You already played a bit with Cartoon Animator 4, created some short fun animations and now you are ready to make it big.
It’s time for the next step in Cartoon Animator 4.
Animation Production Masterclass
Online Bootcamp
WATCH VIDEO
LEARN HOW TO GET FROM HERE
Animation by Graduate Student - John MacDonald in 2017
To here
Same story. Same student - John MacDonald 2021 (Animatic)
Animation still under production
Join this bootcamp and be part of this production to see how we finish it step by step, explaining each decision we make together with you.
THIS SESSION WILL HELP you improve your storyboard
As of right now…
what happens when we post an animation?
No views.
We had a great idea, a great story, or a great joke, but no one cared enough to share it.
I know what it feels like to do your best, and still have no one interested in what you have to say.
The first time I got a lot of views to my website 2DAnimation101 back in 2015, I was excited and then, I realized it was traffic from a post on Reddit with a bunch of haters making fun of how bad my site was.
I closed my site for some weeks until the embarrassment passed.
My very first posts on YouTube had virtually no views.
Today I have a school with 20,000 students, a YouTube Channel with 15K+ subscribers, and a Udemy account with 139,000 Students.
What happened? I kept improving every single day.
But trust me, just trying hard doesn’t work.
After helping students for more than 6 years and continually reading books on brain science, memory, and learning, we have developed a program for students who:
- Are not sure how to become better in animation
- Would like their work to have some impact
- Would like people to like and share their animations
- Would like to start a following of fans
- Would like to be paid for doing animation or drawing
If any of these apply to you, keep reading.
BEFORE YOU CONTINUE
Stop right now and ask yourself: Why do I animate?”
After answering literally thousands of emails from students over the years, I have noticed 2 types of animators.
HOBBYISTS
Students who are animating only for the fun of it. The quality of the animation doesn’t matter. Having a good time is the reward.
ASPIRING PROS
Students who also do it for the fun of it, but at the same time, would like to improve so much that their skills are recognized by the industry. They don’t mind putting in the hard work to get there.
Which one of those 2 are you?
PICK ONE
If you are a hobbyist – this training is not for you.
This training is not easy. It’s fun and it’s worth it, but it’s not easy.
If you are an aspiring pro, keep reading.
This training is for students who want their work to have a big impact, to get views, followers, and recognition by the industry. If this is you, you are going to love what comes next.
This animation has 36,806 views on YouTube - most of the visits came from Reallusion’s website when they posted it on their homepage.
First – An awesome animation is NOT measured by:
- How well is drawn – the quality of drawings is not that important.
- How well the animation is done
- How nicely the colors are brought together
- How sophisticated the animation techniques are applied
- How cool and expensive the animation software is
NOPE. None of that.
If not that, then…
According to Chris Mack from Netflix, the industry invests in IDEAS and STORIES that people:
We call those
“the BIG 3”
If you are interested in having your message spread or getting more people to know about your story/idea, you need to get tons of organic views.
How do you do that?
You create something that someone big (in our case, it was Reallusion) will find it useful and who will share it with their massive audience.
LEAN PRODUCTION
If your animation has beautiful drawings, beautiful animation work, and was done with very sophisticated software… if no one cares about it, talks about it, and shares it, then it won’t be considered an awesome animation by these standards.
And if your animation has simple drawings, simple animation - but people care about it, talk about it and share it – then that is what we call an awesome animation.
That is what Netflix, Amazon Prime, and all the other giants are looking for.
That is even what YouTube algorithms are also looking for to make videos go viral: Stuff that people care about, talk about and share (measured by likes, comments, and shares)
And that is exactly what you will be learning in this training.
How to create an awesome animation that people care about, talk about and share.
WORKING SMART
Did you know that you can get paid to work on your own project BEFORE you even write the script?
And at the same time, have your show air on Netflix so you can reach millions of viewers?
Take this example from an email I got from one of our students:
Well – before you devote yourself to do something you love for free, you should know that you can get paid for doing what you love - working on your own project.
This is a fact in 2021 and moving to 2022:
Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Disney Channel, Apple TV – are all competing against each other to create original content, and they all happily pay creators for exclusive rights.
They pay for the idea, and then they handle production costs - hiring a director, a showrunner, and even celebrities to do the voices – all while you work on writing the script and getting paid to do so.
If your idea is that good for them, and you are not an experienced writer, they might even hire a writer for you.
Those streaming services have multiple types of shows, and the animation industry is growing every day.
My friend Gustavo Cosio worked on “La Leyenda de la Llorona” – an animation aired on Netflix that can totally be accomplished in Cartoon Animator 4 with everything you will learn in this training.
What’s needed to have
A studio invest in your project?
What’s needed to have a studio invest in your project?
Check any boxes that applies to you
- I am not famous
- I am not friends with anyone famous
- I don’t have connections with anyone in the industry
- I don’ have fans
- I don’t have an audience that wants to know about my stuff
- I don’t have any experience in networking
- I have never published a book, story or blog
- I don’t know how to do a pitch
- I don’t even know what a "pitching a project" means
- I don’t know if my story is good or not
If you checked any of those boxes, this training is for you.
What studios are looking for is not fame, popularity or connections, (that’s the superficial stuff, it helps! But it’s not the most important thing) --- What they are really looking for is GREAT IDEAS, GREAT STORIES -- actually, they are looking for GREAT CHARACTER-DRIVEN STORIES!
That is something anyone can learn how to do.
The truth is: You never know if your idea is something a studio is willing to invest in.
In this training, we will teach you how to measure the potential of your idea, and how to improve your chances by increasing the quality of very specific elements of your animation.
This will be accomplished by one of the methods you will learn inside:
Potential Detector
A framework to evaluate and fix your animation so more and more people can care about it, talk about it, and share it.
You will learn how to prepare a pitch document for agents to help you put your idea on a big streaming service like Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Disney Channel, or Apple TV.
“But I don’t know any agents!” – Inside you will also learn how to get started and put your pitch document in the hands of eager agents looking for ideas to pitch.
All done online without you needing to step a foot outside your home.
Remember – you can get paid to keep doing what you love doing.
DISCLAIMER: We can‘t promise your story will be aired on Netflix, but we can help you improve the quality of your story so you improve your chances as much as possible.
The way I see it: “If it doesn’t make it big, then at least you will end up with something so good that can start a following. That’s impact!”
You will see how we apply the formula and steps that Chris Mack shared in his FREE training on how to pitch to Netflix (which is actually “how to craft an amazing story that sells” - you can google it searching for "Stage 32 How to pitch to netflix chris mack") – and how we are preparing our stories to be pitched in full transparent detail.
What will you learn?
- How to craft a powerful story or idea that people will care about, talk about, and share
- Understanding the power of Character-Driven stories (what Netflix and the industry is looking for)
- How to prepare a pitch document – so you can find out if you can actually get paid before you invest your time on your animated series
- How to find the best version of your idea/story before you write it
- Create a compelling Storyboard that will bring your story to life
- Practicing TIME-SAVING SMART WORK: Fixing your animation BEFORE you animate it!
- Designing Simple Characters that make your animation look good
- Creating cool backgrounds for your animation
- Animating your simple characters
- Adding a powerful final look to each scene of the animation to make it come alive
Animation Production Mastery
- 3-Week Bootcamp Intensive
- Total of 18 Hours of Classes with time for students to practice.
- Live feedback and support ON THE SPOT during the live sessions.
- Discussion, Support and Production Reviews during the 3 weeks of the bootcamp.
- Lifetime Access to the Recordings (Each session will be split into short clips for your convenience).
- Access to a Discord Server to post Assignments.
- 1 year of Feedback and Support from Mark or our Certified Instructors on assignments delivered in the Discord Server.
- *Perfect for students who won’t be able to attend live or who want to take this bootcamp at their own pace.
REQUIREMENTS:
1. Have or Create a FREE Discord Account to deliver your homework (this is really optional, but students who don’t do their homework won't get results)
2. To be comfortable using multiple software. We will be using different software and Mark will be going slowly for anyone not familiar with the software. Just know that animation production cannot be accomplished with one single software.
3. Have curiosity and openness to learn new things – if you are too proud, too sensitive, or too stubborn to listen to feedback, even when we are being kind and respectful, then this training is probably not for you. This is for students ready to improve and create awesome animations that people care about, talk about and share..
4. To be respectful of the work of other students. We are all learning, and we all have to start somewhere. I know how it feels to be criticized – that’s why we praise effort. Anyone being disrespectful towards the instructors or other students will be kicked from the server and won’t be able to keep posting assignments.
5. To be able to commit at least 2.5 hours a week to practice what you learn in the bootcamp. Students who don't practice don't get results.
SOFTWARE REQUIRED:
- PureRef (FREE) – used to collect references easily.
- Storyboarder (FREE) – to create storyboards using 3D models and cameras
- PSD Editor – To design characters. You can follow along with Adobe Photoshop (even older versions, or Photoshop Elements), Clip Studio Paint, Affinity, Krita)
- Video Editor – To create the Animatic for visualization of the story, and add sounds. You can use DaVinci Resolve (FREE), Final Cut Pro, or Premiere Pro.
- Video Composer – Software used to add special effects easily. You can use Adobe After Effects, DaVinci Resolve (FREE), or Motion.
- (Optional) 3D Software – To create background fast and change the angle easily. You can use Blender (FREE), iClone, Maya, 3DS MAX.
- Cartoon Animator 4 Pipeline
Mark will be using: PureRef (FREE), Storyboarder (FREE), Photoshop (Paid), Adobe Premiere Pro (Paid), Adobe After Effects (Paid), Blender (FREE), iClone (Paid).
We won’t be able to provide support to specific software other than the ones Mark will be using, but you should be able to follow along by learning from free tutorials on YouTube. Mark will teach “WHAT TO DO” and how to search for that tutorial on your software on YouTube.
What if I don't have some of the Software Mark uses?
Don't worry. Mark will teach “WHAT TO DO” and how to search for specific concepts and specific tutorials on YouTube for the specific software you are using.
"When is the bootcamp?"
Bootcamp days
It will be 9 Sessions of 2 hours, starting at 4:30 PM MST (3:30 PM PST, 5:30 PM CST and 6:30 PM EST)
“Yeah, but at what time would it be for me?”
Bootcamp in your Timezone
Click the links below to see the exact date and time in your timezone
"Do I have to attend live? What if I can’t make it for the live sessions?"
All sessions will be recorded and edited to be uploaded to our school in clips for your convenience.
Sessions will last for 2 hrs, but those will be edited and cut into several 5-10 min clips. In other words, it will be the same 2 hrs of content but split into short clips.
That way you can go through the program at your own pace.
All assignments can be delivered at any time on the discord server and will be reviewed by certified instructors to guide you along the way.
That is why we added an entire year of feedback and support through our discord server.
NOTE: Our team of certified instructors will provide feedback only if the student asks for it in the Discord Server.
"What will I learn?"
You can take the training at your own rhythm, but if you want to follow up live in this intensive bootcamp, you will learn a ton in only 3 weeks.
Here is the breakdown of each day:
Curriculum:
The importance of your own voice - "having something to say"
The 8 Steps to Create an Animated Short
Story - Short Analysis for Patient Zero
Storyboard - How Advanced Cinematography improved Patient Zero
Character Design - Simplified characters for Patient Zero
Sound - How sound was redesigned and mixed
Animatic - How during the editing we changed the rhythm of the story
Production - How we are producing the new Patient Zero
Animation - How animation will work on this project
Post Production - how it will be used to add atmosphere and ambience
Assignment:
List 3 Favorite shows or movies you've seen in the last 2 years.
The Potential Detector
The Netflix Formula - Story Questions
Story Circle
Story Circle for an Animated Short
Character Dynamics
Assignment:
Pick one of the movies or shows from day 1, and do a simple 6-story questions, and Dan Harmon's Story Circle analysis.
Draft the story for a character Answering the 6 Story Questions
Draft the character's journey using Dan Harmon's Story Circle
Quick Viz
Advanced Cinematography
Exploring Shots
Visual Storytelling Language - what shots mean
Assignment:
Draft a quick storyboard using the different shots to tell a story with at least 10 panels.
The story should state the goal of the character, a conflict and a resolution.
Shapes Meaning
What to do when you don't know how to draw
Pre-Made Characters
Character Matching from Pre-Made Characters
Assignment:
Get references for characters that are represented with shapes, and deliver a short analysis.
Sketch quick character(s) using simple shapes for your draft story.
Voice Acting
Working with Actors
Choosing Royalty Free Music (Paid and Free)
Sound Effects Guidelines
Sound Mixing elements - Music, Voice, Sound FX, Foley and Sound Design
Mixing Guidelines
Low Budget Recording Techniques for Best Quality
Assignment:
Get sound references from favorite scenes (music, audio and sound design).
Explore Music libraries and pick at least 5 tracks that you feel convey the mood of your story.
List sounds that could be used for your story
List sound design tracks that could be used for your story
Putting together Storyboard and Sound
Polishing it so it's exciting
Don't start animating until you love the Animatic
PIXAR's Brain Trust
Create a simple slideshow with music for your draft story.
Time saving tips to produce only the essentials for a great animation
Producing each panel of the Storyboard
Each background
Each character
Assignment:
Get references for background styles.
Create 1 or 2 backgrounds for your story.
Animation Pipeline for Tradtional Animation
Animation Pipeline for Modern 2D Animation
Preparing Background Props
Preparing Essential 360 Heads
Preparing Bodies for rotations and angles
Preparing Characters for Animation
Animating using the 12 Principles
Assignment:
Produce 1 panel and animate it. It can be a simple shot.
How Post makes it look great
Understanding Ambience
Getting References for Ambience
Applying Video Composing techniques in After Effects
Assignment:
Get references for ambience effects for your animation.
Add Ambience effects to the animated shot.
"What if this program doesn’t work for me?
What if I don’t improve my productions?"
We follow a 3-stage system that works because it has been battle-tested for 3 years (since 2018)
- Habit Building
- Skill Building
- Style Building
If for any reason you don’t see any results after going through the program, doing the exercises and getting guidance from our certified instructors, we will give you your money back and you get to keep the training for free.
We are the only school to back up our claims with a life-time guarantee.
"What if I don’t like the course?"
SATISFACTION
GUARANTEED
We offer a 30-day satisfaction money back guarantee, no questions asked.
If for any reason, you decide you didn't like the course, we will give you a full refund, no questions asked.
This gives you plenty of time to go through the ENTIRE bootcamp, and then decide if you liked it or not.
BONUSES
How to Use
Storyboarder Software
In this bundled course you will learn how to use a powerful free software to create your Storyboards super quick.
The software was designed to be super simple to use.
This course will teach you how to master it.
Check this Course Curriculum+ALL UDEMY COURSES included
TOTAL VALUE:
$749 USD
frequently asked questions
The live sessions start on Monday, Nov 29 at 4:30 PM MST (Mountain Time). You can check the times in your timezone here.
If for any reason you don't understand some concepts or techniques taught in this bootcamp, you can reach out for support from the community on discord, our team and our certified instructors to get help.
Falling behind is completely normal.
The bootcamp will be fast paced, but you will be able to come back to the material at your own time, and with the support of the community, our team and certified instructors, we guarantee you will eventually understand and master each concept.
If you don't have 2.5 hrs a week to practice animation production, then please don't join.
You are required to at least be able to dedicate 2.5 hrs a week to this training.
All sessions will be recorded and edited to be uploaded to our school in clips for your convenience.
Sessions will last for 2 hrs, but they will be split into short 5-10 min clips. (That means it will be the same 2 hrs of content, but instead of a single long video, you will get multiple short clips that sum up to 2 hrs of content).
That way you can go through the program at your own pace.
All assignments can be delivered at any time on the discord server.
That is why we added an entire year of feedback through our discord server.
This 3-stage system works because we have been working hard on it and has been battle-tested for 3 years (since 2018): Habit Building, Skill Building, Style Building.
If for any reason you don’t see any results after going through the program, doing the exercises and getting guidance from the community and our instructors, we will give you your money back and you get to keep the course for free.
We are the only school to back up our claims with a life-time guarantee.
The only condition is that you have to show us the work you put in. Remember, not contacting our certified instructors or asking for help will invalidate this guarantee.
In short, you will get out what you put in. The program only works if you do.
We offer a 30-day satisfaction money back guarantee, no questions asked.
If you are unsatisfied with the program, we will give you a full money refund.
Please check the full requirements here
No deadline. But just take into accout that you will have 1 year of support and feedback from our team and certified instructors to guide you and help you improve faster.
Our recommendation is to plan ahead and make sure you can finish the whole bootcamp in less than 1 year.
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
No.
This is course is offered exclusively on 2DAnimation101.
Absolutely.
After the live sessions, once we upload the edited clips to our school, you will be able to download all lessons for offline access.
ENROLL NOW
- 3-Week Bootcamp Intensive
- Total of 18 Hours of Classes with time for students to practice.
- Live feedback and support ON THE SPOT during the live sessions.
- Discussion, Support and Production Reviews during the 3 weeks of the bootcamp.
- Lifetime Access to the Recordings (Each session will be split into short clips for your convenience).
- Access to a Discord Server to post Assignments.
- 1 year of Feedback and Support from Mark or our Certified Instructors on assignments delivered in the Discord Server.
- SPECIAL BONUS: Access to How to Use Storyboarder Course (Value $49 USD).
- SPECIAL BONUS: Access to ALL of our 24 Udemy Courses (Value $700 USD).
SPECIAL OFFER
You will love it, or your money back.
- Everything from the Bootcamp, plus…
- Access to Rigging Bootcamp - How to Create Original Characters from Pre-Made Characters Fast (Value: $497 USD)
- Lifetime Access to the Recordings from the bootcamp (this bootcamp is not live, it's pre-recorded).
- Access to the Rigging Bootcamp Discord Server to post Rigging Assignments.
- Discussion, Support and Rigging reviews in the Rigging Discord Server.
- 1 year of Feedback and Support from Mark or our Certified Instructors on assignments delivered in the Rigging Bootcamp Discord Server.
- Live Weekly Coaching Calls for Rigging Support and General Cartoon Animator 4 Questions.
- Learn more about the Rigging Bootcamp
SPECIAL OFFER
You will love it, or your money back.