After graduating from AIE in 2023, animator Aiden Gaal quickly turned his passion for animation into a professional career. Now working as a Mid-Level Animator at Flying Bark Productions, Aiden recently spoke with current students about his pathway into the industry and the lessons that helped him move from student projects to professional productions.
His message was simple: stay focused, keep learning, make connections, and enjoy the process.
How Can Students Prepare for a Career in Animation?
For Aiden, building a successful animation career started with knowing what he wanted to do early.
While studying at AIE, he explored different areas of production but consistently focused his projects and personal work on animation.
“Knowing what I wanted to do helped shape how I approached the course.”
He encourages students to take advantage of every opportunity to develop their chosen discipline while still understanding how the wider production pipeline works.
What Should Animators Do After Graduation?
Aiden believes learning shouldn’t stop once classes end. After graduating, he completed a professional mentorship with an industry animator, helping him refine his work and gain insight into studio expectations.
“Once you’re not in structured classes anymore, it can be easy to fall out of those learning routines.”
Whether through mentorships, short courses, or personal projects, he recommends finding ways to maintain momentum while pursuing industry opportunities.
What’s the Best Way to Stand Out in the Animation Industry?
One of Aiden’s biggest lessons was being open to opportunities.
His first role at Flying Bark was in crowd animation, creating background performances and supporting shots. By approaching every task as a chance to learn, he progressed to a Junior Animator role before moving into his current Mid-Level Animator position.
“If something came up, I’d say, ‘I can probably do that.’ And if I couldn’t, I’d learn how.”
He also stresses the importance of embracing feedback and using reference throughout the animation process.
“Even when I was doing crowd work, the first step was reference.”
For students building showreels, Aiden believes strong character acting and believable performances can make a real difference when applying for animation roles.
How Important Is Networking for Aspiring Animators?
Aiden credits industry events, including SIGGRAPH, with helping him establish valuable professional connections early in his career.
“If you can get face-to-face time with people, you’re much more memorable than someone applying online.”
However, he believes networking is more than finding job opportunities.
“My opinion on networking has changed over time. It stopped becoming more about finding people with jobs and becoming more about making friends.”
He also encourages students to stay connected with classmates, who often become future colleagues throughout the industry.
What’s the Most Important Piece of Advice for Animation Students?
Above all else, Aiden encourages aspiring animators to keep enjoying the work.
While software and technology continue to evolve, the fundamentals of animation remain the same: creating engaging performances and telling compelling stories.
“It’s making cartoons and movies. It’s fun. It’s silly and fun.”
Graduate Success
Since graduating from AIE in 2023, Aiden has built a successful career at Flying Bark Productions by combining technical skills, continuous learning, and a willingness to embrace new opportunities.
His advice for current students is straightforward:
“Go to events. Meet people. Keep learning. Keep creating. And focus on the things you genuinely love doing.”
For aspiring animators, that combination of passion, persistence, and connection can be the foundation for a rewarding career in the industry.