Ori GellmanVideo game animator

Hello and welcome! My name is Ori Gellman, and I'm a professional video game animator based in Los Angeles, California. I've been working in the games industry since 2012 and have had the privilege of contributing to some of the most recognizable AAA titles, including The Last of Us Part II, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Mortal Kombat: Onslaught, WWE 2K19, Batman: The Telltale Series, and currently am contributing to the upcoming debut title from That's No Moon, Crossfire.I'm passionate about helping aspiring animators break into the gaming industry through professional mentorship and personalized feedback. Whether you're building your first demo reel or refining an existing portfolio, my goal is to help you strengthen your animation, present your work professionally, and increase your chances of getting noticed by recruiters and hiring managers.Together, we'll focus on what studios look for, what separates good work from great work, and how to build a portfolio that gives you the best opportunity to succeed.Scroll down and click the button below to schedule your free 30-minute consultation. I'd love to learn about your goals and help you take the next step toward a career in game animation.

Shipped titles

Testimonials

Ori has been such an incredible mentor and resource!
From shooting reference to presenting my animations in unreal, he really went step by step helping me improve every step of the way. Through his guidance I've become more efficient, organized, and (more importantly) more confident. He's helped me completely change the way I animate for the better!
Ori is so generous with his time, filming tutorial videos to troubleshoot technical challenges, answering questions over slack at all hours of the day, and making sure to slow down and go into detail during our meetings when he sees I haven’t quite grasped a concept. The projects he gives me are personalized to focus on weak points in my reel and are aimed to help me best succeed. It's a collaborative endeavor where he takes into consideration the kind of animation I want to be doing and builds projects around those goals.
I've been challenged, encouraged, and grown so much as an animator with Ori's guidance. Looking back at my reel from a year ago, I feel like I’m looking at a completely different person’s work. Even in the span of a couple months, my growth as an animator has been exponential. When I first started working with Ori, I was all over the place with disorganized graph editors and not much of a game plan. I wish I had worked with him sooner so I could have avoided a lot of bad habits!
If you're trying to find really specific mentorship, one on one guidance catered to your goals, and a way to really take your animation to the next level, I cannot recommend Ori enough! I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to learn from him!
Animation is hard, but it's a lot less intimidating with Ori’s mentorship!- Pierina Caligaris

Reviews and Mentorships

Animation Portfolio Review – $75What you'll get:* A 1-hour one-on-one live zoom session where we'll review your animation reel together.
* Professional feedback on your animation, presentation, and overall portfolio, with practical suggestions for improvement.
* Guidance on preparing your reel for studio applications and what hiring managers typically look for when reviewing submissions.
* A personalized SyncSketch review emailed after our session, containing additional frame-by-frame notes and detailed feedback.
* Plenty of time to ask questions throughout the session, whether they're about animation, demo reels, workflows, or breaking into the game industry.

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(No subscription required. Continue your mentorship only when you're ready)

Animation Mentorship – $150/monthWhat's included:* 1-hour one-on-one live mentorship session each month, personalized around your goals.
* Professional coaching on animation techniques, gameplay animation, cinematic animation, and demo reel development.
* Personalized assignments designed to strengthen the areas that will have the biggest impact on your portfolio.
* A detailed SyncSketch review with frame-by-frame notes after each session.
* A private Slack channel for ongoing questions, feedback, and technical troubleshooting between meetings.
* A recording of every mentorship session so you can revisit the material anytime.
* Unlimited personalized video tutorials and learning resources whenever additional explanation would be helpful.Lifetime Slack Access*Once you join the mentorship program, you'll keep access to your private Slack channel even after your mentorship ends. (See FAQ page for more info).

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Animation portfolio review benefits:
*Receive personalized feedback tailored to your work, career goals, and animation interests.
*Gain honest, constructive feedback in a positive, supportive, and respectful environment.
*Learn practical techniques to strengthen your portfolio and better prepare it for studio applications.
*Understand not just what to improve, but why those changes matter.
*Ask as many questions as you'd like throughout the review.

Animation mentorship benefits:
*No 'set curriculum' or 'grading system.' Lessons/ assignments are based on your current skill level.
*During the given review time I will focus solely on your work, career goals and interests.
*Receive detailed feedback within one to two business days, helping you maintain momentum between lessons.
*Constructive feedback is always provided in a positive and respectful manner.
*We'll build a strong foundation in animation principles before focusing on creating a polished portfolio that's ready for studio applications.
*Learn professional workflows, problem-solving techniques, and production practices used by experienced AAA animators.
*Learn how to create animation that not only looks great, but clearly communicates story, intent, and emotion to the audience.
*There are no deadlines for assignments. Work at a pace that's comfortable for you while still striving for a high standard of quality. (See FAQ page for more info).
*When a concept or technical problem requires additional explanation, I'll create personalized video tutorials specifically for you, so you can revisit the solution whenever you need it.

Thank you for your purchase!
Please select a day and time for your portfolio review

Set up a free 30 minute video call!
Choose a time and day that works for you so we can discuss the best options for your portfolio review.
Looking forward to speaking with you!

Welcome to the Resources page!

Feel free to browse at some of the free tutorials as well ones for purchase!

Tips for how to approach a pose

Overlap animation tutorial

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How does the mentorship/ portfolio review work?
A: Both options are done via live zoom meetings. To schedule a zoom meeting, you are first required to make purchase of either 'Animation Portfolio Review' or 'Animation Mentorship.' After the payment is processed, you will then be asked to book a time and date for your meeting after which point, you will receive an e- mail confirmation as well as the link to the zoom call. It is strongly recommended that you first book a free 30- minute call with me so that we can get to know one another as well as discuss the best option that is most suitable for you.

Q: What is the difference between the Animation Portfolio Review and the Animation Mentorship options?
A: The 'Animation Portfolio Review' option is a full one- hour live zoom call where I discuss your work and provide you with feedback and help answer any questions you may have. The 'Animation Mentorship' option also includes a full one hour zoom call where I give you a full lesson as well as provide you with additional resources on the side such as syncsketch notes, a dedicated slack channel, a video copy of the zoom meeting, personalized video tutorials and more helpful resources. For additional info, please visit the Services page for more details.

Q: Can I schedule more than one free 30- minute call?
A: Unfortunately, no. After we've met and had our initial discussion, then you will be required to make a purchase for the next meeting. However, If you miss your first free 30- minute meeting on our scheduled time and date, you will be required to re- schedule the meeting. If we've met and conducted our initial 30- minute meeting and you have some follow- up questions you can always feel free to e- mail me.

Q: If I don't purchase a session (i.e. mentorship or portfolio review) Can I send you my work via e- mail for critique/ feedback?
A: You can feel free to reach out and send me your work but you will not receive a full in- depth review. To get the most feedback/ advice from me you will need to make a purchase of either the portfolio review or the mentorship options.

Q: Do I need any kind of experience to qualify for the mentorship?
A: All skill levels are welcome. Since every lesson is personalized, beginners receive more foundational guidance while experienced animators receive more advanced critique and portfolio-focused feedback.

Q: If I sign up for the Mentorship, am I required to continue for any certain duration?
A: No, there is 0 obligation as to when or how often you meet with me. You can sign up any time slot that is open/ available.

Q: If I sign up for the Mentorship, will I still be able to contact you through Slack even if I don't sign up for a session?
A: Once you purchase the mentorship option, you will receive a lifetime access to our slack chat where you can communicate with me at any time as well as ask me any questions or concerns you may have. However, for things like requesting reviews, feedback, consultation, you will be required to purchase a session.

Q: If I sign up for the Portfolio review option, can I still receive animation tutoring?
A: Generally yes. This option is more reserved for portfolio one on one reviews and consultation services but if you are seeking mentorship at a lower cost, you can choose this option. However, you will not receive the benefits that I offer in the Mentorship option. For example, you will not have access to my Slack, receive copies of recorded zoom meetings or other additional resources that I offer in the Mentorship program. For additional info, see Services page.

Q: How many assignments will there be in total until we move on to working on the demo reel?
A: It really all depends on the current skill level of the animator. We will cover as many assignments and lessons as necessary until we've reached a point where we feel comfortable enough to start transitioning into working on your reel.

Q: Are there deadlines for assignments?
A: Generally no. However, we will spend no more than 4-6 weeks on any given assignments.

Q: What will I learn in the mentorship?
A: You will learn all the techniques and principles in order to achieve quality in your animation. You will also learn all of the latest tools and tricks that will speed up your workflow and make your overall experience easier and more fun. You'll also learn how to create animation that communicates clear intent, believable performances, and strong storytelling—skills that help your work stand out in a demo reel.

Q: Can I start with a Portfolio Review and upgrade to Mentorship later?
A: Absolutely!

Q: Is the mentorship subscription-based?
A: No. Each mentorship purchase includes one full month of personalized coaching and support. There are no automatic renewals or long-term commitments. If you'd like to continue after your month ends, simply book another month whenever you're ready.

Q: What animation software do you use?
A: Autodesk Maya.

Q: Do I need Unreal Engine experience?
A: No. Maya is the primary software I teach with. When appropriate, I'll also show you how to present your work in Unreal Engine and help you become familiar with the game animation pipeline.

Q: Do you provide a Maya student license?
A: Unfortunately, no. You can visit the Autodesk website for more info on how you can get a Maya Indie license.

Q: What is the cancellation/ refund policy?
A: Unfortunately there are no refunds. However, If you cannot attend the meeting for any reason, then we can re- schedule to a different day and time that is more suitable.

Q: Q: Will you help me prepare for job applications and interviews?
A: Yes. In addition to improving your animation, I'll help you strengthen your demo reel, presentation, and discuss what studios and hiring managers typically look for during the application process.

Q: What is the payment method?
A: Currently all transactions are done through PayPal.