There’s so much happening in the world of animation, from AI integration in tools like Toon Boom to the resurgence of hand-drawn 2D styles to more opportunities popping up in streaming, gaming, and branded content.
I’d love to open up a discussion about your current focus or challenges:
Are you an animator trying to break into the industry or already working professionally?
What software/tools are you using these days?
How do you see the industry evolving in the next few years?
And just for fun, what animated film, series, or short has inspired you recently?
Let’s use this thread to connect, learn from each other, and maybe even spark some new collaborations!
3 people like this
Are you an animator trying to break into the industry or already working professionally?
- Been in the industry for 25 years+
What software/tools are you using these days?
-Adobe Creative Suite
How do you see the industry evolving in the next few years?
-Production will be more reliant on AI and content creation will explode, much like what happened in the music industry when digital tools became more accessible anf the indie film industry when the DSLR cameras came on the scene.
And just for fun, what animated film, series, or short has inspired you recently?
- I'm really enjoying Common Side Effects on Adult Swim
4 people like this
Are you an animator trying to break into the industry or already working professionally?
- Like Bob, I've got over 25 years under the belt. Been scraping by on contract work and teaching.
What software/tools are you using these days?
- Pencil and paper is the best. Also Toon Boom, After Effects, Dragonframe. I want to dig into Procreate Dreams for some project.
How do you see the industry evolving in the next few years?
- Clients will continue to want to pay less as more and more people make so-so work that's barely good enough. I love that anyone can pick up a camera and tell a story, but it makes it harder to explain why the good stuff costs money.
And just for fun, what animated film, series, or short has inspired you recently?
- Watched the new Wallace and Gromit for a second time. Looking forward to the new Porky and Daffy feature this weekend.
2 people like this
Are you an animator trying to break into the industry or already working professionally?
Audio, co-owner of an animation studio. Breaking into the industry and establish credibility.
What software/tools are you using these days?
Adobe Creative Cloud
How do you see the industry evolving in the next few years?
I believe we will start to see more and more animation companies embrace AI to cut cost and speed up productivity.
And just for fun, what animated film, series, or short has inspired you recently?
There's a guy on instagram I follow that has been inspiring me. I tend to reference his social media often when I speak to the co-owner about animation.
2 people like this
Thanks so much for jumping in, Bob Harper and for always being such a consistent, thoughtful presence in the Animation Lounge! Your experience and insights have been such a valuable resource for our community, especially as the industry continues to evolve. You’re absolutely right about the parallels to the music and indie film revolutions, AI and accessible tools are opening the floodgates for independent creators in a whole new way.
I’ve heard great things about Common Side Effects! Adult Swim really knows how to push the boundaries of adult animation. Have you seen any stylistic or thematic shifts in that show that feel like a reflection of where the genre is headed?
Appreciate all you do
1 person likes this
Mike Boas, I really appreciate your perspective on the tools and the tough realities of client expectations these days. That point about the accessibility of storytelling tech being a double-edged sword is so important. Thanks for sharing your thoughts here, you always bring such grounded, thoughtful insight to the lounge.
1 person likes this
Cyrus Sales, I love that you’re drawing inspiration from a fellow creator on Instagram. Which creators would you recommend following for animation?
2 people like this
Ashley Renee Smith I am noticing more American adult animation branching beyond the typical primetime and raunchy comedy genres and telling unique stories. There is a new studio called Bizaar Studios, which just launched with a team of interesting founders who look to create unique stuff for grownups. It's what I'm trying to do with my content. Here is a link to an article about them
https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/01/adult-animation-platform-bizaa...
2 people like this
Are you an animator trying to break into the industry or already working professionally?
I feel I'm both an animator trying to bring something to the market along with 22 years in building out a professional production studio.
What software/tools are you using these days?
Final Draft for scriptwriting, Adobe Creative Suite for storyboarding and initial color correction on backgrounds with layered posed character stills on top with shadows and transparency - I used to draw out storyboards like the early Disney animators, but realized the traditional boards don't usually make it into the film, and I saw how I could streamline the process with modern tools and also combine look development and key poses as digital images. As I perfected my storyboard work flow the results look much more like how the film will appear on screen - and while those stills are being rendered at the film aspect ratio size, I'm free to work on other tasks like rigging, set design or other CGI tasks in Maya and Motion Builder. I use Storyboarder to assemble the rendered pics which I can export and bring into my video editor. I have a co-install of Media Composer Ultimate and Pro Tools Ultimate set up for universal mastering and 7.1 theatrical sound respectively. (I jumped at the chance to take a job as a projectionist at our local theater so I could learn how to make content for digital cinema projectors and was lucky enough to get to work with festival filmmakers, and a few Hollywood directors that the theater hosted) I'm also a musician, so I used Finale to compose the soundtracks but now use Dorico after Make Music went out of business. When I'm in MIDI composition mode I take out a subscription for the East West library of sounds. Over the past 22 years, I've been collecting assets, tools and software to help turn the scripts I've been woking on (while I was working on client projects and moonlighting) into adult animated films in whatever style or genre I want to do them in. I knew it was going to be a long process, but it is amazing that the technology allows me to do something I didn't think was possible - and if a friend hadn't pulled me back into film, I wouldn't have had the joy now that I had as a kid making 8 mm film studies with a brownie camera that a student let me have when he left for USC to become a Hollywood screenwriter and director.
How do you see the industry evolving in the next few years?
I'm too far outside the industry to answer that, but I think that the underlying goal of animation from it's earliest appearance and the very word itself implies the illusion of life - and I suspect that we are very close to bringing that reality about beyond our wildest dreams.
And just for fun, what animated film, series, or short has inspired you recently?
Having started an animation celebration festival at our local independent theater two years ago, the animated films that I have received the world over from the French student filmmakers studying at Supinfocom Rubika to the Palme d'Or animation filmmaker winner at Cannes have never ceased to inspire me.
1 person likes this
Thank you for sharing the article link, Bob Harper!
1 person likes this
James Wunderlich, thank you so much for such a thoughtful and generous response! Your journey is incredibly inspiring, and your technical and creative versatility is truly impressive.
It’s amazing to hear how you’ve curated your own pipeline with tools that support both creativity and efficiency across disciplines, from scripting and scoring to mastering and projection. Also, I have to say, your story about becoming a projectionist just to better understand how to deliver for digital cinema projectors is a perfect example of the kind of curiosity and dedication that keeps this industry moving forward.
It’s also awesome that you’re giving back through your animation festival. You’re right, there’s something deeply moving about watching animated stories come in from around the world and seeing how universal the language of animation really is. I’d love to hear more about what kind of stories and techniques have stood out to you from your festival submissions.
2 people like this
I love using Moho Pro. Very intuitive and professional level.
2 people like this
Ashley Renee Smith, thank you for the feedback. Greatly appreciated! Rather than simply talking about the stories and techniques that stood out; I'm happy to share the link to inspire animators and animation fans alike: https://youtu.be/XIWmFzHBG9U
This 2024 festival screening showcases French student films from two well respected animation schools. It is an intense and highly artistic program. Feel free to reach out with personal faves and I'll pass the reviews along to the filmmakers. I'm sure they'll enjoy the feedback on their hard work!
Also, during the start of May I'll post on the YourStage lounge the info for Stage 32 animators and studios to submit their work on the FilmFreeway platform for 2025 consideration; and best of all there is no submission fee as this is an animation celebration festival!