/barton-damer-92a32918/
Jorge R. Canedo E. / Jr.canest https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrcanest/?originalSubdomain=ca
Ronny Young https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronnyyoung
John LePore http://johnnymotion.com/
EJ Hassenfratz https://www.instagram.com/eyedesyn/?hl=en
Ryan Seacrest https://www.instagram.com/ryanseacrest/?hl=en
Beyonce https://www.beyonce.com/
The Rock https://www.instagram.com/therock/?hl=en
Justin Barnes https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinbarnesversus
Marty Romances https://test.martiromances.com
Andy Baker https://www.andyjbaker.com/
Dan Sullivan https://www.strategiccoach.com/
Cream https://wearecream.com/
Already Been Chewed https://www.alreadybeenchewed.tv/
Pep Rally https://peprallyinc.com/
BIEN https://thisisbien.com/
Ordinary Folk https://www.ordinaryfolk.co/
OddBeast https://oddbeast.tv/
Territory Studios https://territorystudio.com/
Versus https://www.weareversus.tv/
Impossible Pictures https://www.impossiblepictures.com/
BlackBox Infinite https://blackboxinfinite.com/About
The Mill https://themill.com/
Psyop https://www.psyop.com/
Apple Vision Pro F1 proof of concept https://www.instagram.com/johnnym0tion/reel/C2c_cvWJ3KV/
Bible Project https://www.ordinaryfolk.co/project/bibleproject-god
Fuse https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Fuse_CC
Final Cut Pro https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/
Premiere https://www.adobe.com/products/premiere.html
Avid https://www.avid.com/
Flame https://www.autodesk.com/products/flame/overview?term=1-YEAR&tab=subscription
Smoke https://www.autodesk.com/products/smoke/overview
Cinema 4D https://www.maxon.net/en/cinema-4d
Rive https://rive.app/
Unreal Engine https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US
Cavalry https://cavalry.scenegroup.co/
RevThink https://www.revthink.com/
Pink Floyd - The Wall https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wall
RFP/RFQ/RFI https://cobalt.net/rfi-rfq-rfp-whats-the-difference/
Kevin Kelly https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Kelly_(editor)
Donald Miller https://storybrand.com/
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2024 was a transformative year for motion design - from AI disruption to the evolution of real-time tools, emerging platforms, and a changing economic landscape. In this comprehensive year-end roundup, Joey Korenman, EJ Hassenfratz, and Aharon Rabinowitz break down everything that shaped our industry and peer into what 2025 might bring. We also asked some industry luminaries to weigh in, so you’ll hear from the likes of Buck, Scholar, Motion Hatch, Colosseum, Curious Refuge and more!
Get ready for candid insights on the state of motion design, software updates that changed the game, the impact of AI, and how artists are adapting to an ever-shifting landscape. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just getting started, this conversation covers the trends, tools, and opportunities that matter.
Plus, hear our panel's bold predictions for 2025 - from the future of real-time rendering to emerging platforms and where the next big opportunities lie for motion designers.
🔥 IN THIS EPISODE: Best motion design work of 2024 The state of the industry and economy Major software updates (After Effects, Cinema 4D, Blender, Unreal) New tools and tech to watch out for The rise of AI and its impact on motion design The return of in-person events and meetups Predictions and trends for 2025
Head over to our blog post for links to everything we talk about: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/2024-review
Chapters
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:21 In the Beginning...
00:01:50 Defining Motion Design
00:02:51 Evolution of Motion Design
00:08:51 School of Motion Updates
00:12:34 Favorite Works of 2024
00:28:49 Shoutouts to Studios and Artists
00:37:40 Innovative Marketing Strategies
00:39:15 The Rise of Niche Studios
00:45:14 Advancements in After Effects and 3D Tools
01:17:37 Exploring Maxon Studio and Its Strategy
01:21:03 Grayscale Gorilla's Big Release
01:25:30 Adobe's Substance Integration
01:28:16 The Future of Generative AI in Textures
01:35:58 Blender's Growing Influence
01:52:42 Will Blender Take Over?
01:55:48 Cinema 4D vs Blender: Industry Adoption
01:59:37 The Rise of After Effects in Motion Design
02:04:47 Unreal Engine's Impact on Motion Design
02:25:59 Unreal Marketplace Missteps
02:31:03 Rive: The Future of Interactive Animation
02:40:54 The Return of 2Advanced
02:47:32 The Future of Lottie?
02:50:45 Exploring Womp: A New 3D Modeling Tool
02:55:49 Cavalry: The Houdini of 2D Animation
03:07:30 Other Motion Design News
03:16:50 Meetups Are Back: Highlights and Events
03:20:55 Tech Updates: Apple Vision Pro and Meta's Orion
03:23:19 Adobe vs. Procreate: The AI Debate
03:34:56 The Mo Economy: Trends and Predictions
04:05:55 The Rise of Rive in Animation
04:09:55 Future Trends in Motion Design
04:16:11 The Importance of Editing Skills
04:21:09 Effective Marketing Strategies for Freelancers
04:39:22 The Impact of AI on the Industry
04:54:08 AI's Impact on Creative Work
04:55:59 AI as a Tool for Artists
04:57:48 Historical Context and Future Predictions
05:01:51 The AI Plateau and Future Tools
05:22:11 2025 Predictions
05:34:49 The Future of AI Aesthetics
05:47:22 Economic Outlook for Motion Design
05:51:22 Niche Markets and Specialization
06:02:41 AI's Impact on the Artist CommunitySCHOOL OF MOTION COURSES
All Courses - https://som.bz/3SUg5Yb
Guided Courses - https://som.bz/3LYmJef
Instant Access Courses - https://som.bz/3AWv63C
After Effects Courses - https://som.bz/42sBon6
2D Animation - https://som.bz/3VCBtme
3D Courses - https://som.bz/3ArdpZu
Design Courses - https://som.bz/3NGyJC -
From Flash to the future, in this episode of the School of Motion Podcast we dive deep with interactive design legends Eric and Tony of 2Advanced Studios. Check out the corresponding blog posts (with additional videos and design examples!) here: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/2advanced
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In this episode of the School of Motion podcast, Joey chats with Yukai Du, a Chinese-born, London-based illustrator and animator, about her journey into art and animation. Yukai’s story is packed with insights for creatives aiming to carve out their own space in the industry—straight from someone who’s done exactly that.
See the corresponding blog post here: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/y...
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Meet Perception—a motion design studio trusted by Hollywood and some of the world’s biggest brands to bring sci-fi dreams to life. Ever wonder who’s behind the mind-blowing tech visuals in Black Panther or the holographic wizardry in Iron Man? In this episode of the School of Motion Podcast, Joey sits down with Perception founders Danny Gonzalez and Jeremy Lasky as they spill the ‘secret sauce’ that powers their studio’s success.
Check out the corresponding blog post for more info: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/p...
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In this week's School of Motion podcast episode, Joey speaks with Chris Hardcastle and Ian Waters, the creators of Cavalry! They discuss Cavalry's unique features, including its powerful animation capabilities, and dive into how Cavalry differentiates itself from traditional animation software like After Effects. We also look into Cavalry ability to handle high-volume projects, its potential to revolutionize motion design workflows, and get a glimpse of their vision for Cavalry's future.
Check out the podcast summary and corresponding blog post here: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/cavalry-animation -
This week, Joey sits down with Hayley Akins, the founder of Motion Hatch to uncover smart strategies for building a motion design business! If you’re a motion designer or animator struggling with the business side of things—like finding clients, pricing your work, or just keeping your head above water—this episode is a MUST-LISTEN! Get the show notes on our blog: http://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/motion-design-business-hayley-akins
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Let's talk about AI, by far the most popular topic that we get asked about at School of Motion. AI feels almost ubiquitous in our space and we felt it was important for us to dive in and examine it as objectively as we can. This is why Joey recorded a whole solo podcast episode to share his thoughts on the state of AI in our industry, what the long term impact could be, whether the use of AI will ever become acceptable, and so much more.
Check out the corresponding blog post here: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/ai-motion-design
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In the latest School of Motion Podcast episode, Joey catches up with Connor Henkle, a motion design pro who's found his groove in sports and stadium graphics. Connor gives us a peek into his journey from dabbling in graphic design to becoming a go-to guy for electrifying visuals at sporting events. Check out the corresponding blog post (and more of Connor's work) here: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/connor-henkle-sports-design
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Join E.J. Hassenfratz and Jonathan Winbush on the School of Motion Podcast as they explore diverse toolsets, Unreal Engine, and the evolving motion design industry.
URL: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/jonathan-winbush
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In this week's School of Motion Podcast, Joey sits down with our very own Aharon Rabinowitz, who looks back on his journey into the world of motion graphics and animation — and the potential future ahead. Check out the corresponding blog post here: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/aharon-rabinowitz
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We were stoked to have design trailblazer and animator Beeple join us on the SOM podcast. He shares insights on the NFT boom, how AI augments artistic work, and offers valuable advice for up-and-coming designers. Check out the corresponding blog post here: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/beeple-nfts-ai
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Creative legend John LePore joins us on the podcast! Join us as we dive deep into current and future trends in motion and design.
If you're not familiar with the name John LePore, you're almost certainly familiar with his work. John has made creative contributions to Marvel Studios' Black Panther, the Hummer EV, and Pixar’s Lightyear. He has worked on over 25 Marvel Studios films, including designing the Marvel Studios logo! We were stoked to have him on the pod, as we explored John's illustrious career and his insights on designing the future.
See the full blog post here 👉 https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/john-lepore-motion-design-trends
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Oscar Mar joins us on the School of Motion Podcast, where he shares his journey from designer to founder, blending business savvy with creative exploration in sci-fi entertainment. See the full blog post here: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/oscar-mar-parallel
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