Tutor Spotlight: Shane Woodson

We sat down with 2D Animation tutor Shane Woodson to talk about his career and his advice for everyone wanting to enter the world of 2D Animation.

What inspired you to pursue a career in animation?

This is going to sound so cheesy - I’ve been drawing since I can remember, but it was never quite enough in that my art wasn’t alive. It didn’t move. I grew up with the Disney “renaissance”, classic Cartoon Network shows, and the rise of PIXAR Animation. I adored all of it.

Not only that, but I didn’t realise 2D animation could be an actual career until I was in high school. We’d had a career day when we were told to do a computer questionnaire that suggested what jobs we’d be most suited to. That was the lightbulb moment. 2D animation popped up, and everything I did from then on was geared toward making it into the industry.

In your opinion, what makes a great 2D animator?

Making 2D animation is a long process full of repetitive tasks like any other animation discipline. Patience and persistence is key in both your work and your career, as 2D is a considerably smaller industry compared to other disciplines and progression can be slow but incredibly rewarding.

In terms of skill, I would say a strong foundational artistic knowledge will take you far. Anatomical and perspective knowledge are your greatest tools, so if you can master those, it doesn’t matter what software you work with.

What were some of your biggest challenges when starting out?

I wasn’t drawing in my first big job role. I loved what I was doing, but for a while that really got to me. A lot of entry level roles in 2D will be like that. My more seasoned colleagues advised me to ask for test work in departments I was interested in, and this eventually got me moving in the direction I wanted to go. Learning to be brave and just ask for these opportunities was intimidating at first, but the worst people can say is no. Often when they do say no, they still point you in the right direction, so there's really nothing to lose!

What was the most pivotal moment in your career to date that shaped your path forward?

I’d actually like to combine this one with another question because I’ll be saying mostly the same things here. My pivotal career point and most rewarding project go hand in hand.

My most pivotal career point would be working at Blink Industries as a clean up artist on Peter and the Wolf. The project itself looks fantastic, was incredibly well managed, and Blink looked after the crew very well. What really made it special was the people I worked with, and the friendships fostered in that working environment. We still meet regularly two years later, and we have each other’s backs when it comes to finding work.

Pretty much every project I’ve worked on since 2022 I landed from knowing someone on Peter and the Wolf. As I said earlier, 2D is a relatively small community, and you come to know or hear of almost everyone, and these relationships are so important.

What do you enjoy most about working in 2D animation?

It’s definitely the variety in what I’m working on. Each project has been so unique in terms of style and execution, so when I start a new job it's always reviving my passion for the discipline. I also love learning about the mechanics of each production. There’s no one set way of doing things and each studio, director or even artist works differently. Sometimes this even includes a bit of gossip that could help you find your next project. You can really grow as an artist by taking the time to look outside your own role. Your colleagues down the pipeline will really appreciate it too!