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Issue #72 | November 2th, 2025

Hey Reader 👋
​
​I’m writing this with a smile on my face.

For the longest time, I feared the launch of Animator NOW would be a total flop. You know, one of those ghost-town launches where nobody shows up and you start questioning every life choice that got you there.

But… a couple of people showed up. And somehow, we now have a real community forming — slowly but surely. 🎉

I didn’t expect much, to be honest. In the entrepreneurial world, there’s a quiet understanding: your first launch is supposed to be messy. There are just too many moving parts, too many firsts. Of course, you’re going to make mistakes. And those mistakes will impact your launch. It’s part of the learning curve.

But what I really needed was relief — just to get this thing out into the world. For months, it felt like a ghost on my back whispering, “Launch. Launch. Launch.” It was loud. And heavy.

Now that it’s out? I feel free. 💨

Free to focus on what really matters: creating. Crafting content. Sharing knowledge. Showing up for the people inside the community. And that part… that’s the best feeling in the world.

This week, we’re kicking things off strong. The Kevin Parry interview is happening today. I’ve been hyping this for weeks, and after prepping, I’m even more of a fan. His work, his brain — I can’t wait to share our conversation with you. I feel more prepared than ever, and weirdly calm about it.

Next week, editing from Cory Williams episode will be done and ready to be added to the mix — Two amazing interviews dropping exclusively in the community.

We’re also starting Live Workshops. These are raw, hands-on sessions where I animate live, talk through my process, answer questions, and share every little tip I’ve picked up over the last 20 years. It’s like sitting next to me in the studio — except with a pause and replay button.

Why am I so excited about this? Because it means… I get to animate again. 🥹

These workshops are recorded automatically and available to all members, so you can watch (and rewatch) anytime. I have a huge list of sessions I can’t wait to dive into — and finally, the platform lets me bring them to life.

There’s more coming too: animation discussions, creator talks, and the very first Monthly Animation Challenge, which kicks off Saturday. And the prize for the winner is a 1 hour coaching call with me! So yeah — a lot happening.

If you’re not in yet, you can still join at the Starter tier. And if you’re curious about the behind-the-scenes, I’m still vlogging the journey over on the Animator NOW YouTube Channel.

I want to join the Animator Now Community!

The launch is alive.
The community is growing.
And I’m beyond grateful.

Now let’s get into this week’s issue 👇

PS. Oh yeah I changed the Animation Sunday logo. I never really liked the previous one 😊 Hope you dig this one!

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The Spotlight

While prepping for my interview with Kevin Parry this week, I stumbled across something I hadn’t seen in years — his graduation film from Sheridan College: The Arctic Circle (2009/2010).

And wow. It’s brilliant.

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This is pure, charming stop-motion at its best — and already, you can see Kevin’s voice coming through loud and clear. The timing. The clarity. The physical comedy. It’s all there. Even back then, he had a clear instinct for rhythm and charm in motion — that same magic you see in his viral loops today.

What really stands out is how minimal everything is: simple props, a single character, no elaborate sets or fancy camera tricks. And yet, it works. It really works. 🎥

As for the animation itself: it’s minimal, sometimes a bit rough around the edges. And I’ll be honest, the 2D anime-style expressions layered onto the ghost’s face felt a little out of place for me. Like they belonged to a different film. I get the intention, but personally, I would have preferred stronger body animation to convey those emotions instead of superimposed symbols. Still, that’s just my taste—if you’re into anime-inspired touches, you might really enjoy that part.

There’s a strong thread of Charlie Chaplin throughout — both in the physical humor and the stripped-down storytelling. The kind of comedy that doesn’t rely on dialogue or big effects, but instead uses space, silhouette, rhythm, and silence with incredible precision.

The cinematography is also worth noting. The way Kevin plays with camera angles — even in a student film — is so thoughtful. You can tell he already loved playing with how things are framed, how action flows, and how to make every shot tell a joke on its own.

And it reminds me of something Steve Jobs said in his Stanford commencement speech: “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.” When I watch The Arctic Circle now, all the dots connect.

The visual clarity, the comedy, the craftsmanship — it was all there from the start. It’s no surprise Kevin went on to work on The Shadow King, multiple Laika features, and eventually, to carve out this brilliant space on social media where his creativity thrives.

Sometimes, you can just see it. And with this film, you really can.

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The Job Fair

• 2D Animator - Voodoo
  ​Founded in 2013, Voodoo is a tech company that creates mobile games and apps with a mission to entertain the world. Gathering 800 employees, 7 billion downloads, and over 200 million active users, Voodoo is the #3 mobile publisher worldwide in terms of downloads after Google and Meta. Our portfolio includes chart-topping games like Mob Control and Block Jam, alongside popular apps such as BeReal and Wizz.
  ​
• 2D Animator - Ubisoft Paris Studio​
  Ubisoft is a global leader in gaming with teams across the world creating original and memorable gaming experiences, from Assassin’s Creed, Rainbow Six to Just Dance and more. We believe diverse perspectives help both players and teams thrive. If you’re passionate about innovation and pushing entertainment boundaries, join our journey and help us create the unknown!
  ​
• Senior Video Editor / Motion Designer - Digital Prod​
  We’re looking for a Senior Video Editor / Motion Designer to join our creative team for a long-term project.
  ​Assignment: Full-time – 12 months
  ​Start date: ASAP
  We’re seeking someone who can bring ideas to life through visuals — someone with a strong sense of rhythm, coherence, and a distinctive visual signature for each project.
  ​
• Senior Motion Designer - Aquent​
  The mission involves transforming complex technical and scientific topics (data & AI, cloud computing, R&D, manufacturing, supply chain, etc.) into impactful, educational, and inspiring visual stories.

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The Random Stuff

• It’s vacation time in France — both my son and daughter were visiting, and we scored an incredible surf session together. Great waves, great vibes 🏄‍♂️🌊
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• Started watching Vikings on Netflix — I know, finally! And yes… I’m totally hooked ⚔️My wife and I are back into our reality TV relay — no shame, it’s just pure fun and laughs 😂
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• Just signed another big client for a series of short cartoons — super excited and grateful for that! 🙌​
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• Small reminder (or maybe news?): I’m directing my first animated feature film. We’re in the writing phase, and I just received version 2 of the synopsis. Can’t wait to dive in and see how it’s evolving 🎬.
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• I gave Zapier a try (after n8n proved a bit too wild for the moment to set up on my server), and wow — it worked like magic. I set up a workflow to automatically send all my community events to my Google Calendar — something that should be native, but isn’t. Zapier’s new AI assistant made it ridiculously easy. Highly recommend checking it out if you’re looking to streamline your digital chaos ⚙️✨

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Philippe Duvin​
Founder, Animator NOW

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