Houdini Taster Evening Tonight 27 January 2026

We're hosting a Houdini Taster at Escape Studios today Tuesday 27th January at 5.30pm. 

There's still time to sign up and find out more about one of the fastest-growing areas of software expertise in the world of VFX.

SideFX Houdini is a digital tool that allows users to create FX work such as smoke, fire and water.  Come along tonight at 5.30pm to find out more.

Houdini Evening Class Returns 23 June 2026

Houdini Evening Class Starts 21 April 2026

Our next Evening Class in SideFX Houdini starts again on 23 June 2026. 

SideFX Houdini is the leading software for the creation of digital FX, such as smoke, fire, water and - in Houdini 20 - clouds and feathers.  

Escape Studios is a Houdini Certified School.   This evening class is taught by Houdini expert and industry veteran Mark Spevick. 

"Houdini Indie" License for Freelancers

Houdini Indie license - just $299 per annum

Software developers sidefx, makers of Houdini, offer a "Houdini Indie" license for independent film-makers looking to create industry-standard FX work on a modest budget.  This is great news for Escapees looking to take on small freelance gigs, but without studio-level financial resources. 

Escape Studios Houdini Certified School 2025

Escape Studios is proud to announce that SideFX Houdini have confirmed Escape Studios as an approved Houdini Certified School for 2025.  

Houdini is a 3D animation software application developed by SideFX,  and is widely used in the VFX industry for procedural animation such as smoke, fire, water and other effects. 

Being a Houdini Certified School means a deepening relationship with SideFX, an ever-closer partnership in which our students benefit from being taught by expert tutors and exclusive access to Houdini technology, webinars and presentations.  

Escape Studios is also an Unreal Engine Authorised Training Centre (ATC). 

Houdini Evening Class Returns on 29 April 2025

Houdini Evening Class Starts 5 March 2025

Our next Evening Class in SideFX Houdini starts again on 29 April 2025. 

SideFX Houdini is the leading software for the creation of digital FX, such as smoke, fire, water and - in Houdini 20 - clouds and feathers.  

Escape Studios is a Houdini Certified School.   This evening class is taught by Houdini expert and industry veteran Mark Spevick. 

FX TD Riccardo Zanarini Joins Escape Studios

Riccardo Zanarini

We're extending a warm welcome to vfx artist Riccardo Zanarini who is joining Escalpe Studios to teach Houdini to our third year vfx students. 

Riccardo Zanarini is an Escapee and an experienced FX TD, specialising in Houdini, with credits on many projects including: Me Time (Netflix), Fate: The WinX Saga (Netflix),  Good Omens 2 (Prime video), MEG 2: The Trench and Genie.  

Jake Thompson VFX Artist at Time-Based Arts

Escapee Jake Thompson

Many congratulations to Escapee Jake Thompson who is working as a VFX artist at London VFX house Time Based Arts.

Jake took our MA in 3D VFX at Escape Studios, and graduated with a distinction. He did excellent work at Escape Studios, especially in Houdini, contributing to our official Houdini showreel. 

Jake graduated from Escape studios with a Distinction in 3D VFX.  He soon found work at London VFX house Time Based Arts.

Houdini Evening Class is Back on 24 Sept 2024

VFX work in Houdini created at Escape Studios

Our next Evening Class in Houdini starts again on 24 September 2024. 

SideFX Houdini is the leading software for the creation of digital FX, such as smoke, fire, water and - in Houdini 20 - clouds and feathers.  

Escape Studios is a Houdini Certified School.

New Houdini Tutorial from Mark Spevick

How to Simulate a Small Fountain | Introduction from SideFX Houdini on Vimeo.

Escape Studios' Houdini tutor Mark Spevick has created a new tutorial in Houdini, working with Houdini creators SideFX.   In this tutorial Mark shows students how to break down a flip simulation into smaller parts to create a simulation - with limited resources.  Mark also look at wedges tests and the new whitewater tools for Houdini 20, to simulate a small fountain in Houdini.  You can find the free tutorial here at the SideFX website:  https://www.sidefx.com/tutorials/how-to-simulate-a-small-fountain/

Escape Studios Houdini Reel

Above is the latest Houdini Reel from Escape Studios, a selection of the very best work done by our students over the past year.  SideFX Houdini is the leading software for the creation of digital FX, such as smoke, fire, water and - in Houdini 20 - clouds and feathers.  SideFX are one of our key industry partners, and contributed to the development of this course to make it as industry-relevant as possible.  Our next evening class in Houdini starts on 9 January 2024. 

Using Houdini to Generate an Animation Path

 

In this video tutorial and blog post, Escape Studios tutor Simon Browne explains how to use Houdini to generate an animation path.  One common computer animation technique is to use a path to control the motion of a subject, commonly a vehicle.  Many animators may not know that there is a tool in Houdini that can generate an animation path automatically from features and attributes present in the scene environment.  To find out more about Houdini, follow this link to the Houdini tutorials at our Vimeo Tutorial Channel.

Houdini Evening Class Returns 9 January 2024

Student Work Created in Houdini 

Our next Evening Class in Houdini starts again on 9 January 2024. SideFX Houdini is the leading software for the creation of digital FX, such as smoke, fire, water and - in Houdini 20 - clouds and feathers.  

SideFX are one of our key industry partners, and contributed to the development of this course to make it as industry-relevant as possible.  

Escape Studios is a Houdini Certified School.

Jellyfish TDs Attend Escape Solaris Workshop

Jellyfish TDs visit Escape Studios

A group of Jellyfish Pictures TDs and Developers - Cameron Bourne, Diana Pelino, Nikhil Shankar-Noble, Ryan Fuller, Elif Su Ulasoglu, Enno Schluender - and Escapee Raphael Kennedy - had a fantastic start to the week, attending the SideFX Software Solaris Workshop at Escape Studios with a deep-dive into Houdini, Karma and USD.  

All Jellyfish shows are now using Houdini and Solaris.

Houdini Tutor Simon Browne "Escapes To The Cape"

Houdini Tutor Simon Browne "Escapes To The Cape"

Escape Studios' Houdini tutor Simon Browne was in South Africa recently, at The Cape Town International Animation Festivaol, representing Escape Studios with an in-person "taster" tutorial in Houdini.

Houdini is a software package which is increasingly dominant in creating physics-based VFX such as fire, smoke and water. 

Meet The Houdini Tutors at Escape Studios

Houdini Team: Simon, Dan & Mark

Meet the Houdini Team at Escape Studios - Head of Industry Training Mark Spevick and veteran VFX artist Simon Browne teach Houdini to our VFX students at Escape Studios. 

SideFX Houdini is an increasingly useful digital tool that allows users to create FX work such as smoke, fire and water with much less difficulty than with traditional software packages.

Simon Browne to Teach Houdini at Escape Studios

Simon Browne Teaches Houdini

Escape Studios welcomes veteran VFX artist Simon Browne in early January 2023 to Teach Houdini to our second year undergraduate VFX students, as part of their Specialism Module CR5001. 

Simon Browne has worked in TV, advertising and corporate media. He specialises in simulation-based animation,  but he is also an experienced 3D animator with over 20 years of experience.

Simon has experience with Matchmove, Coding, and is skilled in Maya, Houdini, 3DSMax, Redshift, After Effects and Unity. 

Houdini Tutorials at Our Vimeo Channel

Escape Studios Vimeo Tutorial Channel supports our students with online resources for their studies, including an extensive playlist in Houdini.

The Vimeo Tutorial Channel is a hub for our animation and VFX video tutorials, making it easy for our students to find tutorials to support their classroom studies.  

Free Houdini Taster Day 27 June at 5pm

We're hosting a free Houdini taster day today, Monday 27th June, at 5pm.

There's still time to sign up and find out more about one of the fastest-growing areas of software expertise in the world of VFX.

SideFX Houdini is an increasingly useful digital tool that allows users to create FX work such as smoke, fire and water with much less difficulty than with traditional software packages.

Come along tonight at 5pm to find out more.

Free Houdini Tutorials from Mark Spevick

Free Houdini tutorials from Mark Spevick

Mark Spevick, our Head of Industry Training (and in-house Houdini expert) has created a series of free tutorials in Houdini, hosted at the official SideFX website.

Mark's Houdini tutorials include beginner tutorials such as the destruction of a brick wall, and how to create fire and smoke, progressing to more advanced subjects such as how to create a crashing wave effect.

12 Week Houdini Course Starts 28th June

Escape Studios is launching a new full-time 12-week Houdini course, starting on 28th June with options to study in the classroom in our studios in Central London - or live online.

Taught by a certified Houdini trainer, the course is designed to give students the necessary skills in asset creation and simulations needed to stand out in the VFX and Games industries.