Foundations Under Production Standards
Animation Fundamentals Course
Mentored by Filippo Dattola — Lead Animator, 12+ years on major feature productions.
Mentorship Phase 1
The first phase in the SquashnStretch.net mentorship path. This animation fundamentals course builds the technical and analytical foundation that everything else depends on.
Through direct 1-on-1 mentorship, you will learn timing, spacing, squash and stretch, and the 12 principles of animation — applied with the precision and intentionality that professional studios expect.
What This Mentorship Phase Covers
What You Will Learn
This animation fundamentals course covers the essential building blocks of all character and creature animation. You will work through timing and spacing, squash and stretch, ease-in and ease-out, line of action, silhouette, arcs, and posing. Every principle is applied through practical exercises with direct mentor feedback — developing your eye and your judgment from the very first session.
Who This Phase Is For
Designed for animators with little or no experience, as well as self-taught animators who want to build a solid professional foundation. If you have been learning on your own and feel stuck, this is where structured, production-level mentorship begins.
What You Will Achieve
By the end of this phase, you will have a solid understanding of the 12 principles of animation and how to apply them in 3D. You will produce your first portfolio-ready exercises and be fully prepared for Phase 2 — Body Mechanics.
Mentorship Phase Details
LIVE Review
Two 1-on-1 live sessions per week with your mentor. All sessions recorded for you to review anytime.
LECTURES
12 recorded video tutorials and PDF resources covering the 12 principles of animation with real production examples.
ASSIGNMENT
10 animation shots with detailed mentor feedback on timing, spacing, posing, and arcs.
SOFTWARE
Autodesk Maya is the primary software.
Students can also use Blender or other 3D packages
LANGUAGE
All sessions and materials are delivered in English or Italian. Choose your preferred language when you enrol
REQUIREMENTS
Stable internet connection, microphone and webcam. No prior animation experience needed for this phase.
DURATION
10 weeks of structured training with a clear progression from basic to advanced principles. Two sessions x week, recorded.
FEE
£899 per phase. Studio-level mentorship with a Lead Animator.
No hidden costs.
Why Choose This Animation Fundamentals Course
This animation fundamentals course is the starting point of the SquashnStretch.net mentorship path. Every session is live and one-on-one with your mentor — a Lead Animator with over a decade of feature-film experience.
You receive direct, personalised feedback on every exercise, developing correct habits and professional judgment from day one.
Students who have completed this animation fundamentals course describe it as the moment their understanding of animation completely changed.
If you are serious about a career in animation, this is where it starts.
Apply for This Phase
Get in touch to enrol in this animation fundamentals course or to find out which phase is right for your level.