This is a course for storytellers.

I started my youtube channel, Ironwave Studios, almost five years ago, not just because I wanted to make little minecraft people move around; I wanted to tell stories... Stories that could be told through animation and filmmaking. I started small, with short and simple videos and eventually I worked up to a fully narrative series, complete with voice acting, world-building, script-writing, the whole deal. So I wanted to share the process I used to make those story-driven animations with everyone! Soon, you'll learn that making films that are not only visually stunning, but also emotional and follow an intriguing narrative puts your creative psyche on a level that no other type of animation can do.


Here are a few examples of my work:

But How Do I Make Narrative Animations?

Films come in all lengths and styles, but there is a tried and true method that I use for every one of my videos, whether its 1 minute long, or an episodic series. I have it down to a 5 Phase Process!

My Filmmaking Process:

Phase 1: Story Creation

Every film starts with an idea or an emotion that I want it to portray. I start with that, then write a script and/or storyboard about it.

Phase 2: Scene Setup

For each scene that will be featured, I set up the environment, lighting, render settings, props, and characters that I need.

Phase 3: Animation

The longest and most arduous part of the process, this is where the characters and cameras move and interact to drive the story forward.

Phase 4: Visual Editing and Effects

Here the film all comes together. I do basic color correcting and splicing, and if needed, some more advanced visual effects.

Phase 5: Sound FX and Music

One of the most fun parts, here I insert the right sound FX and music for each scene. This phase breathes life into your finished film.

Learn more about this process in my tutorial course!