School of Motion Podcast

2020 was...well, it was certainly a year. Not just for the MoGraph industry and for School of Motion, but for everyone. We know you don't need a recap of all the challenges and craziness that made this year what it was. Instead, we want to focus on the positive. While 2020 certainly presented a difficult road, we have seen our community emerge stronger and better than ever. On the 2020 End of Year Podcast episode, our founder Joey Korenman is joined by Creative Directors EJ Hassenfratz and Ryan Summers—along with a special guest—to talk about the artists, studios, tools, trends, and events that made MoGraph news in 2020…plus all the exciting plans (and bold predictions) for the coming year. This is a long one—but worth it—so grab a comfy seat and join us.

When we talk about motion graphics, we refer to motion and design. Our guest today, Cartoon Saloon, takes that approach to the next level with their animated feature films. From Secret of Kells to Song of the Sea to their new film, Wolfwalkers, their unique style stands out even in an incredibly saturated market. Join directors Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart as they discuss the new film and the art of motion.

What is the future of advertising agencies? As the world modernizes and the old methods give way to native, targeted, and subversive advertising, how is a studio meant to keep up? Strange as it may seem, the issues facing independent ad agencies are very similar to the evolution of the motion design industry. We're chatting with Creative Director Roger Baldacci of Strange Animal!

We've mentioned it a few times, but one of the most important steps in any project is the storyboard, and specialized artists work tirelessly to bring the story to life. Alex Quintas' career path took a few turns before she wound up creating artwork for some of the biggest animated shows on TV and streaming today, from BoJack Horseman to Paradise PD. Grab a snack and check this out!

Animated movies are a part of the fabric of our creative culture, and as motion designers, we share the same principles and design foundations. Our guest today helped shape the animation industry, creating iconic characters and unique worlds. He is an Academy Award-winning director, and he just released an amazing new animated movie on Netflix, Over the Moon. Strap in tight, because we're blasting off with Glen Keane.

Adobe MAX 2020 is on, and they just announced a slew of improvements to their After Effects 3D Workflow. We had a chance to sit down with Victoria Nece, Senior Product Manager for Motion Graphics and Visual Effects at Adobe, to discuss how this new workflow will affect the Motion Design community. More than that, we had a chance to discuss Adobe MAX, building a MoGraph career, and staying ahead of the competition.

Medical Illustration is a fascinating path for Motion Designers. This challenging work requires a clear understanding of anatomy, and the ability to toe the line between style and accuracy. We talked with Director Emily Holden of Campbell Medical Illustrations on how her studio brings the human body to life.

It is incredibly difficult to know where our industry is headed—almost as challenging as defining "motion design" itself. Where is animation or experiential or VR/AR going over the next five years—or even the next five months? Then there are the tools we use everyday, and the ones on our list to learn. Does anyone have the answers? We asked some industry experts to sit down and think about the future...and the results were inspiring. Check out this sneak peek from our brand new course, Level Up!

In the wild early days of the Internet, Motion Design was a much smaller community. Unless you had proper training, it was easy to feel overwhelmed by the learning curve. With many people struggling to get their careers off the ground, one person decided to be their copilot. Andrew Kramer is synonymous with Motion Design. As an artist, a teacher, and a friendly cohort, Andrew inspired countless people to join this community. For the 100th episode of our podcast, we are incredibly proud to share his story, his wisdom, and his wit. Grab a seat, because your copilot has arrived.

Motion design can be used for a number of purposes. It can be an advertisement, a stunning piece of art, or even a moving message. Kentucky-based studio The Furrow partnered with some of the top artists in the industry to collaborate on a powerful project, providing information and insight into a changed world following COVID-19. We joined Creative Director Seth Eckert to talk about his journey into motion design, what it's like to collaborate with other artists, and tips to succeed in an evolving industry.