Animation & Manga
**Animation Happy Hour**

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.

Latest Episodes:

#33 - Day in the Life: Lighting Artist Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

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 harder than anyone else to get our movies across the finish line. Today we are talking with two incredible Disney artists, Justine Codron Moulayess and Mason Khoo, about their day to day jobs. Tune in to learn how Justine and Mason first got into lighting, what softwares they use, the do’s and don’ts of a lighting demo reel, and more!

Check out our detailed show-notes here!

Enjoying the podcast? Consider donating to help support our show! https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour

Support Animation Happy Hour by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour

#32 - Personal Projects May 05, 2025

Show notes

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 host Garrett’s big move into independent animation.

Check out our detailed show-notes here!

Enjoying the podcast? Consider donating to help support our show! https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour

Support Animation Happy Hour by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour

#31 - Switching Careers Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

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 animation respectively. Our very own host Katie will also talk about her major pivots from pre-med to animation, and production assistant to CG animator.

Check out our detailed show-notes here!

Enjoying the podcast? Consider donating to help support our show! https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour

Support Animation Happy Hour by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour

#30 - How To Turn an Internship Into an Offer Mar 01, 2025

Show notes

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 reputation and score you a job.

Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode-30-how-to-turn-an-internship-into-an-offer

Enjoying the podcast? Consider donating to help support our show! https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour

Support Animation Happy Hour by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour

#29 - Staying Inspired Oct 21, 2024

Show notes

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.

Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode-29-what-inspires-us

Special thanks to our first sponsor, AnimBot! Use code “animationhappyhour” for 15% off of a new Eco or Pro edition license through 2024. https://animbot.ca/home/

Check out Garrett's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/garrett_animates

Enjoying the podcast? Consider donating to help support our show! https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour/e/d6c590fb/29-staying-inspired

Support Animation Happy Hour by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour

#28 - What is the Animation Guild? Aug 01, 2024

Show notes

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 history of TAG, the importance of solidarity, union perks & benefits, organizing 101, and the top myths and misconceptions about unions.

Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode-28-the-animation-guild

Enjoying the podcast? Consider donating to help support our show! https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour/e/79751b64/27-animation-q-a-with-michael-woodside-

Support Animation Happy Hour by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour

#27 - Animation Q&A With Michael Woodside! Jul 01, 2024

Show notes

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 for Frozen 2 and Encanto, helping to shepherd the musical sequences through Animation. In 2022, Michael received the VES Award for Virtual Cinematography for his participation in the construction of the “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” sequence.

Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode-27-day-in-the-life-cg-animator-part-two

Enjoying the podcast? Consider donating to help support our show! https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour/e/79751b64/27-animation-q-a-with-michael-woodside-

Support Animation Happy Hour by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour

#26 - Day In The Life: CG Feature Film Animator May 06, 2024

Show notes

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!

Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/day-in-the-life-of-an-animator-part-1

Support Animation Happy Hour by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour

#25 - Things We Can't Live Without! Apr 01, 2024

Show notes

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, Garrett, Katie, and Ben discuss their favorite and least favorite animation tools and accessories. This is a lighthearted and fully unsponsored episode, all recommendations are made from the heart!

Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode-25-top-accesories-we-cant-live-without

Support Animation Happy Hour by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour

#24 - Burnout & Mental Health Feb 01, 2024

Show notes

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.

Check out our detailed show-notes here: https://www.animationhappyhour.com/new-blog/episode-24-burnout

Support Animation Happy Hour by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour

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Animation Happy Hour

Enjoying the podcast? Consider donating to help support our show! https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/animation-happy-hour/e/79751b64/27-animation-q-a-with-michael-woodside-

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!

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