Feature Stories

“Reach”

Real-world case study of Element 3D used in product launch video that looks back at the history of aviation

Self Help Dance

Adam Plouff: Building Tools for Animators

“If I’m known for anything, it’s the utilization of some of the more obscure features in After Effects and a weirdo obsession with mathematical phenomena,”… Read more

From online to real life: The origins of Wine After Coffee and Blend

Artist Profile: Sean McClintock

With nearly 20 years experience under his belt, Sean McClintock has done a little bit of everything.  From the early days of Flash during the… Read more

What is web animation? Rachel Nabors explains it all.

Web design and motion design have been on a collision course since the early 2000s. Today, they’re finally merging, spawning strange new fields — and… Read more

On The Back Of A Tiger

One effect that I feel many of us can agree on when working in the commercial world is that it can be a bit of… Read more

Virtual reality is not filmmaking

Let’s agree on something: 360-degree video presented inside a virtual reality headset isn’t really virtual reality. It’s a novel, sometimes powerful experience, but it’s not what makes VR arguably the most… Read more

Lessons learned: Daniel Coutinho’s journey from Brazil to Buck

In 2011, Daniel Coutinho left his family, his home and his girlfriend in pursuit of a dream.   Now, as a staff animator at Buck —… Read more

Survival tips for women in motion design

I’ve been working in the field of motion design for 11 years. As a woman of non-Caucasian ethnicity, I’m definitely a minority in the field.… Read more

From motion design to game design: In-depth process behind Specimen

“I wanted to be a beginner again and feel like I was growing.”  Those words from designer/director Erica Gorochow encapsulate the primary motivation behind deciding… Read more

The long journey to “Lostopolis,” an interview with PandaPanther

While many commercial animation shops dream of developing feature length films — and building valuable intellectual property in the process — very few actually get… Read more

Interview: The Lessons Behind We Are Royale’s Manifesto

Surviving eight years as a motion design studio is no easy feat. In addition to riding the unpredictable ebb and flow of service work, motion design… Read more

User interface design: Why motion matters

For a presentation at CSSConf Australia 2015, Benjamin De Cock (no jokes, please) shared insights gleaned from years as an interactive designer with a penchant… Read more

Creative Parents, Creative Kids

In collaboration with reader Joe Linton, we conducted an informal survey in May asking parents about the role that creativity played in their parenting. We… Read more

Behind the Scenes: “Donning the Digital Mask: Anonymous”

The infamous group of hackers that identify themselves as “Anonymous” are, as their name suggests, incredibly hard to pin down. They’ve targeted racists, terrorists and pedophiles. They’ve brought… Read more

How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Start Loving the Graph Editor

Editor’s note: As part of our ongoing education series, we present a guest post from Nol Honig, co-founder of The Drawing Room and part-time professor… Read more

How a husband and wife team took a startup from brand to product launch

What makes “IMANDRA” a fascinating case study in the world of explainer videos is not its intricately detailed but elegant animation (although that’s very nice),… Read more

How Firstborn became an agency without losing its soul

When I stepped off the elevators and into Firstborn’s headquarters, I thought maybe I’d made a mistake. I’ve been to quite a few agencies. No… Read more

Working backwards: From rig to character to story with Andrew Vucko

Editor’s note: This animation features cartoon-style nudity and sex, and therefore might be NSFW for some office environments. As any experienced animator will tell you, character animation… Read more

In-Depth: Making the Best of Motionographer with Aran Quinn and Mill+

With the word “motion” emblazoned in white block letters on its back, a blue, muscle-bound creature deadlifts a barbell and turns to face the camera,… Read more

Process: Making the F5 Opening Titles with Block & Tackle

Over the last several years, conference openers have joined music videos, film titles and visual essays as ideal showcases for ambitious motion designers and visual… Read more

Motion design education: MoGraph Mentor

My recent op-ed post, “6 Problems with Motion Design Education,” looked at challenges facing students and educators through the lens of brick-and-mortar design schools. But over the last 20… Read more

Jimmy Simpson: Modern Love

This month’s installment of The New York Times’ Modern Love column was done by none other than the amazingly talented Jimmy Simpson, who was recently featured… Read more