[Course]characteranimator,alexiswanneroy Details
Intro
Class Intro
Character Animator, Alexis Wanneroy
"Take your characters to a whole new level through naturalistic movement & expressions!"
Intent-Driven Storytelling: Bringing Powerful Emotions to Facial Animation
Do you feel like your animations lack emotional depth and expressive clarity? Do you struggle with deciding how your characters should move, react, or express themselves in different situations? In this class, you’ll learn how to bring characters to life with purposeful acting, facial animation, and nuanced gestures that communicate subtext and emotion.
Led by veteran animator Alexis Wanneroy, who brings over 20 years of industry experience, this course goes beyond technical skills. You’ll master a professional animation workflow while refining your ability to animate with intention.
Led by veteran animator Alexis Wanneroy, who brings over 20 years of industry experience, this course goes beyond technical skills. You’ll master a professional animation workflow while refining your ability to animate with intention.
From eye focus and lip-syncing to full-body acting choices, you’ll gain the tools and insights needed to create animations that feel authentic and emotionally compelling. In addition to improving your technique, you’ll also gain hands-on experience with the latest rigs, pickers, and animation workflows to stay ahead of industry trends.
By the end of the course, you’ll not only have a refined technical process but also a deeper understanding of how to craft performances that resonate with audiences, whether you’re animating for feature films, games, or personal projects.
By the end of the course, you’ll not only have a refined technical process but also a deeper understanding of how to craft performances that resonate with audiences, whether you’re animating for feature films, games, or personal projects.
Class Preview
Still Not Sure?
Check Out Alexis' Class Preview!
Chapter 08.
Posing
1. Principles of strong posing
2. Creating dynamic and expressive poses
3. Tips for avoiding stiffness in poses
Class Perks
Special Gift from Alexis Wanneroy
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10+ Motion & Animation References -
10+ Animation Learning Resources -
5+ Links to Paid & Free 3D Rigs
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10+ Links to Maya Animation Tools -
5 Audio & Dialogue Resources -
Picker, Studio Library & Tools
Recommendation
Who should take this class?
Beginners seeking to build foundational animation skills, with a focus on creating more lifelike characters through facial expressions and acting.
Intermediate animators looking to explore the finer details of character performance, and those eager to master the latest industry tools and techniques.
Professionals aiming to refine their emotional expression in animation and enhance their technical workflow, particularly in facial animation.
Character Animator
Alexis Wanneroy's Course Series
Expert Character Animator Alexis Wanneroy's Portfolio
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How to Train Your Dragon -
Kung Fu Panda
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Arcane -
Bilby
Why Take This Class?
Animation isn’t just about movement—it’s about storytelling. Every pose, facial expression, and gesture should serve a purpose, conveying emotion and intent. This class is designed for animators of all levels who want to strengthen their acting skills and bring more depth to their characters.
You’ll explore how to capture the emotional weight of a scene through facial expressions and body language, ensuring performances feel natural and believable. Instead of focusing solely on technical animation principles, you’ll learn to think in terms of subtext and character motivation, refining your ability to animate with purpose. The course also provides an in-depth look at efficient workflows, incorporating the latest industry tools and techniques. With real-world insights from an experienced professional, you’ll gain a practical understanding of how to approach animation at a studio level.
Whether you're an aspiring animator or a seasoned professional, this class will help you develop an animator’s mindset and make intentional creative choices that enhance storytelling.
9 Class Exercises
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Creating Key Poses by Expression -
Animating a Character's Eyes -
Creating 12 Lipsync Poses
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Animating Body Movements -
Creating the Storytelling Pose -
Blocking Out a Simple Acting Shot
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Converting a Blocking Animation -
Finalizing a Facial Performance Shot -
Animating a Head Turn
Final Product Examples
1 Acting Shot
*Shot done by Viviane Tang
Instructor
Character Animator
Alexis Wanneroy
Alexis Wanneroy is an animation supervisor at Fortiche Productions with a passion for mentoring and sharing his knowledge. Over the years, he’s had the privilege of working on incredible projects like Arcane, How to Train Your Dragon, and Kung Fu Panda. His specialty lies in dynamic body mechanics and naturalistic, acting-driven animation.
In this class, Alexis is excited to share the insights he’s gained from working on these iconic projects. Together, students will dive deep into the art of acting and facial animation, learning the mechanics of facial expressions, eye focus, and lip sync, while also refining their acting shots through blocking, polishing, and facial animation techniques. He’ll show how to use references effectively and how to craft expressive characters that convey emotion in every frame.
Character Animator,
Alexis Wanneroy
[Current]
Supervisor of Animation at Fortiche Productions
[Previous]
Supervisor of Animation at DreamWorks Animation
Projects, Press & Conferences
Projects:
- Arcane, Seasons 1 & 2 (2021, 2024)
- Rise of the Guardians (2012)
- How to Train Your Dragon (2010, 2019)
- Kung Fu Panda (2008, 2016)
- Flushed Away (2006)
Press:
- Animation World Network: “Unveiling Arcane: A Conversation with Pascal Charrue and Alexis Wanneroy” (2025)
- Agora.Community: “Interview with Arcane Animation Lead | Alexis Wanneroy” (2022)
- SyncSketch: “Arcane: Fortiche x Riot Blow Critics Away with Masterpiece Animation” (2021)
- iAnimate: “Interview: Arcane Head of Character Animation – Alexis Wanneroy” (2021)
Conferences:
- View Conference (scheduled for October 2025)
Highlights
Class Highlights
Animating with Precision & Purpose
Students will develop the ability to create lifelike, emotionally rich facial expressions, mastering lip-sync, eye focus, and subtle movements that enhance character performance.
Optimizing the Animation Workflow
By learning the latest tools, rigs, and animation workflow, students will optimize their process for quicker, more polished results while maintaining high-quality animation.
Acting Through Animation
Students will gain a deep understanding of animating with intent and subtext, bringing characters to life by conveying complex emotions and motivations through movement and expression.
Class Details
You'll Learn
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Animation Workflow OverviewAn overview of the latest tools, rigs, and animation techniques. Students will learn how to build a streamlined workflow to ensure efficient, high-quality animation production. -
Mastering Facial AnimationFocusing on the mechanics of facial expressions, students will explore how to animate facial features, lip-sync, and eye movements to create realistic and compelling character emotions. -
Acting and Subtext in AnimationStudents will learn to animate with intention and subtext, focusing on how to convey emotion, motivation, and character development through acting and movement.
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Pose Library and Use of ReferencesStudents will discover how to build a robust pose library and use references effectively to inspire and guide animation choices, improving character believability and consistency. -
Animation Blocking to PolishingCovering the fundamentals of blocking animation, students will progress to spline and then polish their shots to bring out details and add depth, ensuring each movement is clear and precise. -
Building a Career: Demo ReelsStudents will learn the importance of curating a demo reel that showcases their animation skills and creativity, along with practical tips for becoming a successful animator in the industry.
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Interview with
Character Animator, Alexis Wanneroy
Question.01
What led you to choose this theme or topic?
This theme came naturally to me because of my deep passion for acting and character performance in animation. Throughout my career, I’ve always been drawn to creating expressive characters that connect with audiences on an emotional level. Specializing in facial animation allows me to focus on the subtleties that make a character truly come alive—expressions, eyes, and body language. Sharing this knowledge and helping others bring authenticity to their own characters feels like a natural extension of what I love most about animation.
Question.02
What makes your class different from other classes?
My class stands out because it dives deeply into the workflow, leveraging the latest tools, rigs, and techniques. Instead of focusing solely on animation principles, I emphasize thinking about animation through subtext and intent—adding depth and authenticity to the performance. It's about understanding the "why" behind a character's actions and emotions, allowing for animations that feel truly alive and meaningful.
Question.03
Do you have any advice for your students?
My advice would be to always focus on the "why" behind every movement or action your character makes. Whether you're a casual learner or an aspiring professional, understanding the intent and subtext of a scene is key to creating believable, compelling animation.
Study real life—observe how people express emotions through subtle gestures and timing. Don’t just replicate movement; aim to tell a story with every pose and expression.
Lastly, be patient with yourself. Animation is a craft that takes time to master, so embrace the learning process, stay curious, and never stop experimenting!
Study real life—observe how people express emotions through subtle gestures and timing. Don’t just replicate movement; aim to tell a story with every pose and expression.
Lastly, be patient with yourself. Animation is a craft that takes time to master, so embrace the learning process, stay curious, and never stop experimenting!
Required Programs
This course will be taught using Maya. Please purchase and install this program in advance, as it will not be provided with the class.
For the best learning experience, students are also encouraged to purchase Ramon Arango's Mars & Apollo character rigs.
