Kevin Richards Returns to Escape Mon 10 Oct 2022

Kevin Richards

Lead Animator and Escapee Kevin Richards will be returning to Escape Studios on Monday 10th October to teach our second year animation students who are currently studying Module AN5002 - Animal and Creature Animation.

Kevin is a traditional 2D animator who took our 12 week short course in animation at Escape Studios, and successfully made the transition to 3D animation in Maya.

Kevin is currently working as a Lead Animator on the new Aardman Animation TV Series "Pop Paper City", produced by LoveLove Films.

Kevin Richards' "Crucial Tip" for Animation Graduates

Kevin Richards teaching at Escape Studios

Escapee Kevin Richards is a lead animator at Pop Paper City and has brought many Escapees onto the hit show as Junior Animators. 

In this guest blog post, Kevin offers our animation graduates his "crucial tip" for landing that crucial first job in animation. 

So what is the single most important thing our graduates can do to get hired? Below is the one crucial thing you can do, to place yourself ahead of most of the other applicants for the job. 

Animation Foundation is Back on 28 May

Kevin Richards at Escape Studios

Our 10 week part-time Animation Foundation evening class in 3D animation is back, starting on 28 May at our High Holborn campus.

The class runs for 10 weeks on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, from 7-10pm.

The class, which is an introduction to the art and craft of 3D character animation, is taught by veteran animator and Escapee Kevin Richards.

Animation Foundation starts with the very basics - a bouncing ball - and builds towards a full understanding of locomotion and mechanics in 3D animation.

George Caton-Coult Introduces "Pop Paper City"

George Caton-Coult, Kevin Richards and students

This week we welcomed Love Love Films Studio Manager George Caton-Coult to visit us on Thursday 21 March. The event was hosted by Escape Studios animation tutor Kevin Richards. 

George Caton-Coult is the Studio Manager at Love Love Films, responsible for the TV hit "Pop Paper City"  developed in partnership with Aardman Animation.  Many Escapees worked on "Pop Paper City".  In this in-person visit, George explained how the series came about, and how Escapees might find work at the studio.

Animation Demo Reel Tips From Kevin Richards

Kevin Richards Teaching at Escape Studios

Escapee Kevin Richards, who took our short course in 3D animation at Escape Studios, is currently working as a Lead Animator at the new Aardman Animation TV Series "Pop Paper City".  As a production lead, Kevin spends a good deal of time reviewing animation reels and making hiring decisions on new talent.  

In this guest blog below, Kevin offers his tips on how to put together a great demo reel that will ensure you land that crucial first job in the animation industry.

"How Animators Get Hired" by Kevin Richards

Kevin Richards teaching at Escape Studios

Escapee Kevin Richards took our short course in 3D animation at Escape Studios and is now working as a Lead Animator at the new Aardman Animation TV Series "Pop Paper City", produced by LoveLove Films. 

As a production lead, Kevin reviews animation reels and makes hiring decisions on new talent.

In the guest blog below, Kevin explains how our students can maximise their chances of getting hired in the animation industry. 

"Meet The Masters" with Kevin Richards 16 Dec 2025

"Meet The Masters" with Kevin Richards 16 Dec at 6pm

Join us on Tuesday 16 December at 6pm for our next "Meet The Masters" events with Escape Studios' animation tutor Kevin Richards.  To sign up for this free event, follow this link. 

An Evening With… Kevin McDowell on 16 April

Kevin McDowell

Our doors may be closed for now, but teaching continues, and our "Evening With..." events are still carrying on - now as online webinars. We can't serve beer and pizza, but we can still host events with the most talented and interesting stars of our industry.

On April 16th Escape Studios is proud to host an "Evening With... Kevin McDowell".

Kevin McDowell has been the Art Director for SEGA’s Massive PC strategy game series “Total War” for the past 20 years and has been working in video games for 23 years.

Kevin's games have sold over 27 million copies, and in 2012 he won a BAFTA for Total War: Shogun 2.

Animation Recruiters with Kevin Richards

Kevin Richards took our short course in 3D animation at Escape Studios and is now working as a Lead Animator at the new Aardman Animation TV Series "Pop Paper City". 

As a production lead, Kevin reviews animation reels and makes hiring decisions on new talent.

In the guest blog below, Kevin explains the role of recruiters in the animation industry, and how our graduates can get the best out of them. 

Kevin Richards to Teach at Escape Studios

Kevin Richards

Animator and Escapee Kevin Richards will be coming to Escape Studios on Monday to teach our short course and MA students.

Kevin is a traditional 2D animator who took our short course in animation at Escape Studios, and successfully made the transition to 3D animation in Maya.

Most recently Kevin has been working as an animator on the "Shane the Chef" YV Series at Cloth Cat animation in Cardiff.

Kevin Richards To Teach Movement & Narrative

Kevin Richards 

We're delighted to welcome back veteran animator and storyboard artist Kevin Richards to teach Movement & Narrative to our first year undergraduate students at Escape Studios in September 2024.

Movement & Narrative is a mini-module, part of CR4002 Creative Foundations, in which students develop their skills in creativity, design, storyboarding and visual narrative; teaching starts in September 2024.  M&N forms part of the First Year of Undergraduate Study at Escape Studios. 

Kevin Richards Animator at Paper Pop City

Kevin Richards

Congratulations to Escapee Kevin Richards who is working as a lead animator in Bournemouth at Aardman Animation, on Paper Pop City, a new TV series developed by the Bristol-based studio. 

Kevin graduated from our 12 week course in 3D animation, and soon found work as a 3D animator at Cloth Cat in Cardiff; later working on the Channel 5 series Shane the Chef. 

Kevin has also been a regular guest tutor at Escape Studios, helping to teach a new generation of the students the art and craft of character animation. 

"How to Interview" by Escapee Kevin Richards

Kevin Richards teaching at Escape Studios

Escapee Kevin Richards took our short course in 3D animation at Escape Studios and is currently working as a Lead Animator at the new Aardman Animation TV Series "Pop Paper City".  

As a production lead, Kevin spends a good deal of time interviewing junior animators and making hiring decisions.

In the guest blog below, Kevin offers his tips on how to succeed at a job interview - the second stage in the process of getting hired.  If the company likes your demo reel, they will invite you to interview - below is Kevin's advice on how to get it right.  

Kevin Richards To Teach "Movement & Narrative"

Kevin Richards teaching at Escape Studios

We're delighted to welcome veteran animator and storyboard artist Kevin Richards  to teach Movement & Narrative to our first year undergraduate students at Escape Studios in September 2024.

Movement & Narrative is a mini-module in which students develop their skills in storytelling, creativity, design, storyboarding and visual narrative.

Movement & Narrative starts on Monday 23rd Sept 2024. You can see 2024-25 Term Dates here. 

Kevin Richards Animator at Cloth Cat

Congratulations to Escapee Kevin Richards who has just started a new job as an animator with Cloth Cat animation in Cardiff.  Kevin is a traditional animator who took our three-month intensive animation course last summer, to convert his 2D skills to digital 3D animation in Maya.  Kevin worked hard on his demo reel (see above), coming in to Escape Studios regularly and taking advantage of the equipment, software and studio assistant support to make him job-ready, even after the formal teaching part of the course was over.

How Industry Marking Works at Escape Studios

How does industry marking work at Escape Studios?

Our second year animation and VFX students recently put the finishing touches to their group projects, and all the short films have been finalled and submitted for marking.

The next stage was to get industry feedback. How well did they do? Did their work live up to industry standards?  What could they do better next time?  We welcomed Escapee and Cloth Cat animator Kevin Richards to take a look at the student work and offer a perspective from industry.

Kevin Hudson Presents "Weeds" July 2nd

"Weeds" by Kevin Hudson

Kevin Hudson, asset artist at Walt Disney Animation Studios, is visiting Escape Studios on July 2nd at 4.30pm to talk about his multi-award-winning short film "Weeds".   

“Weeds” is the story of a dandelion, rooted on the wrong side of the driveway in a barren yard surrounded by dry dirt and dead grass.

Meet the 3D Animation Team at Escape Studios

Who teaches 3D Animation at Escape Studios? We are fortunate to have many talented tutors in our large and growing animation department.  

We have a depth of talent and skills among our staff that ensures we can teach all aspects of the animation pipeline, from concept art through storyboarding, animation and final render. 

Below (in no particular order) are some of our talented tutors you will find teaching 3D Animation in our classrooms at Escape Studios.

Kevin Richards to Teach Dinosaur Animation

Kevin Richards Teaches at Escape Studios

Animator and Escapee Kevin Richards will be coming to Escape Studios on Wednesday and Thursday to teach our 2nd year animators.

Kevin is a traditional 2D animator who took our short course in animation at Escape Studios, and successfully made the transition to 3D animation in Maya, working as an animator on "Shane the Chef" at Cloth Cat animation in Cardiff.

Kevin will be teaching our students dinosaur locomotion, showing how to use live action reference of birds and reptiles to create believable dinosaur animation. 

Kevin Richards Returns to Escape on 13 May

Kevin Richards Teaches at Escape Studios

Animator and Escapee Kevin Richards will be returning to Escape Studios tomorrow Friday 13th May to teach our short course and master's degree animation students.

Kevin is a traditional 2D animator who took our 12 week short course in animation at Escape Studios, and successfully made the transition to 3D animation in Maya, working as an animator on "Shane the Chef" at Cloth Cat animation in Cardiff.

Kevin will be teaching our students the art of character animation.