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Issue #73 | November 9th, 2025

Hey Reader 👋
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​Something’s shifting.

Not all at once—but quietly, steadily. And it kind of started with the vlog.

There’s something raw about it. I turn on the camera, talk straight into the lens, press publish—and that’s it. No editing, no polishing. Even the thumbnails and titles get about 30 seconds of thought. It’s not strategy. It’s therapy.

And weirdly enough… it’s working.

By letting go of control, by staying loose, I started noticing a change. The content flows easier. The pressure drops. I’m not trying to “create” anymore—I’m just sharing what’s already there. That simple shift, from performing to showing up, is spilling over into the community, the live sessions, everything.

This week, it all started to click a bit more.

Yesterday we had our first live workshop inside the Animator Now Community - a full two-hour deep dive where I animated a bouncing ball from scratch. Nothing scripted. Just pure process. I shared every choice, every little mistake, every tool and trick I could fit in. And after? You get the replay, the full Maya files + a PDF summary. No note-taking required.

It felt alive. And it was fun. 💥

Today, we’re already jumping into our second animation feedback session, and this rhythm—this cycle of creating, sharing, teaching—feels more like me than anything I’ve done in a while.

And there’s more coming. A lot more.

Live workshops on animating the Luxo lamp, mastering eye darts, shaping eyelids, lip-syncing, animating stillness and so much more. Even one on mindset—especially the mindset shift it takes to go from full-time employee to independent creator. I’ll host that with my good friend Christoffer, a coach who’s helped me (and many athletes) move through resistance and build clarity.

Because creating animation is one thing. Building a life and an income around it? That takes a whole different kind of courage.

So yeah—it’s not that everything changed this week. It’s that something started. And it’s growing. And I’m all in.
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If you are interested in on those live workshops where I share 20 years of experience animating and making a real living with animation, hit the button below 👇

I want to join the Animator Now Community!

Also, if you’ve got 30 seconds to spare…

I put together a super quick form that would really help me shape Animator NOW into the best version it can be.
Your input means a lot, and it’ll directly guide what I build next inside the community.

👉 Click here to answer the 30-second form​
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And as always, if you’re curious about the behind-the-scenes, I’m still vlogging the journey over on the Animator NOW YouTube Channel.

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

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The Spotlight

This week, I was looking for voiceless cartoon references for a client project… and I stumbled across something massive that somehow flew under my radar. Maybe you already know them (they have over 10 million subscribers 😳), but if not, let me introduce you to Frame Order—a Dutch studio producing wordless animated skits with pitch-black humor and razor-sharp timing.

The one that got me? 👇

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No dialogue. No fluff. Just ridiculous characters, hilarious setups, and animation that lands every punchline. That alien character? Genius. 🤣

The humor might not be for everyone—but I love it. And beyond the laughs, there’s a ton to learn here. Frame Order is delivering a masterclass in timing, spacing, posing, and silhouette clarity. Think Chaplin or Buster Keaton vibes—smart staging, bold acting choices, and rhythm that does the storytelling.

Now here’s the other thing—and this is where it gets really interesting. At Animator Now, we’re not just passionate about animation itself—we’re also deeply invested in what it means to make a living with animation. The business of animation. And Frame Order is a fantastic example of what that can look like today.

They launched their channel over 12 years ago. As of this writing, they’ve published more than 700 videos, gathered over 3 billion views, and built an audience of more than 10 million subscribers. 🤯

That kind of reach opens real doors. They’ve got a merch shop. They’ve got an engaged fanbase. And they’re not operating in the YouTube Kids zone—which means they likely earn higher ad revenue. Just a quick peek at Social Blade shows estimated monthly earnings between $2.8K and $45K.
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Depending on which side of this estimate we are landing, that’s might be more than enough to sustain a couple of animators or a small studio, especially one that can turn around episodes in just a few days.

So what does that mean for us?
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It means Frame Order isn’t just animating. They’re building their own IP. They’re making their own cartoon. And getting paid to do it, by their audience. That’s the dream, right? Creative freedom and sustainability.

And it’s totally possible. I'm not saying it's easy nor fast.
But definitely possible.

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They probably started small—like all of us do—but they stayed consistent, found their tone, and slowly grew something that now supports a thriving business outside the studio system. Frame Order is just one of many paths—but it’s a powerful one to study.

Go check them out. Watch a few episodes. Laugh. Take notes.
And imagine what your version of this could look like. 💡

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The Job Fair

• ​Freelance 3D Animator (Remote) - Element Animation
  ​We are Element Animation a small but mighty studio known for creating character-driven stories packed with humour and heart. We create animated content for millions of our own audience, for commercial projects and for global events. Our videos are watched all around the world and we've grown a following in multiple countries. We’re passionate about storytelling, comedy, and pushing the boundaries of what a small team can do with big ideas. You may have seen our other job posts recently, we're working on a big project and we’re looking for a Character Animator to join us on a freelance basis and bring life, charm, and comedy to that and potential future productions.
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• ​2D Character Designer + Animator - Creed​
  At Creed, we are building the first AI companions for the 2.4 billion Christians globally. We launched on the app store about 2 months ago and have seen rapid growth. We just raised a seed round from some of the top investors in the world, including Andreesen Horowitz (a16z).
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• ​3D Animator - FBI Talent Co​
  FBI Talent co are looking for a talented 3D Artist for an upcoming project kicking off November for 1–2 months (with potential to extend).This role needs someone with strong modelling and animation skills, must be based in Sydney.
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• ​3D Animator - Reval Recruiting​
  The 3D Character Animator will be responsible for creating expressive, believable character animations that elevate gameplay and narrative experiences. You’ll work closely with designers, modelers, and engineers to ensure animations feel fluid, responsive, and aligned with each project’s artistic vision. This is a hands-on role for an animator who combines strong technical proficiency with artistic flair and a passion for storytelling through movement.

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The Random Stuff

• I’ve mentioned before how deep I’ve gone into AI browsers, but this week I found a brilliant video by Greg Isenberg (my go-to guy for AI tools and startup thinking). He demoed Comet in a way that totally reframed how I use it. Case in point: my wife needed a haircut appointment. We typed in a quick prompt asking for the best local salons, promo codes, and availability… and Comet did it all. Booking included. 🤯 What would’ve taken us 2–3 hours was done in under three minutes. That’s the kind of stuff that makes AI feel like real magic.
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• Trying to quit Adobe… kinda. — I’ve been wanting to move away from Creative Suite for a while. I still rely heavily on After Effects (and a bit of Photoshop), but I do 95% of my design work in Figma now. The big news? Canva just launched Affinity — and it’s free! It feels like a Figma-style Photoshop with native shortcuts and even some AI tools. It might just be the thing that lets me finally drop Photoshop. Now… if only there were a solid After Effects replacement
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• Claude + Tally = 🤯 — This week I’ve been playing more with Claude, and it’s rapidly becoming my favorite LLM. One reason? You can plug it into other tools using MCPs (go look that up if you’re curious). For example, the 30 second form I asked you to fill earlier? That was made entirely via Claude. I just described it, and it auto-built the full Tally form in under a minute. Pure productivity gold.
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• Still watching Vikings on Netflix ⚔️ — Yep, I’ve finished Season 1. It’s good. Gritty. Some great moments. But it’s no Game of Thrones (I guess I went in with the wrong expectations). The writing’s simpler, the acting is solid but not quite elite. Still, I’m in for Season 2. Sometimes you just want something that scratches the epic itch without needing a spreadsheet to track every character.

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Philippe Duvin​
Founder, Animator NOW

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