How Animators Find Industry Mentors

March 21, 2025

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One question I sometimes get asked by students at Escape Studios is “How Do I Find a Mentor?” The answer (of course!) is to start with your tutors, and then broaden out from there. Over the course of a long animation career our Escapees are likely to have many mentors, though very few of these (if any) will be formal mentorship roles; most will be informal, and you might not even realise these people were mentors until many years later. In my case I have been lucky enough to be mentored by animators such as James Baxter (Road to El Dorado), Andreas Deja (Lion King), Duncan Marjoribanks (Pocahontas) and also Glen Keane, whose notes on planning animation I still refer to today. But mentorship is, in each and every case, very much what you make of it.

Find Your Mentors

Who are your mentors? Your mentors will include all the people in your life who have made a positive impact on your life, career and character. Your parents are your first and most obvious mentors; later on your will find teachers and others who will support your learning, and take an interest in your development.

Tutors

At Escape Studios all our tutors act in effect as a mentor to all our students, helping them to learn their craft, to reach a professional standard of skill and – ultimately – helping them to find that crucial first job in the industry.

Industry Mentors

Once you are working in the industry (and even beforehand), your mentors will include the lead animators you report to, and any colleagues who you learn from. Your mentors might include a producer who takes an interest in your career, people you ask for help along the way, and anyone who gives you a leg up in the industry.

At Escape Studios, help will always be given…to those who ask for it

As a junior animator, you should never be shy to ask for help, and always remember that people are, the most part, pleased to help newcomers in the industry find their own way. We all had help from others when we were juniors, and most of us want to help others on their journey as well, as a way of returning the favour to those who helped us.

My mentors

Glen Keane

Informal Mentors

None of these animation masters ever had a formal role or title of “mentor”. But these were all people I went to for advice and help. They were all – in one way or another – my animation mentors.

Jobs Resources at Escape Studios

We have many resources available at Escape Studios aimed at helping our students to develop their skills and find work in the animation industry. To get started, see the blog posts below:

The Escape Studios Animation Blog offers a personal view on the art of animation and visual effects. To apply for one of our courses, follow this link.