The VFX Process

We chat with UK-based illustrator Luke Preece, who started his career as a graphic designer, moved into video game GUI work, and eventually found his true calling — illustration. In this interview, Luke takes us on a creative journey from designing for games to producing iconic artwork and posters for some of the world’s biggest rock and metal bands, including Metallica, Blink-182, Pantera and Foo Fighters — and even the final “Back to the Beginning” show of Black Sabbath.He’s also created art for major video games, movies and skate brands, including Gears of War, Alien Earth, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, and the legendary skate label Santa Cruz Skateboards.This episode is a little different from our usual deep dives into VFX, animation and storytelling — but we had to make it happen. We’ve been long-time fans of Luke’s work, and it’s simply too good not to share. In this special edition of the show, we explore his incredible career journey and creative process.https://www.lukepreece.com/VIDEO PODCAST

In this episode, we talk with Magnus Møller, animator, 3D artist, and creative director of Tumblehead Animation Studio — an award-winning production company based in Viborg, Denmark, which he runs with his partner Peter Smith.Magnus shares how he built Tumblehead from the ground up and what it takes to run a successful animation studio. He offers practical advice on getting clients, maintaining creative freedom, and why he believes making original short films under your studio’s name is more effective than any showreel — helping attract the kind of projects and collaborators you actually want.The conversation also explores Tumblehead’s short film “Turbulence,” created with Christopher Rutledge in collaboration with SideFX to test the new Houdini animation tools. Known mainly for its VFX power, Houdini has rarely been used for character animation — until now. Magnus explains how the team built a custom Houdini animation pipeline, executed the film from start to finish inside the software, and ultimately switched their entire studio pipeline to Houdini. As he puts it, “having every department in the same software feels like living in the future.”➡️ How to start and grow a creative animation studio➡️ Why short films can replace traditional showreels➡️ Insights into Tumblehead’s Houdini pipeline➡️ Behind the scenes of the short film “Turbulence”Watch - TURBULENCEWatch - VIDEO PODCASTConnect -TUMBLEHEAD

We sit down with Character Animator & Director Luciano A. Muñoz Sessarego, who shares his remarkable journey through the animation industry.We dive into the making of Freelance — a solo short film that grew into a worldwide collaboration and was ultimately completed with the help of Tumblehead Animation Studio.💬 In this conversation: • The highs and lows of creating Freelance over six years • How collaboration transformed the project’s scope and finish • What it really takes to survive and thrive as a freelance 3D artist in 2025Packed with honesty, insight, and experience, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the world of freelance animation and 3D art.GETTING INTIMATE WITH YOUR INDUSTRY!Watch Freelance: HEREConnect with Luciano: HEREWatch the Video Podcast: HERE

Trevor Carlee shares his inspiring journey — from creating a 3D artwork for every episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, to his first fan short, “Buffy: Into the Slayerverse” (a Spider-Verse-style Buffy animation), to discovering Bricklink and Mecabricks, the online platforms that changed everything.With these platforms’ free LEGO 3D meshes, Trevor was able to speed up his workflow and bring his LEGO-style animations in Blender to life — and his channel exploded.He’s now known for recreating iconic scenes from popular TV shows and movies in LEGO form, a creative niche that’s earned him a dedicated following.In this interview, we dive deep into:🔹 How Trevor got started animating LEGO after discovering these tools🔹 Tips & tricks for LEGO lighting, cameras, and animation🔹 His workflow from start to finish🔹 Dealing with negativity as a content creator🔹 How to stay motivated and consistent on YouTubeWhether you’re a Blender artist, LEGO animation enthusiast, or aspiring 3D content creator, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and practical advice to help you level up your own Blender projects.TREVOR CARLEE LINKTREEVIDEO PODCAST

In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Luke Angus, a professional animator and director from Glasgow, to talk about his award-winning 3D animated short film Solstice.Solstice has already made waves on the festival circuit, winning multiple awards including Best Short at the prestigious Short Shorts Film Festival – an OSCAR® and BAFTA accredited festival. This win has secured Luke the opportunity to submit his film for Oscar and BAFTA consideration.What makes Solstice even more impressive is that Luke created the entire film solo – from writing and storyboarding to animating in Maya and experimenting with Houdini for the first time. In this conversation, Luke gives us insight into:✨ His creative process and storytelling approach🎨 The challenges and hacks of solo filmmaking & animation🏆 Tips for navigating the film festival circuit and getting your film noticedWe were lucky enough to get an exclusive private screening of Solstice (it isn’t online yet, since eligibility rules prevent films from streaming before Oscar/BAFTA submissions). Trust us – this is one of the most beautiful and moving animated shorts you’ll see.If you’re passionate about animation, short films, or filmmaking, this is a must-watch interview.VIDEO PODCASTWATCH THE SOLSTICE TRAILER