A day in the life of a blockbuster 3D animation film production

Introduction

Led by Brent Homman, this workshop offers attendees the chance to uncover the secrets behind the world’s highest-grossing animated films. Participants will learn how to manage creative teams, tackle real production challenges, and gain essential technical knowledge to kickstart their careers in the animation industry.

Workshop Description

This session provides a deep dive into the structure of a typical production day in a 3D animation studio, guiding attendees from the initial stages of planning through to final rendering. Participants will explore how studios organize daily tasks, distribute responsibilities, and ensure alignment across key departments like animation, modeling, and VFX.

Attendees will also gain hands-on experience by simulating a real production day. They will collaborate on scene creation, managing task assignments, problem-solving in real-time, and applying supervisor feedback to refine the work. This exercise is designed to enhance teamwork and expose participants to the fast-paced environment of a studio production pipeline.

Key topics include strategies for problem-solving under tight deadlines, maintaining creative flow despite unexpected setbacks, and fostering effective communication between multidisciplinary teams. Real-world examples from major productions will provide additional context and guidance.

By the end of the workshop, attendees will be equipped with practical tools and strategies to increase their efficiency, improve collaboration, and boost their readiness for future roles in 3D animation production.

Module 1

Introduction to a production day
Overview of daily activities in a 3D animation studio.
The roles and responsibilities of different team members

Module 2

Planning and task allocation
Morning briefings: setting goals, task distribution, and priority management.
Using tools for project management and tracking progress.

Module 3

The production pipeline in action
From concept to Modeling and rigging: Collaboration between departments to prepare assets.
Animation workflow: Key animation stages – blocking, refinement, and final polishing.
VFX integration: Real-time problem-solving during compositing and rendering phases.

Module 4

Problem-solving in a fast-paced environment
Common challenges faced during production (technical and creative).
Strategies to maintain creativity and efficiency when dealing with unexpected issues.
Real-world examples from past projects.

Module 5

Communication and teamwork
Effective communication between teams to ensure alignment and progress.
The importance of supervisor feedback and iterative improvements.
Final practical exercise