Animation Happy Hour

Garrett Lewis, Katie Low, Ben Girmann

Animation Happy Hour is a monthly podcast hosted by three feature film animators - Garrett Lewis, Katie Low, and Ben Girmann. Our podcast mission is to provide practical advice for students, job-seekers, and animation enthusiasts on how to break into all aspects of the animation industry.

Listen in PodNod RSS feed Show website

20 episodes
Updated Jul 1, 2025

Episodes20

Newest first

#33 - Day in the Life: Lighting Artist
CG Lighters are truly the unsung heroes of the 3D animation pipeline. In fact, often when people say “The animation looks so good,” they are really talking about the lighting! Being at the back of the pipeline, lighters face extreme crunches and work hard
Jul 1, 2025 · 2 hr 13 min
#32 - Personal Projects
In this episode we talk all about personal projects, whether it’s something on the side of work or your personal project is your full time job! We’ll quickly touch on drawing, podcasting, screenwriting etc., but spend the bulk of our time discussing our h
May 5, 2025 · 1 hr 23 min
#31 - Switching Careers
Switching careers can be incredibly risky and intimidating, but potentially life changing in the long run. In this episode we chat with special guests, Allen Ostergar and Tyler Mahn, about their career pivots from animation to story and accounting to anim
Apr 1, 2025 · 2 hr 9 min
#30 - How To Turn an Internship Into an Offer
Congratulations! You just scored your first internship, apprentice gig, or temp job, but now you must be wondering: how do I turn this opportunity into a long term offer? In episode 30, we go over our top do’s and don’ts that can help make or break your r
Mar 1, 2025 · 1 hr 22 min
#29 - Staying Inspired
In this episode, we are talking about staying inspired! Both the importance of actively keeping yourself inspired as a member of the animation community and some specific ways each of us does this in our day to day lives.
Oct 21, 2024 · 1 hr 4 min
#28 - What is the Animation Guild?
In this episode, we cover the basics of unions and The Animation Guild (TAG). We interview Justin Weber, a union board member, shop steward, and Disney animator, and Allison Smartt, a professional organizer for TAG. Listen in to learn more about the histo
Aug 1, 2024 · 2 hr 1 min
#27 - Animation Q&A With Michael Woodside!
Michael Woodside is an Animator who has been working in the industry for 15 years. Currently at Walt Disney Animation Studios, he has contributed as an Animator on films that include Frozen, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, and Moana. He was an Animation Supervisor
Jul 1, 2024 · 2 hr 41 min
#26 - Day In The Life: CG Feature Film Animator
In this episode we finally tackle our own jobs! Listen to find out what a typical day is like for a CG character animator for feature film. We ran out of time for listener Q&A so make sure to subscribe and keep an eye out for part 2 coming soon!
May 6, 2024 · 1 hr 56 min
#25 - Things We Can't Live Without!
We all know it’s not the tools that make an artist successful, what’s more important is how an artist uses their tools…But, let’s just admit that we’re all still curious to know what pencil, tablet, mouse, etc. everyone else is using. In this episode, Gar
Apr 1, 2024 · 1 hr 50 min
#24 - Burnout & Mental Health
Burnout impacts many people in the animation industry, and can happen to anyone regardless of their age or position. In this episode, we discuss burnout symptoms, prevention, and treatment, and share some of our own personal journeys with mental health.
Feb 1, 2024 · 2 hr 5 min
#23 - Where Have We Been?
Good news! After a much needed hiatus, the Animation Happy Hour is back with a brand new episode in 2024. Listen in as we discuss what we’ve been up to, the current state of the animation industry, and future episodes coming your way. A huge thanks to all
Jan 1, 2024 · 1 hr 4 min
#22 - Studio Surprises!
This month's episode is all about things that surprised us working for a big studio. We hope you enjoy!
Apr 1, 2022 · 1 hr 8 min
#21 - Day In The Life: Layout/Previz Artist (Part 2)
As promised, our next episode will conclude our deep dive into a Day in the Life of a Layout/Previz artist! Listen in as we discuss everything from useful resources for students, to what kind of people might enjoy layout, favorite parts of the job, and mo
Feb 1, 2022 · 1 hr 58 min
#20 - Day In The Life: Layout/Previz Artist (Part 1)
We are honored to have had the opportunity to sit down with two incredible Disney artists, Dorian Bustamante @layoutsketches and Corey "Rocco" Florimonte, to talk about all things Layout and Previz. This is a crucial, and often underrepresented step in th
Jan 1, 2022
#19 - Dealing With Feedback
Feedback and critiques are essential in the creative world, but that doesn't mean giving or receiving it is easy. Everyone, from seasoned professionals to first-year students, has to grapple with this aspect of our jobs, but you don't have to go it alone!
Dec 1, 2021
#18 - Top 5 Bad Habit and How To Avoid Them!
Garrett, Katie, and Ben have a light and lengthy conversation about the various ways that bad habits can creep into our work lives. Our hosts not only give advice on what to watch out for as you pursue your career in animation, but also how to overcome ba
Nov 1, 2021 · 1 hr 21 min
#17 - Day In The Life: Stop Motion Animator
In episode 17, we dive into the world of stop motion animation! Our special guest Dan MacKenzie draws upon his years of experience in feature film, TV, advertising, and more to give us a picture of what life as a stop motion animator is like. We cover a L
Jun 1, 2021
#16 - Day In The Life: Storyboard Artist
Storyboards are one of the earliest and most integral elements in an animation pipeline, and we have the pleasure of chatting with a couple industry superstars who have extensive experience storyboarding in both TV and feature film. Natalie Nourigat and I
May 1, 2021 · 2 hr 38 min
#15 - What Level Animator Are You?
Assessing yourself as an artist can be difficult. In episode 15, we cover some practical ways to objectively evaluate where you are in your journey from new student to seasoned professional, and provide tips on how to advance to the next level!
Apr 1, 2021
#14 - Top 10 Tips For Your First Job!
Are you nervous about transitioning from school to the professional world? Do you feel overwhelmed or confused when you hear words like 401k, contracts, benefits, etc? Are you nervous about not landing your dream job right out of school, or possibly being
Mar 1, 2021 · 2 hr

Animation Happy Hour

#33 - Day in the Life: Lighting Artist

#32 - Personal Projects

#31 - Switching Careers

#30 - How To Turn an Internship Into an Offer

#29 - Staying Inspired

#28 - What is the Animation Guild?

#27 - Animation Q&A With Michael Woodside!

#26 - Day In The Life: CG Feature Film Animator

#25 - Things We Can't Live Without!

#24 - Burnout & Mental Health

#23 - Where Have We Been?

#22 - Studio Surprises!

#21 - Day In The Life: Layout/Previz Artist (Part 2)

#20 - Day In The Life: Layout/Previz Artist (Part 1)

#19 - Dealing With Feedback

#18 - Top 5 Bad Habit and How To Avoid Them!

#17 - Day In The Life: Stop Motion Animator

#16 - Day In The Life: Storyboard Artist

#15 - What Level Animator Are You?

#14 - Top 10 Tips For Your First Job!