1-on-1 Animation Mentorship
The Mentorship Path
A Structured Path from Fundamentals to Feature-Film Standards
This 1-on-1 animation mentorship is built for animators who want more than recorded lessons. It is a progressive 10-phase professional path designed to develop technical control, performance depth, and production-level judgment.
Each phase builds on the previous one — transforming your skills and your demo reel under direct mentorship from a Lead Animator with feature-film experience.
It is personalized, production-driven animation mentorship.
Mentored by Filippo Dattola — Lead Animator with over a decade of feature-film production experience.
Every session is direct, personal, and focused on your growth.
The 10-Phase 1-on-1 Animation Mentorship Path
Each phase of this 1-on-1 animation mentorship is designed to build professional-level skill through structured assignments, production-style workflows, and direct mentor guidance.
Every phase includes:
- Direct 1-on-1 animation mentorship
- Live and recorded shot reviews
- Personalized feedback on every assignment
- Studio-level critique methodology
- Structured demo reel development at every stage
This structured progression ensures continuous growth — from solid animation fundamentals to advanced character and creature performance at feature-film standards.
£899 per phase. Same investment for every phase of the mentorship.
Phase 1
Animation Fundamentals
Master the principles of timing, spacing, squash & stretch. Build a technical foundation for professional animation.
Phase 2
Body Mechanics
Walks, runs, weight shifts, and believable physical movement — the base of all character animation.
Phase 3
Advanced Body Mechanics
Complex physics, multi-step actions, momentum — training your eye to see what separates good from great.
Phase 4
Acting & Lip Sync
Emotional performance, facial animation, storytelling clarity, and intentional choices.
Phase 5
Full Body Acting
Full-body acting shots with purpose, narrative subtext, and studio-level polish.
Phase 6
Multiple Characters
Scene staging, timing, and emotional dynamics across multiple characters.
Phase 7
Animal Locomotion
Quadruped anatomy, locomotion mechanics, and animal movement fundamentals.
Phase 8
Advanced Animal Locomotion
Complex creature techniques, terrain interactions, and nuanced behavior.
Phase 9
Flight & Fight Action
Dynamic sequences with flying creatures, combat choreography, and cinematic energy.
Phase 10
Dinosaur Animation
Capstone phase: prehistoric creatures, anatomical accuracy, and VFX-level performance.
Why This 1-on-1 Animation Mentorship Is Different
SquashnStretch.net mentorship is built entirely around direct, shot-by-shot feedback from a professional animator with real feature-film experience at studios including: Dneg, Framestore, DisneyAnimation, Illumination, Ghost, MPC, to name a few
You receive: Honest, detailed critique, Personalized pacing, Production-level standards, Continuous demo reel development
The objective is not to complete exercises.
The objective is to reach studio-ready performance quality.
Where Our Students Work
Our graduates work at some of the world’s top VFX and animation studios.
What Our Animators Say
“Attending the SquashnStretch.net course was a fantastic learning experience! I never thought I would get into MPC in two years. Filippo’s reviews are precise and clear, with an expert eye as an animator and real experience as a teacher. The method used at SquashnStretch.net is effective — you learn how to tackle a shot step by step, from references to final polish.”
Alessandro Poli
Framestore, ILM, MPC
Ready to Train at Feature-Film Standards?
Spots are limited. Apply to discuss which phase is right for your level.