Podcast · Arts & Books
by School of Motion: Design & Animation Training for MoGraph Artists · English · Arts & Books
The #1 podcast for designers who animate, animators who design, and anyone who is 3D-curious. We interview Designers, Animators, 3D Artists, Producers, Studio Owners and other folks related to motion design and creativity. We get deep into the geeky world of Adobe After Effects, Cinema 4D, Photoshop
14 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 18 min
Joey sat down with Guido and Luigi Rosso—the brother founders behind Rive—to dig into what makes this platform different, where it's headed, and why teams at Spotify, Duolingo, and LinkedIn are building entire interactive experiences with it! Get more deets in the blog post: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/rive-podcast
29 Dec 2025 · 10 hr 49 min
It's that time of year again—the School of Motion End of Year Podcast is here, and this one is our longest yet... by a lot. Buckle up for an in-depth look at everything that shaped motion design in 2025, and a look ahead to 2026! 🗒️ SHOW NOTES https://schoolofmotion.com/eoy2025 This year, we're joined by 17 industry veterans and special guests to break down what "motion design" even means anymore, how AI is actually being used in production, and the real state of the motion design economy. We cover major software updates from Adobe, Maxon, Unreal Engine, and more, discuss the recovery of the…
20 Nov 2025 · 33 min
What if the things that make you anxious are actually pointing you toward your greatest strengths? School of Motion Creative Director EJ Hassenfratz shares his talk from the Motion Plus Design conference in New York City, exploring how the anxieties we face as creatives—imposter syndrome, the proliferation of AI, creative blocks, and staying relevant in a fast-changing industry—can actually become our biggest competitive advantages. EJ reveals practical ways to transform nervous energy into creative fuel and reframe professional anxiety as a guide toward growth and opportunity. Recorded live…
7 Oct 2025 · 1 hr 26 min
We got Ben Marriott on the podcast, and honestly, it's about time...Ben's one of the best tutorial creators out there for After Effects and motion design, and his journey from freelance illustrator to full-time YouTuber happened faster than anyone expected (including him). Check out the corresponding blog post with key takeaways here: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/b...
10 Sep 2025 · 1 hr 34 min
From pouring drinks to lighting shots at Blue Sky to leading Adobe's Substance 3D team, Michael Tanzillo's professional path is anything but typical and his story is packed with lessons motion designers need to hear. Check out the corresponding blog post here: www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/adobe-michael-tanzillo In this episode of the School of Motion Podcast, EJ Hassenfratz sits down with Michael to talk about the state of 3D, why motion designers are impressing major animation studios, and how foundational skills (like lighting and storytelling) will outlast any software trend. 🗒️ SHOW NOTES…
2 Jul 2025 · 1 hr 12 min
In the sea of surface-level chatter about AI and filmmaking, Nikola Todorovic is saying the quiet part out loud—and it's the stuff creative pros actually need to hear. Check out the corresponding blog post with our key takeaways here: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/wonder-dynamics As Co-Founder and CEO of Wonder Dynamics, Nikola helped build Flow Studio, an AI-powered platform that lets small teams create VFX-rich productions without VFX-rich budgets. The work was so forward-thinking that Autodesk acquired Wonder Dynamics in 2024, folding it into their growing cloud-based creative…
2 Jul 2025 · 1 hr 21 min
Most AI video companies are gambling with copyright law. Moonvalley made a different bet. Check out the corresponding blog post with highlights here: http://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/mo... Real talk: Most AI video companies are doing it wrong.They scrape everything they can get their hands on – YouTube, Vimeo, whatever – and feed it into their models. The results? Tools like Sora and Gemini are genuinely impressive. The quality is getting scary good. But here's the rub: Video producers are using these tools to create content that's trained on copyrighted work, while the original artists…
13 May 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Sarah Beth Morgan, illustrator and School of Motion instructor, joins Joey to dish about the real stuff: moving across the country, having a baby, and navigating the ever-changing animation industry. See the corresponding blog post here: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/sarah-beth-morgan Since her last appearance on the SOM Podcast, she's moved across the country, had a baby (a delightful two-year-old egg enthusiast named Arty), and launched a narrative podcast called Ghost Frame while navigating what she describes as a "career crisis" in today's evolving animation landscape.In this…
29 Apr 2025 · 1 hr 12 min
Joey recently caught up with the main dude behind Dash Studio, Mack Garrison, for an episode of the School of Motion podcast that's creative rocket fuel. These two industry veterans dive into everything from bizarre career plot twists to throwing killer community events and surviving the AI apocalypse. It's a dive into how to thrive as a creative when the entire industry seems to be transforming at warp speed. Check out the corresponding blog post here: www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/mack-garrison-dash-studio
19 Mar 2025 · 1 hr 13 min
EJ jams with Barton Damer, the creative muscle behind Already Been Chewed (ABC)...basically the Tony Hawk of motion design. This dude turned his skateboarding obsession into a full-blown 3D animation studio that now cranks out mind-blowing work for Nike, Adidas, Star Wars, and Marvel. Check out the corresponding blog post with key takeaways: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/already-been-chewed Artists Barton Damer https://www.linkedin.com/in/barton-damer-92a32918 EJ Hassenfratz https://www.youtube.com/@eyedesyn/videos Nick Campbell https://greyscalegorilla.com/about-us/ Paul Babb…
5 Mar 2025 · 34 min
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👈…
26 Feb 2025 · 1 hr 6 min
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:…
E183 · 12 Feb 2025 · 1 hr 20 min
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…
29 Jan 2025 · 1 hr 25 min
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…
16 Jan 2025 · 1 hr 19 min
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…
30 Dec 2024 · 6 hr 24 min
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…
E179 · 11 Dec 2024 · 1 hr 28 min
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
E178 · 27 Nov 2024 · 1 hr 20 min
This week on the School of Motion Podcast, EJ chats with PJ Richardson, co-founder of Laundry Studio, to dig into the current state of 3D, creative burnout, and what it takes to succeed today.
E177 · 12 Nov 2024 · 1 hr 16 min
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...
E176 · 28 Oct 2024 · 1 hr 27 min
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...
E175 · 2 Oct 2024 · 1 hr 17 min
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:…
E174 · 4 Sep 2024 · 1 hr 8 min
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
E173 · 21 Aug 2024 · 59 min
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
E172 · 6 Aug 2024 · 1 hr 9 min
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
E171 · 24 Jul 2024 · 1 hr 9 min
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
E170 · 10 Jul 2024 · 1 hr 32 min
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
E169 · 26 Jun 2024 · 1 hr 10 min
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
E168 · 11 Jun 2024 · 1 hr 12 min
Discover how designer and art director Marcos Vaz masters client collaboration and creative problem-solving. Check out the corresponding blog post: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/marcos-vaz
E167 · 24 May 2024 · 1 hr 28 min
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 👉…
E166 · 15 May 2024 · 1 hr 6 min
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
The #1 podcast for designers who animate, animators who design, and anyone who is 3D-curious. We interview Designers, Animators, 3D Artists, Producers, Studio Owners and other folks related to motion design and creativity. We get deep into the geeky world of Adobe After Effects, Cinema 4D, Photoshop
School of Motion Podcast is a English arts & books podcast from School of Motion: Design & Animation Training for MoGraph Artists. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.
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