Issue #83 | January 25th, 2026 The beautiful film "The Boy and The World" Hey Reader 👋This week, something shifted. Not in a dramatic, fireworks kind of way but in that quiet, deeply satisfying way when you realize you’re back on track. Back in motion. Back in discipline. I’ve been running again—twice this week, with another run planned for the weekend. It’s not really about the kilometers. It’s about momentum. About showing up for yourself. When you start pushing—even just a little—life...
9 days ago • 7 min read
Issue #82 | January 18th, 2026 Probably my favorite Pixar movie: Ratatouille Hello Reader 👋A couple of folks reached out on LinkedIn this week. Simple messages. Kind words. You probably don’t realize how much that matters. Because sometimes this whole thing — building Animator Now, writing this newsletter, teaching, freelancing, trying to grow something from scratch — it can feel like a monologue. You’re sending stuff out into the void and hoping someone out there is nodding, or at least...
16 days ago • 5 min read
Issue #81 | January 4th, 2026 The Secret of Nihm Hello Reader 👋I’m back on the West Coast, and it’s that time of year where everyone’s supposed to be on fire. New year. Fresh start. Big energy. Big resolutions. And the truth? I felt super shitty.🥺 Tired. Heavy. Unmotivated. The kind of week where you sit in front of your computer and your brain just… refuses to cooperate. 😵💫 And part of it is simple: I’m juggling two worlds right now. On one side: Animator NOW, my baby, the thing I care about...
23 days ago • 5 min read
Issue #81 | January 4th, 2026 The Maleficent dragon fight in the Sleeping Beauty Hello Reader 👋So… here we are. First Sunday of 2026. Quick note about the thumbnail at the top: since September, I’ve been starting each issue with a fun smear frame—but lately, they’ve been harder to find (it’s mostly The Simpsons out there 😅). So from now on, I’ll feature standout frames from animated films more broadly. It keeps things fresh, and the possibilities feel endless. If I find a great smear, I’ll...
about 1 month ago • 6 min read
Issue #80 | December 28th, 2025 Smear frame of Daffy Duck Hello Reader 👋This week’s Animation Sunday starts with a full stop. This is the last newsletter of the year. And honestly? It feels kind of great. Not because 2025 turned into some magical “overnight success” story… but because I did the thing I told myself I would do: I started, I built, and I stayed consistent. I wasn’t expecting big revenue for Animator NOW in 2025. That wasn’t the mission. The mission was simpler (and harder): show...
about 1 month ago • 5 min read
Issue #79 | December 21th, 2025 Smear frame from The Simpsons Hello Reader 👋This week, I’m writing to you from Marseille. And wow… I forgot how loud a big city can feel when you’ve been living with the ocean and the pine forest as your daily soundtrack. 🌲🌊 Even driving here feels like I’ve chugged eight coffees in a row — traffic jams, horns, that constant rush… I literally felt a pressure on my chest the other day. 😅 About a year and a half ago, I moved from Marseille to the southwest coast,...
about 1 month ago • 6 min read
Issue #78 | December 14th, 2025 Smear Frame from Cuphead Hello Reader 👋There’s something about the end of the year that makes everything echo a little louder. Conversations linger. Projects hang in the air like dust in golden light. And suddenly, you realize: it’s time to pause. That’s where I’m at right now. 2025 was a big foundational year for me. Animator Now, the vlog, the podcast, the community… I’ve been head-down, heart-in, laying bricks all year long. But when you’re too close to the...
about 2 months ago • 5 min read
Issue #77 | December 7th, 2025 Smear frames from Sponge Bob Hey Reader 👋Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One BasketYou’ve heard the saying. We all have. But when I really think about it… that’s what most animators are doing.They’re putting all their hopes, time, and creative energy into one very specific skill: animation. Often in one software. Sometimes in one style. That’s it. That’s the whole basket. Obsession vs. OpportunityAnd listen — there’s beauty in mastery. There’s power in obsession. I...
about 2 months ago • 5 min read
Issue #76 | November 30th, 2025 Smear frame from Tarzan Hey Reader 👋The Week the Vision Got Clearer This week felt like a soft shift — not loud, not dramatic, but steady and deep. A few days ago, we welcomed new beta members into the Animator Now community. It’s a small thing on the surface — just a few people joining — but the impact has been huge. More feedback, more honest answers, more shared hopes. That form you filled out? I’ve been reading every single one. And one word keeps showing...
2 months ago • 6 min read