Workshop meets Saturdays from 12pm to 3pm PST, for 10 sessions. Starting February 13th, 2027 - Ending April 17th, 2027.
Anim 12 – Michal Makarewicz Mentorship (Open Project) Workshop Winter 2027
Event Description
Enrollment For This Workshop Closes on February 11th, 2027.
Workshop Runs February 13th through April 17th.
Meeting Time: Saturdays, 12pm – 3pm PT.
Mentorship Workshop with Michal MakarewiczYour animation. Your goals. Personalized mentorship to help you reach the next level.The Mentorship Workshop is an intimate class limited to just 6 students, designed to focus on YOU and your individual needs as an animator.Each week, you’ll receive 30 minutes of dedicated, personalized time with Michal, along with the opportunity to submit animation work throughout the week and receive additional feedback and video notes when applicable.
How you use your time is entirely up to you!Whether you’re looking to strengthen your demo reel, improve existing shots, or develop new ideas, Michal will work with you to identify your strengths, pinpoint areas for improvement, and help you make meaningful progress.
Get to Know Your Instructor
Michal Makarewicz is a multiple award-winning former Pixar veteran, with 20+ years of experience. During his 20 years at Pixar, he held various roles, including Fixer, Animator, Directing Animator, Supervising Animator, Director (Disney+), and Intern Training Lead.
He contributed to some of Pixar’s most beloved films, including Toy Story 3 & 4, The Incredibles 1 & 2, Finding Dory, Brave, Cars 1 & 2, WALL-E, Up, Soul, and Ratatouille, among many others.
Beyond animation, Michal played a key role in Pixar’s educational initiatives, leading the studio’s internship program and employee training series. He also had the honor of mentoring under Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull.
Michal’s work has earned him multiple accolades, including two Annie Awards (Soul, Ratatouille), as well as nominations for a VES Award (Incredibles 2) and a Reuben Award (Soul). He was also honored with a scholarship in his name at Vancouver Film School.
After Pixar, Michal became Head of Studio Animation at SPIRE Animation Studios before joining Skydance Animation as a Supervising Animator.
Michal is the Founder of:
-The Animation Collaborative – A school dedicated to teaching high-level feature animation, story, and character design, led by some of the industry’s top artists.
-ProRigs – A professional-grade 3D rig library with 40+ characters for students and professionals, available for both training and commercial use.
In addition to his studio work, Michal teaches Animation Masterclasses worldwide, partnering with schools and companies.
What Can You Work On?
- Demo Reel & Portfolio Reviews: Identify your strongest work, areas for improvement, and what your reel needs to stand out.
- Shot Development: Brainstorm new shot ideas, refine your concepts, and develop animation that showcases your skills.
- Animation Polish: Take existing shots to the next level with focused feedback on performance, mechanics, and the details that make animation shine.
- Live Demonstrations: Request personalized demos covering acting, body mechanics, lip sync, facial animation, or other techniques you’d like to explore.
- Layered Workflow & Efficiency: Learn techniques to improve your animation process, work more efficiently, and achieve better results.
- Career & Skill Development: Set realistic goals, understand where you are in your development, and identify the next steps to grow as an animator.
What You’ll Receive
- 30 minutes of personalized mentorship with Michal every week
- A small-group environment limited to 6 students
- Ongoing opportunities to submit work for feedback between sessions
- Additional video notes when applicable
- Guidance tailored to your individual goals, skills, and animation projects
Curriculum: Michal Makarewicz Mentorship – Open Project
- Customized Curriculum to meet the needs of the Mentorship Group.
Ticket Options
Attendee Information :
Age Confirmation*
Frequently asked questions
Workshop Schedule
How Much Does It Cost?
Tuition for this course is $1,600.00, which includes a $200.00 non-refundable registration fee.
Deposits & Payment Plan
We offer the option to register and pay your deposit, and set up a payment plan. To Register for a course and pay the deposit, go here: https://animationcollaborative.com/workshop-registration/
For information on how to make a payment for a Payment Plan, go here: https://animationcollaborative.com/make-a-payment/
You can break your tuition into four easy payments with a Payment Plan. Here are the details of the payment plan. Payment 1: $200, deposit due with registration. Payment 2: $466.67 due on the Monday of the 1st week of the Session. Payment 3: $466.67 due on the Monday of the 4th week of the Session. Payment 4: $466.66 due on the Monday of the 7th week of the Session.
*Note: payments are not automatically scheduled. You must schedule them individually.
Note: Animation Collaborative accepts Paypal and Checks. To pay by check, just send us an email at with the information below, and mail your check by priority mail, or expedited shipping with tracking to: Animation Collaborative PO BOX 5261 Walnut Creek CA 94596
Information to Include in your email is as follows: Tell us you are interested in registering and are sending a check (for Deposit, Payment Plan, or full Tuition). Please provide the Student's Name, Email, Workshop Selection and Link to your portfolio, or samples of your work. Thanks!
