Nate Thomas
Nate is a senior animator with a decade of experience in AAA/AA game development and feature animation. Utilising both motion capture and keyframe animation, he has worked on player sandbox, combatant/enemy AI, cinematics, and viewmodel content. Beyond content contribution, he works extensively in the external/co development space, both as an internal and external lead. He is passionate about mentorship and game development education from both a technical and soft skill perspective, resulting in his Youtube channel Animated Animators where you can find a wide variety of animation tips, walkthroughs, and conversations with other developers.
Core Coaching Topics
Animation Drives Communication Animation Drives Communication: establish the discipline network, clarify the fantasy, take ownership. Focus on player experience while keeping an eye on cost.
Animation Drives Communication: establish the discipline network, clarify the fantasy, take ownership. Focus on player experience while keeping an eye on cost.
Animation Review Discuss your goals for a shot and provide feedback and/or direction. Can be motion capture, keyframe, combatant, player, viewmodel, etc.
Discuss your goals for a shot and provide feedback and/or direction. Can be motion capture, keyframe, combatant, player, viewmodel, etc.
Interviews, Resumes and Reels Interviews, Resumes and Reels
Interviews, Resumes and Reels
Meet Nate Thomas
Previously a senior gameplay animator at Bungie working on both Marathon and Destiny 2, Nate has extensive experience in a wide variety of game development animation categories. From cinematics utilizing motion capture to emotes driven by keyframe animation, from 10 story tall bosses to first person weapons, he's animated it. Nate has also lead multiple teams across different studios, both internal and external, and is especially interested in cultivating game developers, not just animators. While at other game studios he has worked on: the Knights of the Old Republic remake, Fortnite, Mortal Kombat 11, Back 4 Blood, Scavengers and Dauntless. His feature work includes Oscar winner The Shape of Water, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Strain, Tau and Godless.Portfolios & Reels
Mentorship Packages Available
One Hour Meeting
Once, for 1 hour. Book the day and time that suits you.
- 1-on-1 individual session
- Showreel review, tips & tricks
- Video recording of each session
One Week-Long Coaching
1h twice over a week (2 hours total). Book the days and times that suit you.
- 1-on-1 individual sessions
- Showreel review, tips & tricks
- Video recording of each session
One Month-Long Coaching
1 hour once a week over a month (4 hours total). Book the days and times that suit you.
- 1-on-1 individual sessions
- Showreel review, tips & tricks
- Video recording of each session
Watch Nate's Interview
Ask Nate a Question
On the fence, or just curious about something? Ask away. Your question goes straight to Nate and the answer lands in your inbox.
Ready to level up?
Book a 1-on-1 session with Nate Thomas today. Take your gameplay animation, rigging, and frame mechanics to professional studio standard.