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Issue #71 | October 26th, 2025

Hey Reader 👋
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​This week’s Animation Sunday arrives with a quiet kind of thrill—and a whole lot of meaning.

As I write this on a Thursday afternoon, I’m getting ready for something that honestly gives me goosebumps just thinking about: the launch of the Animator Now community.

If you’re reading this on Sunday, that means the doors have opened. Maybe you’re already inside. If that’s the case: welcome. I mean it. I’m so happy you’re here. 🧡

A Two-Year Journey

This moment feels huge to me—not because I expect a crowd or a big splash, but because of what it represents. I created Animator Now two years ago. It started as a simple course idea, then grew into this newsletter, a new podcast, a platform for sharing what I’ve learned and love about animation.

And now, it’s turning into something I’ve quietly been building toward all along: a real community.

Why This Launch Matters

That’s why this week is so personal. Because no matter what happens on launch day—whether one person walks through the door, or ten, or a hundred—it doesn’t change what this moment means to me. What matters is that the door is open. That I’ve finally given myself permission to start building something long-term, something real.

What You’ll Find Inside

Inside Animator Now, I’ll be posting daily content, weekly lessons, podcast episodes, guest interviews, and (the part I’m most excited about) deep-dive courses and fast, focused mini-workshops.

But more than just content, it’s a place to grow. A space built for animators who want more than just technique—who want to shape their careers, grow an audience, create a YouTube channel, create their own IPs, or simply reignite their love for the craft.

This is the beginning. And I’m so grateful to be sharing it with you.

The First Vlogs + Guest Interviews

Also—quick heads-up! I’ve quietly started vlogging on the Animator Now YouTube channel. There are already three episodes up, and it’s been fun to experiment with that format. 🎥 it's quick, super raw and real and that's why it's fun.

And earlier this week, I had an incredible conversation with Cory Williams—about YouTube, animation, content creation, and building your own animated IP. Cory is such a thoughtful human being, and the entire interview will be soon live inside the community (all guest episodes will be exclusive to members). Kevin Parry is coming next week on Thursday, and I can’t wait to share that one too.

Thanks for being part of this journey. Whether you’ve joined the community or not, just knowing you’re reading this means a lot.

Now, onto this week’s issue ✨

And don't forget there is a 60% off the Starter tier - until October 31! You can click the link below to grab that offer!

I want to join the Animator Now Community!

Let’s begin.🥳

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The Spotlight

Okay, so first things first—I may or may not have already reviewed this one. 😅 With 70+ short films featured in this newsletter, I’m starting to lose track… time to build an actual list. But even if this is a repeat, it deserves a second round.
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​Under the Thicket by Caleb Worcester is one of those films where you feel like you’ve seen the thumbnail forever, and somehow just never clicked. And now that I have, all I can say is: oh wow, it wasn’t enough. The film is short—under five minutes—but it left me wanting more. I wanted more story, more time in that world, more space to breathe inside its atmosphere.

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The plot is simple: a ghost walks quietly through a forest, heading toward a grave to leave a flower. That’s it. No spoilers, because there’s not much to spoil. But that’s not the point. The power of this film lies in its presence. Every frame feels intentional. The composition, the colors, the soft, eerie beauty of the forest—this is a film you feel more than you follow.

The ghost design is incredibly simple. A classic draped sheet with two round eyes—exactly how a child would draw a ghost if you asked them to. And yet, it works. Somehow, in the quietness of nature, it becomes poetic.
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Now, let’s talk about the music. Wow.

The score, composed by Yusi Liu, is the emotional backbone of the film. It starts with gentle piano and guitar, then swells into something more orchestral and cinematic. It carries you—deepens the emotion, widens the space. I honestly think the film wouldn’t land half as well without it.

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.

Bottom line? Under the Thicket is a beautifully crafted, emotionally resonant short. It’s quiet. It’s simple. It’s haunting—in the best way. Give it a watch, then sit with it for a moment. It lingers.

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The Job Fair

• 2D Animator - Pikkukala
  ​We are looking for talented Flash animators to join our team in the production of the Froggie series. This is a temporary position for artists based in Spain, from January to 2025, approximately. If you are good at posing and physical comedy, we're looking for you!
  The challenge is a 52-episode, 11-minute, action-packed 2D sitcom with tons of fun.
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• 2D Animator - Dekmak​
  Create dynamic 2D animations, motion graphics, and visual effects for digital and social media content.
  Edit and assemble video footage, ensuring smooth transitions, sound synchronization, and narrative flow.
  Conceptualize and produce advertising content for social media, digital campaigns, and brand activations.
  Utilize AI tools and technologies to enhance video production, streamline workflows, and explore innovative creative formats.
  Collaborate with the creative and marketing teams to bring ideas to life through engaging video and motion storytelling.
  Adapt existing designs and assets into animated or video formats while maintaining brand consistency.
  Work on various formats from short-form social media videos to longer promotional or brand videos.
  Select and manage sound effects, music, and voiceovers to enhance storytelling.
  Stay current on animation trends, AI-driven creative tools, editing techniques, and best practices for digital content.
  Manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting quality and deadline standards.Abide by DEKMAK CO.'s internal rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and any future memos throughout the course of employment.
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• 3D Animator - Syndicatebleu​
  We’re seeking a dynamic Animator to join a creative team on an exciting new campaign. In this role, you’ll bring a vibrant cast of characters to life—capturing their unique personalities through expressive movement and storytelling. You’ll collaborate with a cross-functional team of creatives and writers to craft stylized, high-impact animation that connects emotionally with audiences and expands a distinctive brand world.
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• CG Generalist - Harbor Picture Company​
  Harbor is seeking a talented and highly motivated CG Generalist to join our Creative Advertising team. The CG Generalist will work under the supervision of the VFX Supervisor, 3D on various projects to ensure project alignment and success. This role is focused on creating high-quality visual effects content and requires a broad range of technical skills and creativity. As a CG Generalist, the role may involve creating assets, developing shot-specific lighting or looks, producing animations and effects, contributing significantly to the visual storytelling of visual effects projects.

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The Random Stuff

• 🧠 I’ve been playing around with Atlas, the new AI browser from OpenAI that’s trending right now. I’ve never had so many browsers on my dock at once—Arc, Dia, Atlas, Comet, Perplexity… it’s getting ridiculous. 😅 Atlas is the first one I’ve tried with an agent mode—you literally watch it visit websites, click links, add things to carts… all on your behalf. Haven’t had time to dive deep (launch week chaos), but it’s wild—and kinda amazing.
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• 📺 Watched Black Doves on Netflix this week. It’s a moody, gripping spy drama and yes… it stars Keira Knightley, who I’m still (very openly) in love with 🤣. Totally worth a watch if you’re into shadowy secrets and beautiful coats.
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• 🧰 Discovered Project Neo by Adobe a while ago but forgot to mention it—a little hidden gem inside the Creative Cloud app. Just search for “Neo” in the app. It’s like a super-minimal 3D playground with built-in AI magic. You can block out basic shapes and layouts, then let AI generate visuals on top. It’s still early-stage, but really fun to play with.

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Philippe Duvin​
Founder, Animator NOW

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