Building Believable Character Movement
Body Mechanics Animation Course
Mentored by Filippo Dattola — Lead Animator, 12+ years on major feature productions.
Mentorship Phase 2
The second phase in the SquashnStretch mentorship path. This body mechanics animation course develops the physical foundation of all character performance.
Through direct 1-on-1 mentorship, you will learn to create walks, runs, weight shifts, and dynamic physical actions with the control and precision that studio supervisors evaluate when hiring.
What This Mentorship Phase Covers
This body mechanics animation course focuses on believable physical movement. You will work through walk cycles, run cycles, weight shifts, jumps, and momentum-driven actions. Every shot is developed with attention to weight, balance, arcs, and timing — the fundamentals of all character animation built into purposeful, production-quality movement.
Who This Phase Is For
Designed for animators who have completed Mentorship Phase 1 or have equivalent fundamentals. If you understand the 12 principles but need to develop confident, clean character movement, this phase builds that skill through focused repetition and direct mentor critique.
What You Will Achieve
By the end of this phase, you will animate believable walks, runs, and physical actions with professional-level control. Your shots will demonstrate clean mechanics and intentional timing — ready for your demo reel and ready for Mentorship Phase 3 — Advanced Body Mechanics.
Mentorship Phase 2 Details
LIVE Review
Two 1-on-1 live sessions per week with your mentor. All sessions recorded for you to review anytime.
LECTURES
Live and recorded video tutorials and PDF resources, covering character locomotion and physical mechanics
ASSIGNMENT
8 animation shots with detailed mentor feedback on weight, balance, timing, and movement quality..
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 Body Mechanics Animation Course
This body mechanics animation course is where your character animation starts to feel real. Every session is live and one-on-one with your mentor — a Lead Animator who has spent over a decade refining character movement on major feature productions.
The feedback you receive is the same standard applied inside real studios — specific, actionable, and focused on developing your eye for believable motion.
Students who have completed this body mechanics animation course describe it as the moment their character animation started to feel real. If you are serious about creating believable movement, this is the phase that builds it.
Apply for This Phase
Get in touch to apply for this body mechanics animation course or to find out which phase is right for your level.