Table of Contents

Preparing Your Art Portfolio for 3D Animation at AnimSchool

If you plan to apply to AnimSchool's 3D Animation or 3D Character programs, building a strong foundation in art will set you up for success. While you don't need to be a master artist, focusing on these areas will help you develop the skills necessary for animation:

  1. Drawing & Gesture
    • Study human and animal anatomy.
    • Practice quick sketches (30 sec - 2 min) to capture movement and fluidity.
    • Focus on weight, balance, and posing.

    We recommend watching Prok's Learning How to Draw playlist on YouTube.

  2. Basic Perspective & Composition
    • Learn how to draw in one, two, and three-point perspective.
    • Practice placing characters in an environment with depth and spatial accuracy.
    • Study framing and staging techniques to guide the viewer's eye.

    We recommend watching David Finch's Intro to Perspective on YouTube.

  3. Acting & Expression
    • Draw characters with clear emotions and storytelling poses.
    • Observe real-life body language and facial expressions.
    • Create sequential sketches that show movement and intent.
  4. Motion Studies
    • Sketch from video references of people and animals in motion.
    • Break down key poses in actions like running, jumping, or lifting.
    • Focus on fluidity and exaggeration to enhance movement.
  5. Basic Character Design
    • Develop appealing and well-structured characters.
    • Experiment with silhouettes, proportions, and style variety.
    • Keep designs simple but expressive. Animation-friendly characters need clean, clear shapes.
  6. Optional: Digital Art & 3D Fundamentals
    • If you have access to digital tools, experiment with software like Photoshop, Procreate, or Krita.
      Download a free copy of Krita and start digital painting and sketching!
    • Try basic free 3D software like Blender and familiarize yourself with simple primitives to make more complex objects
      Download Blender here.
  7. Keep a Sketchbook
    • Regularly fill a sketchbook with studies of people, animals, and environments.
    • Use it to practice gesture drawing, motion studies, and expressions.
    • Sketch from life as often as possible—observing real movement will strengthen your animation.

What Matters Most?

Observation: Study real-life movement and expression.

Clarity: Make your drawings easy to read.

Appeal: Focus on strong posing and design choices.

Storytelling: Every drawing should communicate an idea or emotion.

By building a strong foundation in these areas, you'll be better prepared for the challenges of 3D and be ready to hit the ground running at AnimSchool!

Tips for Creating a Successful Demo Reel

Start with your very best work - Reel reviewers often make quick decisions about the quality of a reel, so begin with your strongest piece to make a great first impression.

Keep it short - Your reel should make a strong impact without dragging on. Aim for about a minute to a minute and a half. Shorter is fine as long as it highlights your very best work.

Don't be afraid to remove older or weaker work - Even if you're attached to an early piece, if it doesn't reflect your current skill level, it's better to leave it out. Keep updating with your most polished work.

Don't fake it - Let your reel reflect your true abilities. People who watch a lot of reels can quickly spot rushed or exaggerated work. Quality always stands out.

Only take credit for the work you did - Acknowledge any collaborators or provided assets. For example: “Malcolm Rig Provided by AnimSchool” or “Background environment and lighting by Mike Bartell.”

Avoid loud audio - Many viewers watch reels with the sound off, and audio that's too loud or jarring can be distracting. If you do include audio, keep the volume consistent and the music subtle.

Make sure your contact information is clearly visible - Display your contact information for a few seconds at the beginning of the reel, or keep it visible at the bottom throughout, and end your video with your contact info on the screen.

Online resources

If you plan to pursue an education in 3D, preparing beforehand can help you get the most out of your experience. Here are some ways to get ready:

Learning Platforms & Tutorials

Blender Training

Official free training from Blender.

CGCookie YouTube

Free Blender tutorials.

Blender Guru YouTube

High-quality tutorials on 3D modeling and animation.

Free 3D Software for Animation

Blender

Open-source and industry-standard. Blender is an open-source 3D modeling and Animation software. It's a great place to learn the principles of 3D Animation, modeling, and rigging, and many of the skills learned in Blender could be applied to work at AnimSchool.

Free 3D Model & Animation Asset Libraries

Mixamo

Free rigged character animations.

BlenderKit (Free Section)

Free models, materials, and animations.

Poly Haven

Free textures and HDRIs for realistic animations.

Unreal Engine

The source for the Unreal Engine, one of the most popular and powerful game engines available. Unreal is free to download and learn. Unreal is being used in Game Development, Animation, Special Effects, architecture, and more!

Unreal Tutorials from Epic Games

Epic Games, the creator of the Unreal Game Engine, provides a lot of free training to learn to use the engine to make games, do animation, and so many other areas where the engine is being used today.

Recommended reading

AnimSchool has a recommended reading list and class textbooks. Reading them ahead of time can help you become familiar with key concepts.

The Textbooks:

Recommended: Anatomy for Sculptures and Human Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form by Eric Goldfinger