The program is designed for ambitious animators who want to start and/or grow a freelance animation business or studio. It’s perfect for animators who already know how to animate (or are willing to build a studio and bring on other animators who know how to animate). If you’re sick of working for someone else, this program is for you. If you’re already working freelance or have a studio, but are frustrated because you don’t have a consistent stream of clients to work with, Animation Accelerator was made for you. If you want to level up your career and life, you’re in the right place.

It’s not for animators who are content with where they are in their lives and don’t want to grow any further. It’s not for you if you enjoy working for someone else as an on-staff employee. If you don’t want to design your own lifestyle and be in control of your own destiny, Animation Accelerator wouldn’t be a good fit. If you think you can figure everything out all on your own and don’t need help from experts and other successful animators to grow your career, we don’t recommend this program.

We’ll be the first ones to let you know if Animation Accelerator is not right for you after reviewing your application and conducting an in-depth interview with you. We have a very limited number of spots for each group of students we bring on and the last thing we want to do is accept you into the program if you’re not yet ready for it. This is why we have a stringent qualification process that currently only approves 3% of applicants who apply. We want to bring on animators who will have the highest chances of success.

Believe it or not, you don’t even need to know how to animate in order to build an animation studio. You just need to know how to find animators to work with and how to manage a business, which is something we certainly cover in great detail. Think about it - does Elon Musk know how to make cars or spacecraft? Certainly not! The world’s best entrepreneurs don’t actually do (or know how to do) the actual technical work the company does. Their expertise lies in building businesses, regardless of what the underlying product or service is.

There are a lot of things we look for to make sure we bring on students who have the highest chances of succeeding as a freelance animator or studio owner. We look for animators who are ambitious, who aren’t content and want to grow, those who are willing to learn and do what it takes to succeed, and animators who want to be in control of their own life and destiny rather than leaving it in the hands of their employers. You must be serious about your animation business and the work you’ll need to put in to get where most animators never dream of getting.

If your application is denied, you may apply at a future date if you feel things have changed that would now make you a better candidate to reapply. We do kindly ask that you wait at least 6 to 12 months before trying again.

Two of our plans are 12 months long (for freelancers), and our third plan is 15 months long (for studio owners). You may think this is long; and we’ll go over this in the next FAQ.

There are a few reasons why our program is this long. For one, this is not just some 12-week online course that you go through and never end up implementing anything you learn, only to end up in the same place you started. This is a business accelerator program where you will be implementing things as you’re learning and have a business coach to be accountable to along the way. Because we all know what happens when we rely on our own self-motivation. It’s tough! So as you go through the modules, you will also have all the help you’ll need to implement your learnings so you can see the tangible results as you go through the program. At the end of 12 to 18 months, you will have a fully operational freelance business or studio. Even a college business degree takes 2-4 years and doesn’t give you anything tangible to walk away with (aside from a certificate). Think of our Animation Accelerator as investing in a franchise for owning your own animation business, not as a course. There’s a lot to learn, and a lot of guidance you’ll need to succeed. And your coach will be here for you the entire time. Spreading out the program across 12 to 15 months also gives you the opportunity to work simultaneously - so you don’t feel stressed out about not having money coming in while you’re going through the accelerator.

Two of our plans have 52 modules (for freelancers), one for each week. The third plan has 64 weekly modules (for studio owners). Don’t worry, each module is very short since there’s no fluff. We give you all the actionable things you need to learn and implement. No theories and unnecessary content like you probably received in college. Only the good stuff!

If you choose our third plan for studio owners, you’ll go through an extra 12 modules that are solely designed for animators who want to start and/or grow an animation studio.

Throughout the 12 or 15 months you’re in the accelerator, you can directly message your business coach and get a video or written response within 24-48 business hours. You’ll never get stuck at any point in the program since you’ll have someone to help you through your entire journey!

One plan doesn’t include coaching calls, one plan gives you 6 coaching calls, and the third plan gives you 12 coaching calls. These calls will be spread out through your time in the program. We will go over your progress, anywhere you feel stuck or uncertain about, and you’ll set goals that you plan to achieve by your next call. The best part of these calls is being accountable to someone who wants you to succeed!

Absolutely! We never want you to be in a position where you can’t pay your bills and don’t feel comfortable going through the accelerator. We actually recommend that you have money coming in so that you don’t have to worry or be stressed and can focus on the program when you’re not working.

The weekly video modules are very short (under an hour), but implementing what you learn is what takes time. You can devote as little or as much time as you want. The more time you can spend on growing your business, the higher your chances and faster you’ll find success. Everyone is in a different place in their lives so there’s no set number you should be devoting to your business. You know what’s best for you and your family. We can only help facilitate and guide you along the way.

An online course is usually more of a do-it-on-your-own type of thing where unfortunately most people go through and never end up implementing anything they learn, only to end up in the same place they started. This is a business accelerator program where you will be implementing things as you’re learning and have a business coach to be accountable to along the way. Because we all know what happens when we rely on our own self-motivation. It’s tough! So as you go through the modules, you will also have all the help you’ll need to implement your learnings so you can see the tangible results as you go through the program. At the end of 12 to 18 months, you will have a fully operational freelance business or studio. Even a business degree takes 2-4 years and doesn’t give you anything tangible to walk away with (aside from a certificate). Think of our Animation Accelerator as investing in a franchise for owning your own animation business, not as a course. There’s a lot to learn, and a lot of guidance you’ll need to succeed. And your coach will be here for you the entire time.

Depending on the plan you choose, our Animation Accelerator program includes 52 weekly business video training modules, checklists and worksheets to help you implement what you learn, unlimited video and email support, a private members-only community, coaching calls with Ben, and studio owner video training modules. Basically everything you need to start and/or grow an animation business.

Both, actually! Depending on what plan you choose. A lot of what you need to learn as a studio owner is covered in the business video training modules, but if you choose the studio owner plan - you’ll also get access to another set of training modules that are solely geared towards studio owners. Your coaching calls will also be tailored towards starting and/or building a studio, rather than doing everything yourself as a freelancer (which is totally fine and what many animators prefer, which is why we can help you with both).

We strictly teach the business side of animation. There is no content geared towards helping you with your animation skills. But guess what? You don’t need to know how to animate to own an animation studio! You just need to know how to find animators to work with and how to manage a business, which is something we certainly cover in great detail. Think about it - does Elon Musk know how to make cars or spacecraft? Certainly not! The world’s best entrepreneurs don’t actually do (or know how to do) the actual technical work the company does. Their expertise lies in building businesses, regardless of what the underlying product or service is.

As with any education or training, our Animation Accelerator is an investment, not a cost. An investment that can change the entire trajectory of your life and financial future. The question should instead be - what does it cost if you DON’T go through this program? With that said, believe it or not - our program costs less than what you would charge to make a video for a client! That’s right! Less than the cost of making one video. Although we do plan to raise tuition costs in the coming months since we no longer will be offering our introductory rates. This is actually another reason why we only accept roughly 3% of applicants who apply. We need to make sure that everyone gets the individual attention they need to succeed.

Yes, we offer a 12-month payment plan option where you can pay in 12 months instead of one lump-sum payment. If you choose this option, there is a small convenience fee already included in the monthly payments.

If you want to one day (whether now or eventually) be a studio owner who doesn’t always do the animation work, the studio owner plan would be the best option. If you never intend on becoming a studio owner and always want to do all of the animation work yourself, either of the freelancer plans would be a good fit. The major difference between the two is that one of them offers coaching calls with Ben and the other doesn’t. If you’re still not sure which plan to choose, please reach out to us and we’ll be more than happy to help you decide.

Yes, we do offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you decide the program is not a good fit for you within the 30-day period, just let us know and we’ll refund your payment. After 30 days, we do not offer any refunds as you are already well into the program.

Yes, we do offer a limited number of scholarships each year. If you’re interested, please reach out to us and we’ll send you more information and steps on how to apply.