[Course]3dcharacteranimator.eresantos Details
Intro
Class Intro
3D Character Animator, Ere Santos
"With confidence, we'll break down multi-character scenes into simple, manageable steps."
Staging Your Performance: Crafting the Connections
Creating animation scenes with multiple characters can feel intimidating, but once you understand the process, it becomes much more approachable. In this class, Ere Santos, a seasoned 3D character animator with credits on Moana 2, Ron's Gone Wrong, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and more, will guide you through every step of crafting dynamic, believable character interactions. From planning to polish, you’ll learn how to break down complex scenes into manageable parts and streamline your approach with confidence.
You’ll explore each phase of bringing a scene to life—from camera setup and posing to establishing fluid, connected movement between characters. Along the way, Ere shares essential tools, practical techniques, and workflow tips developed over years at top-tier studios like Disney and Sony Pictures to simplify even the most challenging shots. The goal is not just to teach animation mechanics, but to help you build a mindset that makes large scenes feel less daunting and more achievable. By the end of the course, you’ll be equipped to create high-quality, multi-character animation with clarity, creativity, and self-assurance.
Class Preview
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Check Out Ere's Class Preview!
Chapter 15.
Refining Your Lip-Sync
1. Guiding the audience's eye 2. Finding greater appeal
Class Perks
Get These Coloso Exclusives
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Dialogue Breakdown Sheet -
Picker & Studio Library -
Look Rig Bundle Discount Code
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Links to Free & Paid Rigs -
Animbot Discount Code -
[Ramon Arango] Rig Discount Code
Recommendation
Who should take this class?
Animation Students
Build confidence as you tackle your first multi-character scenes and learn how to simplify your workflow from the start.
Intermediate Animators
Expand your skillset with practical techniques, clear guidance, and valuable reference material to support your growth.
Industry Professionals
Refine your approach and sharpen key skills to unlock new creative and professional opportunities.
Expert 3D Character Animator Ere Santos's Portfolio
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Hotel Transylvania -
Moana 2 -
Ron's Gone Wrong
Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse
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Spirit Untamed -
SparkShorts -
Personal Work
Why Take This Class?
"The greatest art of animation lies in convincing an audience that your character is thinking, breathing, and feeling. I fell in love with animation because I was captivated by the magic of performance."
This class is where Ere Santos shares everything he’s learned throughout his journey as a professional 3D character animator. Every lesson is packed with practical tips, industry insights, and time-saving shortcuts that have helped him succeed, and now, they’re here to help you. But this isn’t just a technical walkthrough; it’s a class designed to show you how to animate effectively, and how to do it with confidence.
You’ll learn how to take a simple idea and develop it into a high-quality animation scene with a strong narrative foundation. From deciding your shot count and positioning your characters, to posing, pacing, and ensuring harmony in movement—every step is covered with clarity and intention. If you’re ready to elevate your animation skills and finally bring multi-character scenes to life without the overwhelm, this class is your next big step.
12 Class Exercises
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Shoot Reference -
Dialogue Breakdown -
Shot Count Optimization -
Scene Framing
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Character Setup -
Reference Analysis -
Key Posing -
Blocking Phonemes
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Polishing the Body -
Polishing the Face -
Final Polishing -
Missing Pieces
Final Product Example
1 Multi-Character Acting Shot
Instructor
3D Character Animator
Ere Santos
Ere Santos is a self-taught animator whose global career spans iconic studios such as Pixar, DNEG, Jellyfish, and MPC. Currently an Animation Supervisor at Walt Disney Animation Studios, he recently completed work on Disney’s highly anticipated musical Moana 2. With eight years of professional experience in feature film animation, Ere’s journey began long before his industry success, teaching himself animation while studying mathematics and computer science at Trinity Western University in Vancouver.
His passion for film, computers, and performance fueled his growth, and after years of dedication, Ere earned an internship at Pixar, where he refined his skills and began shaping his career as a character animator. Today, he continues to push the boundaries of animation, bringing life and storytelling to both big and small screens with every project.
3D Character Animator,
Ere Santos
[Current]
- Animation Supervisor at Walt Disney Animation Studios
[Previous]
- Senior Animator at Sony Pictures Imageworks
- Senior Animator at Cinesite
- Senior Animator at Jellyfish Pictures
Projects, Press
& Engagements
Projects:
- Moana 2 (2024)
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
- Hotel Transylvania (2018, 2021)
- The Addams Family 2 (2021)
- Ron's Gone Wrong (2021)
Press:
- BBC: “When Working from Home Is Much More Than Emailing”
- 80LV: “Across the Spider-Verse Animators Show How They Work with References”
- Cartoon Brew: “How an Animator Made a Challenging Shot Look Easy”
Engagements:
- Annie Awards Judge (2x)
- TEDx HEC Montréal – Speaker
- SINFO 32 – Keynote Speaker
Highlights
Class Highlights
Eye for Appeal
The most fluid and naturalistic animation means very little without the key principles of animation—appeal. We will go over the important elements of an appealing character focusing on both the facial and body posing.
Thinking Like a Pro
We will go over the tools and practices that industry professionals use to create 3D animation at the highest level. This course is filled with workflow tips and tricks to help speed up your workflow and simplify your process.
Confidence in Complex Scenes
One of the most important traits of a successful animator is their confidence when approaching challenging tasks. We will discuss how to break down complex assignments and simplify them.
Class Details
You'll Learn
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Idea DevelopmentLearn how to craft standout ideas by avoiding obvious choices and using clichés in purposeful ways to strengthen your scenes. You’ll explore practical strategies to think beyond the usual and create concepts that capture the viewer's attention. -
Character PerformanceCreate scenes you are truly proud of by focusing on believable acting, clear staging, and motion that draws viewers in. This section emphasizes emotional truth and how to convey it convincingly through your character’s purposeful movements. -
Reference AnalysisBreak down performances and references to uncover what makes them truly engaging and how to apply those insights to your work. Developing a keen eye for detail will help you understand subtle nuances that elevate your animation.
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Workflow OptimizationDiscover industry tips and tricks to optimize your scene setup, helping you work more productively and avoid common roadblocks. These techniques will allow you to focus on creativity while keeping your process efficient and smooth. -
Staging & CompositionLearn how to compose your shots effectively to guide the audience’s eye exactly where you want it. You’ll study how strong staging enhances storytelling clarity and keeps viewers emotionally connected to the scene. -
Emphasis on AppealDive into the rules of appeal and how they boost the believability and overall interest of your scenes. Understanding these principles will help you create animation that is not only believable but also visually captivating and memorable.
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Interview with
3D Character Animator, Ere Santos
Question.01
What led you to choose this topic or theme?
Animating a scene with a single character is difficult enough, but working with multiple characters is an incredible juggling act. I wanted to help demystify the process and share my perspective on how to manage such a daunting task. I am a firm believer that the simpler the idea and the more streamlined the execution, the stronger the result will be.
Question.02
What are some essential skills or "must-have" tools in this industry, and why?
First and foremost, the three most important tools in this industry are patience, perseverance, and humility. Learning anything new is tough, and mastering a skill takes immense patience, especially because you’ll never truly master it. Believing you’ve fully achieved mastery is often what reveals how much you still have to learn, and that’s where humility comes in. These three qualities are deeply connected, and it’s essential to approach every new task, scene, or job with all of them in mind.
Question.03
Do you have any advice for your students, ranging from casual learners to aspiring professionals?
Whether you're a casual learner, growing student, or industry professional, the most important piece of advice is to be observant. Observation is at the core of any artform. A master observer is a master artist. As you develop your skills as an observer, you’ll start to form opinions about what you’re observing. And as those opinions take shape, you may find yourself wanting to express them. That’s your voice.
Going through your day by observing the world around you, noticing how it makes you react, and asking yourself questions about it is essential. How did you feel about a piece of news you read? What did it feel like to taste food you really enjoy? What’s interesting about the way someone is moving? These are the kinds of observant questions that can help shape and refine your artistic voice.
Going through your day by observing the world around you, noticing how it makes you react, and asking yourself questions about it is essential. How did you feel about a piece of news you read? What did it feel like to taste food you really enjoy? What’s interesting about the way someone is moving? These are the kinds of observant questions that can help shape and refine your artistic voice.
Required Programs
This course will use Autodesk Maya (2020+ recommended) with Animbot. Please purchase and install these program(s), as they will not be provided with the class.
For the best learning experience, students are also encouraged to purchase Ramon Arango's Artemis & Apollo - rig bundle. An exclusive discount code will be provided to all enrolled students as a class perk.
