22/09/2026
I've been working on something new recently called Beyond the Showreel.
I've spent around 10 years teaching animation at university alongside working professionally as an animator, and one thing I've seen time and again is how difficult the jump from education into the industry can be, and how this is not covered enough in education.
This is something quite personal to me as well. Whilst in education, I had teachers and even members of my own family tell me that animation wasn't a realistic career and that I should look into something else.
Thankfully, I didn't listen.
I've now spent most of my working life in animation, both teaching it and working professionally, as well as running my own animation studio.
I think that message is particularly important at the moment. There's a huge amount of discussion about AI and what it means for creative careers, and it's very easy for someone at the beginning of their career to look at all of that and wonder whether there's any point.
The industry will change, the tools will change and the way we work will change - they always have. What matters is learning how to build good creative skills, adapt, understand the industry and find a place within it.
That's really where Beyond the Showreel comes from.
I want to bring together what I've learned from teaching, working in the industry and running RenderHut to help aspiring animators make that jump from learning animation to actually building a career from it.
I'll be covering the practical side of getting started - showreels, portfolios, finding opportunities, approaching studios, freelancing, working with clients and the other things that aren't always obvious when you're starting out. (as well as outlining some of the many mistakes I've made along the way)
There'll be a book, YouTube videos, practical resources and, further down the line, more in-depth training.
More on this soon.
And if you're studying animation or have graduated recently, I'd be interested to hear what you're finding most difficult about trying to get into the industry.
Lewis Rogers
Director, RenderHut Ltd
