Mighty Oak Ed

Learn animation and more from our talented team.

Mighty Oak ED is an educational initiative that offers in-person and online animation classes to the public.

Each workshop is designed and taught by our staff of directors, producers, designers, writers and executives who have created award-winning work for clients like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Adult Swim, HBO, The New York Times, TED Talks and more.

Whether you’re a beginner wanting to learn more about the animation process, or a professional looking to continue your education and hone new skills — Mighty Oak ED has something for everyone.

Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Instagram to get updates on new and upcoming classes throughout the year.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

Stay tuned for upcoming 2025 workshops and follow our Eventbrite for updates!

Come join us at Mighty Oak for a fun-filled event where you can learn how to make adorable tiny polymer clay donuts in a box! Get your hands dirty as you craft these “delicious” mini treats. This event is perfect for anyone who loves miniatures and food. You'll learn how to use polymer clay and various sculpting techniques to achieve the tiniest details. You’ll leave this class with the cutest donuts you’ve ever seen, and even better, they will be hand made by you! Don't miss this unique opportunity to create something sweet and petite!

Your instructor: Victoria Arslani

Victoria Arslani is a talented freelance stop-motion animator and incredible miniaturist. A proud graduate of the School of Visual Arts in 2013, she now inspires students by teaching stop motion there. Victoria has a genuine passion for sharing her expertise with enthusiastic learners, making her classes truly rewarding!

Date: Monday, April 28, 2025 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm EST

RSVP for this workshop here!

All material will be provided by Mighty Oak.

Must be 18+ to sign up.

This virtual workshop offers an introduction and overview of animation production management. Drawing from her experience managing stop-motion productions like SpongeBob and The Cuphead Show, your instructor, Casey Follen, will guide you through the daily responsibilities associated with various production management roles. She will cover key concepts related to team oversight, budget management, and production scheduling. Additionally, the workshop will introduce simple and accessible tools while discussing how the principles of managing a professional animated production can be applied to independent creative projects.

Your instructor: Casey Follen

Casey is a creative producer specializing in stop motion animation, with experience in 2D, 3D, and mixed-media production pipelines. She is also a passionate artist advocate working to create a more inclusive animation industry. Her freelance brand is Catalyst Castle Studios. In addition to her production work, Casey teaches at the College for Creative Studies and the Laguna College of Art and Design. She is a co-founder of Animation Wild Card and co-hosts the Hello Stop Mo podcast.

Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm EST

RSVP for this workshop here!

Must be 18+ to sign up.

Learn to craft a compelling pitch for your graphic novel and get it in front of the right people. Whether you're new to comics or an experienced creator, Ira will provide an overview of the modern comic market to help you find the right home for your story. From there we'll take a look at the anatomy of a good pitch, and review valuable insights into lesser-known aspects of publishing—such as marketing trends, acquisition meetings, and publishing contracts. This class is packed with professional advice, including insights from Ira’s agent and editor!

Your Instructor: Ira Marks

Ira Marcks is an award-winning, New York Times-recommended author and comics educator. His work explores the potential of sequential storytelling and has led an eclectic mix of collaborators, including the Hugo Award-winning magazine, Weird Tales, the European Research Council, and a White House Fellowship Researcher.

Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm EST

RSVP for this workshop here!

Must be 18+ to sign up.

In this workshop, participants will get tools to:

Understand Client Needs: Learn to identify and prioritize client expectations along with the pitch’s specificities to tailor your presentations effectively.
Design Engaging Content: Explore techniques for creating visually appealing and informative slides that hold client attention - Fonts, colors, layouts, and visuals that shine.
Crafting the structure: Discover how to organize your deck to tell a compelling story that aligns with client objectives and to drive your deck to victory!
Organizing the visuals: Gain insights into incorporating the right visuals and references - as I like to say, a good moodboard is worth a thousand words.
Case study: Dive into previous real client decks that won pitches - let’s see what works.
Pitching With Confidence: Because even the best deck won’t work if you don’t deliver it with confidence, we’ll cover some tips to plan your pitches right.
1 hour Q&A: We will have an hour to discuss and answer any question participants may have to refine decks.

Your instructor: Lili Boisrond

Meet Lili Boisrond—animator, art director, graphic designer and client-whisperer! With a background in animation, visual arts, and jazz (yes, jazz), Lili has been working as a freelancer along with turning big ideas into compelling presentations that made clients say yes.

Her experience spans NYC studios, graduating valedictorian from the Gobelins animation school in Paris, and freelancing between Europe and the US. She’s worked with powerhouse clients like Chanel, Google, IKEA, Lyft, New Balance, CBS, Apple TV, Elie Saab, and more—bringing their stories to life through animation, stop motion, illustration, and motion design. But it all starts with a client deck.

Date: Thursday, June 26, 2025 from 5pm to 8pm EST

RSVP for this workshop here!

Must be 18+ to sign up.

This course explores the foundations of sound in animation through practical and theoretical applications, examining how audio and visuals complement one another to reinforce the magic of storytelling. Through a detailed walkthrough of the software and real-time demos, this workshop will examine the basics of audio techniques and how to apply them to animation and film projects. Students will complete this course with an appreciation of the critical function of sound and a familiarity with the tools necessary to execute an auditory and visual story.

Your instructor: Anthony Galante

Anthony Galante is an Emmy-nominated Stop Motion Director and Animator based in New York City. From storyboarding to fabrication, animation to sound design, Anthony has worn many hats in the animation process throughout his decade-long career. With Mighty Oak, he has collaborated with names such as Netflix, Amazon, Adult Swim, TruTV and Nick Jr. as well as Conde Nast, The New York Times, Coca-Cola, Samsung, GE, Etsy, Airbnb, and TED Talks. In the Fall of 2021, Anthony became an adjunct professor at the School of Visual Arts (SVA), teaching one of their required courses, “Sonic Storytelling”, a sound class constructed to remind animation students that “half of a great animation is in the visuals. The other half is in its sound design.”

Date: Thursday August 7th, 2025 from 6:30pm - 9:30pm EST

RSVP for this workshop here!

Must be 18+ to sign up.

This two-session course explores Photoshop’s advanced tools and techniques for illustrators of all levels through the lens of professional retouching studio best practices, providing advanced techniques to streamline their workflows, create more flexible and organized files, and apply high-end finishing touches. The first session (9/9/25) focuses on advanced Photoshop fundamentals, industry techniques, and the strategic use of AI tools where appropriate. The second session (9/16/25) offers personalized feedback, live file adjustments, and tailored guidance to help students refine and elevate their own work.

Basic Photoshop knowledge is recommended but fundamentals will be covered during the class.

Date: Starts Tuesday September 9th, 2025 from 6:30pm - 9:30pm EST

RSVP for this workshop here!

Must be 18+ to sign up.

Want to place your stop-motion puppet into any background? Or extend your scene with multiple layers of extra mountains or buildings? In this Mighty Oak ED workshop, we'll cover the basics on how to plan out, light, photograph, and edit green screen. This hands-on learning experience is the perfect way to add green screening to your skillset. We'll be using seamless paper, C-stands, light stands, a variety of lights, bounce boards, gels, and other common film equipment, as well as Adobe After Effects to edit our scene.

*This course does require some light to medium lifting and active listening. It is important that participants are always aware of the space around them to reduce the risk of accidents and/or injury.

Date: Thursday September 18th, 2025 from 6:30pm - 9:30pm EST

RSVP for this workshop here!

Must be 18+ to sign up.

Your instructor: Anthony Galante

In this hands-on class, students will explore the fundamentals of stop motion animation with a focus on lip syncing using clay mouths. From shaping expressive mouth shapes to timing dialogue with precision, you’ll gain the skills to make your characters speak, emote, and engage. Perfect for beginner animators, this class combines creativity, technique, and storytelling in a fun, supportive environment.

All material will be provided by Mighty Oak.

Date: Thursday October 16th, 2025 from 6:30pm - 9:30pm EST

RSVP for this workshop here!

Must be 18+ to sign up.

Your instructor: Anthony Galante

Join Emily Collins and Michaela Olsen, the founders of Mighty Oak, a women and queer-owned animation studio based in NYC. In this presentation, they’ll take you behind the scenes of their creative journey—sharing how they brought Mighty Oak to life, the magic behind their original animated projects, and their work for clients. Plus, they’ll reveal insider tips and actionable advice on how to launch your own animation career. Whether you're aspiring to animate, create, or simply explore the world of animation, this session is packed with inspiration and practical advice!

Date: Thursday November 6th, 2025 from 6:30pm - 9:30pm EST