AI Animation Accelerator

Tiny Ghost Studios × BC + AI — an artist-led, AI-powered animation intensive. Studio-quality results, real client workflow, real community.

Build a complete 30–40 second animated short using the AI-powered production pipeline from Tiny Ghost Studios.

Led by Luke Minaker and Mayumi Rollings, this workshop teaches the actual workflow they use on paying client work — the same approach behind their greenlit original IP Blood and Glitter.

Cohort 2 — May–June 2026

Sessions: Monday May 25, Monday June 1, Monday June 8, 2026 — 6:00–9:00 PM PT
Between sessions: 10–16 hours of independent production work
Film Club screening: Thursday June 11, 2026 (Vancouver, in-person) — ~200 industry attendees
Registration deadline: Friday May 22, 2026
Format: Online via Zoom, recordings included
Class size: 20 participants max

Here's what's happening right now

The animation and film industry is changing fast — faster than most of us feel ready for. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve probably noticed the conversation has split into two loud camps: the people who think AI is going to save everything, and the people who think it’s going to ruin everything.

We think both camps are missing something.

At Tiny Ghost Studios, we’ve spent the last two years exploring the space in between — where AI isn’t a replacement for creativity, and it isn’t a shortcut either. Used correctly, it’s a tool that can flip animation from the traditional 80% grind / 20% creative input ratio right around.

We wanted to figure out what it actually looks like to work alongside AI as a creative — not in theory, but in practice. What we’ve built is a real workflow we use on paying client work, and it led us to our own greenlit original IP Blood and Glitter, which has been called “the strongest AI IP from anybody working in this space right now.”

It’s still hard work.

It’s a genuine paradigm shift that puts you in the director’s chair with a team of incredibly capable, wildly chaotic, and sometimes unhinged collaborators. Once you find your footing, it opens up possibilities that simply didn’t exist before.

This workshop is about finding that footing.

What you'll build

One complete 30–40 second animated short from a client brief. Your vision. Portfolio-ready.

Three 3-hour intensive sessions:

Session 1 (May 25): Storytelling and animatic. The 80/20 flip; reading a client brief; story beats for short-form animated work; building animatics as the structural spine; character sheets and visual continuity; toolchain orientation.
Session 2 (June 1): Animation and editing. First-pass animation in the assigned pipeline; iterate against feedback in the private cohort chat; editing, pacing, and sound.
Session 3 (June 8): Studio-style creative review with Luke and Mayumi; animation refinement and continuity fixes; packaging for portfolio and screening; optional pathway into BC + AI Film Club.

Between sessions: 10–16 hours of independent production work — script and animatic locked; character and scene generation; first-pass animation; iteration in the cohort chat.

In this program you’ll learn to:

Harness AI as a creative co-pilot, not a creative replacement.
Build scroll-stopping animations 10–20× faster than traditional methods.
Navigate the shifting animation landscape with an agile, experiment-first mindset.

No slop. No shortcuts. Studio-quality results that reflect your creative vision.

Your instructors

Co-founders of Tiny Ghost Studios, Luke Minaker and Mayumi Rollings bring over 30 years of combined animation experience across film, TV, and games — from indie artistic films to big-budget animated series for major toy brands to award-winning original IP, amassing more than a billion views along the way.

Luke Minaker has been making animated content professionally since he was 17, directing since 21. Multiple awards. Over a billion views across film, television, and games.

Mayumi Rollings is co-founder and CEO of Tiny Ghost Studios, leading the studio’s AI animation practice and the development of original IP including Blood and Glitter.

Now they’re pioneering hybrid AI workflows that honor traditional craft while embracing cutting-edge tools — positioning Tiny Ghost Studios and the BC + AI community at the forefront of the AI animation revolution.

Kris Krüg — Program Lead

Kris Krüg is the public face of BC + AI, the province-wide nonprofit building public-interest infrastructure for AI in British Columbia. Kris shapes the program arc, connects participants into the wider BC + AI community, and runs the Film Club screening that caps the cohort. Reach out at [email protected].

From the last cohort

Cohort 1 ran in March 2026 with 20 participants across Canada, the US, and Europe. Every student who completed the production work left with a portfolio-ready short, and a selection screened at BC + AI Film Club to roughly 200 industry attendees.

What’s included in Cohort 2:

Direct access to Luke and Mayumi during production.
Private cohort chat for peer collaboration.
Optional screening at BC + AI Film Club on June 11 in Vancouver.
Connection to Canada’s most active AI filmmaking community.
Client-focused methodology that mirrors professional workflows.

Ready to join Cohort 2?

May 25, June 1, and June 8, 2026. 20 seats. Registration closes Friday May 22.

Who this is for: Animators navigating the industry shift. Filmmakers exploring AI workflows. Creative professionals who want to see what’s actually possible — not what Twitter thinks is possible.

No AI experience required. Curiosity and commitment to 10–16 hours of work between sessions required.

Investment: $650 CAD for the full program (9 hours instruction, recordings, community access).

BC + AI Members: use code BCAI25 for 25% off. Join here →

Budget an additional ~$50 for AI credits and platform subscription fees during the program.

Questions? Email [email protected], check our FAQs, or contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need animation or AI experience?

No. Curiosity and a willingness to put in 10 to 16 hours of production work between sessions are the only requirements. Working animators and filmmakers tend to move faster through the pipeline, but first-timers have shipped strong shorts in previous cohorts.

What tools will I be using?

The Tiny Ghost pipeline blends a handful of current AI tools for image, motion, voice, and editing, alongside traditional tools you likely already use. We share the exact toolchain and walk through setup in Session 1. Most students spend around 50 CAD on AI credits and short term subscriptions across the program.

What hardware and software do I need?

A reasonably modern laptop or desktop with a stable internet connection, a microphone and camera for Zoom, and access to a web browser. A GPU helps for some tools but is not required. Specific subscription and account setup instructions go out once you register.

Is the client brief real?

The brief is a studio style brief written by Tiny Ghost that mirrors how real client work lands on their desk. You keep full creative ownership of the short you produce.

What if I miss a session?

Every session is recorded and shared with the cohort. Luke and Mayumi are available in the private cohort chat between sessions for feedback and questions, so you can stay on pace even if you miss a live session.

Do I keep the rights to my short?

Yes. You own your work. We may ask permission to feature your short in BC + AI Film Club screenings, on our channels, or in future program marketing, with full credit to you.

Can I show my short at BC + AI Film Club?

Yes. The Film Club screening on June 11 in Vancouver is an optional but strongly encouraged capstone. Roughly 200 industry attendees, including studios, funders, and local press, are usually in the room.

Is this open internationally?

Yes. Sessions are online via Zoom in Pacific time. Students from any country are welcome. The Film Club screening happens in person in Vancouver, and remote students can submit their short for screening even if they cannot attend.

Is there a payment plan or scholarship?

BC + AI members save 25% with code BCAI25. If cost is a barrier, email [email protected] and we will see what we can do. We hold a small number of community seats each cohort.

What is your refund policy?

Full refund up to 7 days before Session 1. After that, we can transfer your seat to a future cohort if you need to step out. Once Session 1 begins, the program is non refundable.

Is the program accessible?

Sessions are recorded and captioned. All written materials, briefs, and feedback are shared in text. If you need specific accommodations, email [email protected] before registering and we will work it out.