Sykosan

Meet Sykosan

Animator and Illustrator
Sykosan

About Sykosan

About Sykosan

Mentor of 2D Animation

Sykosan is a London-based 2D animation filmmaker with expertise covering all stages of the animation process including writing and editing, film directing, character design, background and assets design, 2D effects and compositing. His unique style is a modern blend of western and Japanese influences, while his work also shows a strong ability to match a large variety of animation styles.

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Throughout his career, Sykosan has animated for all kinds of media such as advertising, feature films, video games and music videos for diverse clients such as Katy Perry, the BBC, Netflix, Adobe MTV, Samsung, Sony, Adidas, Gucci, and many more.

Sykosan has always been interested in sharing his knowledge and skills through social media and tutorials. Today, at CG Spectrum, Sykosan connects directly with his students like nowhere else.

  

Sykosan's work

Credits include Love, Death & Robots, Cry About it Later (Katy Perry music video), and Teppen, to name a few.

Sykosan Showreel

Q&A with Sykosan

Which city are you currently based in?

London, England

What did your pathway into the industry look like?

I graduated as an architect before deciding that I wanted to try animation. I had created a short animation with a friend during my spare time and then enrolled for a 2-year course in animation film making at La Poudrière in France.

I worked in France for an animation studio as a cleanup artist before shortly moving to London where there were more opportunities. I worked for a while for a TV channel doing mainly basic 3D animations and some programming.

After a few years I decided to go freelance. It gave me more freedom to work for various studios and work on many different projects. I also decided at some point that I would leave 3D aside and become a 2D animator only. I have been a freelancer for many years now and I am happy with this lifestyle.

What has been the best experience of your career so far?
The most satisfying job for me was directing and animating Katy Perry’s music video, Cry About It Later. I was given pretty much complete creative freedom and, despite the tight budget and short deadline, I put a small team together and we did a great job of it. I hope to do more directing jobs in the future.
What’s your advice for animation students?

Always build up your portfolio throughout the years. We always improve and learn new things. It’s worth spending a bit of time creating some personal content to push ourselves and also show the world what we really want to do.

Learn animation from industry pros 

3D Animation Essentials

3D Animation Essentials

12 weeks - 20hrs weekly

Learn 3D animation basics with this fun short course - perfect for beginners! Using Maya software, you'll start with the fundamentals, including the 12 Principles of Animation, character rigs and posing, then animate your first walk cycle!
2D Animator Specialization

2D Animator Specialization

36 weeks - 20hrs weekly

Get ready for more advanced aspects of 2D: creating appealing characters, solid drawings, expressive acting and FX animation. Increase your technical skills, gain confidence in Toon Boom, and finish the course by polishing your portfolio and exploring career options with your mentor.
3D Animation Foundations

3D Animation Foundations

24 weeks - 20hrs weekly

Build on 3D foundations and gain speed and confidence using Maya. Experiment with force and weight, and create a believable fight scene, while picking up critical job skills.

3D Animator Specialization

3D Animator Specialization

36 weeks - 20hrs weekly

Master more complex creature and character animation techniques and create compelling scenes. In your final term you and your mentor focus on portfolio preparation and career development to ensure your work is polished and you graduate job-ready.
2D Animation Essentials

2D Animation Essentials

12 weeks - 20hrs weekly

Learn 2D animation basics from Disney animators! Focusing on hand-drawn animation style, this online animation course covers the 12 Principles of Animation and classic exercises like the bouncing ball, walk cycle, and character take using industry software Toon Boom Harmony.
2D Animation Foundations

2D Animation Foundations

24 weeks - 20hrs weekly

Further your character animation skills by creating more complex scenes for your portfolio. Learn body mechanics and anatomy, Toon Boom shortcuts, and other job skills to speed up your workflow.

3D Animation Foundations

3D Animation Foundations

24 weeks - 20hrs weekly

Build on 3D foundations and gain speed and confidence using Maya. Experiment with force and weight, and create a believable fight scene, while picking up critical job skills.
2D Animation Foundations

2D Animation Foundations

24 weeks - 20hrs weekly

Further your character animation skills by creating more complex scenes for your portfolio. Learn body mechanics and anatomy, Toon Boom shortcuts, and other job skills to speed up your workflow.

Foundations 2D Animation (Anime Style)

Foundations 2D Animation (Anime Style)

36 weeks - 20hrs weekly

Learn the fundamentals of 2D animation using Toon Boom focusing on anime style. Be mentored by Tokyo-based 2D artist Misu Yamaneko, who has worked on popular anime productions like Pokemon Sun & Moon, Vinland Saga, Overlord II, and Bleach Brave Souls.
Bachelor of Digital Art (2D Animation)

Bachelor of Digital Art (2D Animation)

2 weeks - 40hrs weekly

Master the industry tools and techniques to pursue a successful career in 2D animation. Breathe life and personality into 2D characters using Toon Boom Harmony and delve deep into production pipelines and creative workflows.
Diploma of Animation & VFX (2D Animation)

Diploma of Animation & VFX (2D Animation)

0 weeks - 40hrs weekly

Learn the tools and techniques to start your journey as a 2D animator.
Bachelor of Animation & VFX (3D Animation)

Bachelor of Animation & VFX (3D Animation)

2 weeks - 40hrs weekly

Discover how to inject life into digital characters and creatures for film, TV, virtual production, and games. Develop advanced 3D animation skills using Autodesk Maya and build your knowledge in the VFX pipeline and production processes.

Diploma of Animation & VFX (3D Animation)

Diploma of Animation & VFX (3D Animation)

0 weeks - 40hrs weekly

Learn fundamental 3D animation tools and techniques with training from industry pros. Animate simple props and characters in Autodesk Maya and develop an understanding of essential industry concepts, principles, and workflows.
What do you enjoy most about being a CG Spectrum mentor?
I have always enjoyed sharing some of my knowledge and seeing students improve. What I love the most about CG Spectrum is the fact that I can do that and still keep working on animation jobs. It gives me a fulfilling balance in my work life.
How do you stay creative outside of work?
I work mainly as an animator but, on the side I also enjoy illustration, sculpting, photography and Lego. I also have a keen interest in science and scientific news. I have a pet project that I like to go back to now and then and hope to turn into a real animation film some day.
What excites you most about the future of animation?
Animation is an ever growing industry with a bright future. Nowadays we have many tools, genres and styles available so there are plenty of options and opportunities. I particularly like the new trend of animation for grown ups with more mature topics and varied genres. I look forward to seeing this side of animation grow.

See more of Sykosans's work on Artstation.

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