8 weeks of weekly animation
This 8-week challenge was a genuine creative rollercoaster. Inspiration came from everywhere, from the still image in the studio of speaker VAPPEBY, to the sunlight in my apartment, and endless scrolling on Instagram.
The biggest lesson? Navigating the friction between "dream world" concepts and the reality of a deadline. Time is limited, sometimes I just have time to create a Playblast animation.
Process
This challenge was about more than just making nice animation. It was about building discipline. I traded portfolio-perfect details for the ability to ship consistently.
Despite the weeks defined by chaos and self-critique, the biggest takeaway was accepting imperfection. I treated every week as a sandbox, learning that sometimes a preview render is good enough to keep moving forward to the next week.
The reason for choosing 8 weeks was to show discipline, and just showing up and doing something for 8 weeks is impressive when motivation and inspiration are at zero. Each week brought new learning, sharper skills, and increased speed in 3D. I learnt where to take shortcuts, and where things needed more attention.
The first weeks I spent unnecessary time creating my start file, setting it up, fixing the output location, presets, lighting, and so on. However, I quickly realised that I could use my time more effectively. By creating a base file that includes all the elements I need when starting a new project, I save time and focus my skills on the things that make my animations unique.
Outcome
The Routine: Seeds vs. ProductionThe rhythm was simple but demanding: work through the week, deliver by Sunday. Monday through Friday were dedicated to the "small steps in production line": low-pressure sketching, blocking out animation, testing light and material. Then came the “production-weekend”: the heavy lifting of finalizing texturing, keyframing, and hitting that render button. And waiting …
Inspiration & Reality
My sources were as varied as the results. Week 2 was born from a quiet moment in my Malmö apartment, turning static sunlight on a chair into a study of moving light. Week 3, I was scrolling on Instagram, collecting inspiration from the industry heroes Kühl & Han. The result was a specific 2D aesthetic with my own twist on color and interior design. I would say scrolling on Instagram was my main source of inspiration, but also text and DM´s with Mentor Simon Appel.
The Takeaway
I learned that showing the work beats chasing perfection. Be proud of every part of the process.
