A Showreel for Games Studios Will Love
Your showreel is the most important tool you have for breaking into games or taking the next step. Built from 20+ years of reviewing reels and hiring animators at AAA and indie studios: what actually gets you hired, not just what looks good.
19 students enrolled 5 parts · 20 chapters
English
Templates + checklists included
£99 once, lifetime
0.0
Intro
Get hired, not just noticed
Crafting a Showreel for Games That Studios Will Love is a complete system for the one asset that decides your career: how studios actually review reels, what recruiters, leads and directors look for when they press play, and the difference between a good reel and a hireable one.
It walks you through building the reel step by step: structure and length, shot selection and cutting weak work, presentation from audio to breakdown sheets, then applying with confidence, reaching out on LinkedIn and social media without being ignored, and turning the reel into real opportunities.
You also get the toolkit to do it properly: ready-to-use planning sheets, breakdown templates, a printable review checklist, and proven email and LinkedIn outreach templates, all built from real studio workflows.
1.0
Foundations
Why your showreel matters
Why the reel is your most important tool, how studios actually review them, and the difference between a good reel and a hireable one. You learn exactly what recruiters, leads and directors look for when they press play.
- 01Why the Showreel is Your Most Important Tool
- 02How Studios Actually Review Reels
- 03Good Reel vs Hireable Reel
2.0
What Studios Look For
Think like the person hiring
The three key questions every recruiter asks, why less is more, gameplay versus cinematic reels, and what studios expect from juniors, mids and seniors.
- 01The 3 Key Questions Every Recruiter Asks
- 02Quality vs Quantity: Why Less is More
- 03Gameplay vs Cinematic Reels
- 04Expectations for Juniors, Mids, and Seniors
3.0
Building the Reel
Structure, selection, presentation
Building the reel step by step: structure and ideal length, choosing the right pieces and cutting weak work, presentation from audio and backgrounds to breakdown sheets, the common mistakes that kill a reel, and how to stand out from the rest.
- 01Structure & Ideal Length
- 02Choosing the Right Pieces & Cutting Weak Work
- 03Presentation Tips: Audio, Backgrounds, Breakdown Sheets
- 04The Common Mistakes That Kill a Reel
- 05How to Stand Out From the Rest
4.0
Apply + Get Noticed
Outreach that gets replies
The right way to send your reel, application messages that actually get answered, LinkedIn outreach without being ignored, and sharing your work on social media without spamming.
- 01The Right Way to Send Your Reel (email, portfolio links, PDFs)
- 02Writing an Application Message That Gets Replies
- 03LinkedIn Outreach: How to Reach Out Without Being Ignored
- 04Social Media Strategy: Sharing Work Without Spamming
5.0
Next Steps
Turn the reel into opportunities
Following up without being pushy, staying on a studio’s radar with networking done right, keeping your reel updated and future-proof, and the final checklist before you send it anywhere.
- 01Following Up Without Being Pushy
- 02Staying on a Studio’s Radar (networking done right)
- 03Keeping Your Reel Updated & Future-Proof
- 04Final Checklist Before Sending Your Reel Anywhere
What you’ll walk away with
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
01• Understand how studios and recruiters actually review showreels
02• Identify what makes a reel hireable at junior, mid, and senior levels
03• Structure your showreel for clarity, impact, and the right length
04• Choose strong pieces and confidently cut weaker work
05• Avoid common mistakes that instantly hurt your chances
06• Present your work clearly with the right context and breakdowns
07• Apply and share your reel professionally without being ignored
08• Build a sustainable strategy to keep your reel updated and relevant
In the box
Every asset used on screen ships with the course. Nothing else to buy.
| Review checklistPrintable | A printable showreel review checklist so you can score your reel the way studios do before you send it. |
|---|---|
| Planning + breakdown sheetsTemplates | The showreel planning sheet (from zero to final sequence) and a gameplay animation breakdown sheet template, built from real studio workflows. |
| Outreach toolkitTemplates | Proven email and LinkedIn message templates for reaching recruiters and leads with confidence. |
| Hosting guidanceResources | Recommended website and hosting platforms for presenting your reel professionally. |
| RequirementsSoftware | None. The course is software-agnostic: bring your shots, whatever you animate and edit in. |
| AccessDelivery | Stream anytime, learn at your own pace. Lifetime access with all future updates included. |
A note from the instructor
Your showreel is the most important tool you have if you are trying to break into games or take the next step in your career. Over the years I have reviewed a huge number of reels and hired animators at both AAA and indie studios, so I put this course together to share what actually makes a reel stand out.
It is not just about looking good: it is about getting you hired. Everything inside comes from the hiring side of the desk, with all the depth I could never fit into a YouTube video, brought together in one place.
Harvey Newman
Animation Director · Founder of Animworks · Author of How to Thrive in the Games Industry
Credits: DICE · Build A Rocket Boy · Creative Assembly · Crytek · Axis Animation
P.S. If you want my eyes on your reel directly, there’s a mentorship bundle below: a 1-on-1 showreel review with direct, prioritised notes.
Enrollment
One-time payment. Lifetime access, free updates.
The Full Course
All 5 parts and 20 chapters, every template and checklist, the outreach toolkit, lifetime updates.
Popular
from £239course + 1 hour
Book Mentorship
Course + Showreel Review
Everything in the course, plus a 1-on-1 session with Harvey Newman: your reel reviewed shot by shot, session recording included.
Studios and Teams
Multi-seat licensing, private team workshops, invoiced billing.
Curious about my mentorship?
Find out more below.
20+ Years Industry Exp 
The Animation Collective
Harvey Newman
Animation Director & Founder of AnimworksMentorship is the dailies room, opened up. You bring your shots and your goals; we review them 1-on-1 the way studios run dailies: direct notes, clear priorities, and a recording of every session that is yours to keep. Book a single hour for a showreel or shot review, or go week-long or month-long when you want sustained momentum, and bring any question about craft, pipeline or career along with you.
Every mentor in The Animation Collective is a vetted working professional from games and film. Ask any mentor a question free from their profile before you book.
Keep exploring on Animworks
More courses from The Animation Collective.
Common questions
Is this course beginner friendly?
Yes. It works whether you are building your first professional reel or reshaping an existing one to move from junior to mid or senior roles.
What do I need to follow along?
Nothing special. The course is software-agnostic: bring your shots, and the templates and checklists handle the rest.
How long do I keep access?
For life. You pay once, keep the course forever, and all future updates are included free of charge.
What is the refund policy?
We offer a 14 day refund if the course is faulty or significantly not as described, alongside your consumer cancellation rights. Full details are in our Terms of Service.
Can I get feedback on my reel?
Yes. The mentorship bundle adds a 1-on-1 showreel review with Harvey, and any mentor on Animworks can be asked a question free from their profile.
Pay once. Keep it forever.
Enroll for £99£99 · lifetime access · free updates · 19 students enrolled