: How to cleanly set up Maya scenes to ensure maximum viewport frame rates and organized hierarchies.
Unlike heavily edited YouTube tutorials, this series features hours of raw, over-the-shoulder footage. Students see the mistakes, the corrections, and the iterative problem-solving that actual Disney animators go through when a shot isn't working. Cartoony vs. Realistic Mechanics
: Organizing files and preparing the workspace for speed.
Parrish guides students through a 10-hour, complete production pipeline for a highly dynamic, stylized shot.
: How to use Maya effectively to maintain a fast-paced production schedule without sacrificing quality. : How to cleanly set up Maya scenes
Not two. Not three. One.
: Refining arcs, checking tracking curves, and cleaning up graph editor clutter.
The AnimSquad Master Class is not a collection of lectures; it is a live, real-time screen recording of Zach and Brent building a shot from absolute scratch. This approach ensures you learn from their entire workflow, including the mistakes, detours, and genius shortcuts that define a master animator's process.
Zach Parrish’s career at Disney is defined by his ability to blend complex physical mechanics with deep emotional truth. Serving as the Head of Animation on hits like Big Hero 6 and directing acclaimed shorts like Puddles , Parrish brings a wealth of knowledge on how to manage massive production scales while maintaining artistic intimacy. In the master class, his focus centers on clarity of intent, entertainment value, and the subtle facial expressions that make a digital character feel alive. Brent Homman: The Master of Appeal and Mechanics Cartoony vs
Zach Parrish's career is a true animation success story. After graduating from SCAD with a BFA in Animation and supplementing his education with online classes at Animation Mentor, he landed his first professional role as an apprentice at Rhythm & Hues, working on Alvin and the Chipmunks . His journey then took him to Sony Pictures Animation before landing his dream job at Walt Disney Animation Studios as the last animator hired for Tangled .
: Analyzing the true emotional intent behind a line of dialogue before setting keyframes. 2. Crafting "Golden Poses" and Strong Blocking
We’re thrilled to welcome (Disney, Raya and the Last Dragon , Zootopia , Short Circuit ) and Brent Homman (Disney, Encanto , Frozen 2 , Moana ) for an exclusive Master Class !
[17-Hour Animsquad Masterclass] │ ├──► Zach Parrish Track (10 Hours) │ └── Cartoony Shots, Snappy Timing, Heavy Weight │ └──► Brent Homman Track (7 Hours) └── Subtle Acting, Close-ups, Micro-expressions 1. Zach Parrish’s Cartoony Workflow : How to use Maya effectively to maintain
The stands as a top-tier educational resource for character animators looking to bridge the gap between amateur work and feature-film quality. Tailored for both rising professionals and dedicated students, this comprehensive 17-hour intensive course provides an over-the-shoulder look at the precise workflows used inside elite studios like Walt Disney Animation.
: Balancing subtle eye darts, brow micro-movements, and fleshy cheek compressions.
The content is broken down into two main sections:
In his lecture for AnimSquad, titled "The Gag is King," Homman dissects his own shot of the sloth at the DMV in Zootopia . He shows how the humor comes not from the slow motion, but from the violation of timing. The eyes move fast, the hand moves slow, and the smile spreads at a medium pace. He teaches students to break the body into individual time signatures to find the comedy.