# TL;DR
- What it is: Online character animation specialisation school, mentor-led, weekly critique.
- Who it is for: Learners aiming at feature-film or TV character animation.
- Who should look elsewhere: Motion graphics, FX, environment, or games art learners.
- Current price band: £7,200 for the character animation path.
- Our alternative pick: CGMA if you want single courses; Escape Studios if you can relocate to London.
Recommended for character animation Verified 2026-01
What Animation Mentor is.
Animation Mentor is an online school launched in 2005, focused entirely on character animation for feature film, TV, and games. It is the school for learners who want to animate performances, not model, not light, not composite. Every mentor is a working or recently-working feature animator (Pixar, DreamWorks, ILM, Weta, Framestore, Aardman).
Structure is scaffolded: six 12-week workshops across 18 months. Each workshop has weekly assignments, personal video critique, and a live Q&A. The final workshop produces a portfolio reel targeted at studio applications.
Programme reviewed.
| Programme | Duration | Price | Career target | Our verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Character Animation path | 18 months | £7,200 | Feature or TV animator | Recommended |
| Character Animation for Games | 12 months | £5,400 | Games animator | Recommended |
| Single workshop (Basics of Animation) | 12 weeks | £1,600 | Trial before the full path | Recommended |
Curriculum honesty check.
Animation Mentor teaches performance craft. Weight, spacing, arcs, appeal, silhouette, acting choice. The software used is Maya, which matches feature studios but not indie or motion graphics work. Learners come out able to animate a character to feature-film standard, and unable to model, rig, light, or composite.
That specialisation is the point. A UK learner aiming at Aardman, Framestore, Passion Pictures, or Blue Zoo will get exactly what they need. A UK learner aiming at motion graphics, games environments, or freelance generalist work will not.
Price transparency.
£7,200 total for the full character path, paid across six workshops at roughly £1,600 each. Payment plans exist. USD conversion applies (roughly $9,000 total).
Alternatives to Animation Mentor.
- CGMA: Cheaper per course but no character-specific pathway.
- Escape Studios Animation Diploma: London in-person, £11,500, broader curriculum.
- CG Spectrum Animation: Part-time online, £4,800 to £6,400, broader than character alone.