Training for animation schools
Introduction Course
Give your students a solid start in stylized rendering with RenderMan. In this 4-day Introduction Course, they explore 3D as a creative medium for visual storytelling. With hands-on practice and a complete set of assets, they’ll learn to set up and render their unique stylized look.
4-day intensive training
in Renderman Stylized Looks
This course is designed for students who want a fast and solid introduction to stylized rendering with RenderMan. Ideal for 2D artists and look developers who wish to expand their skills into 3D and unlock the creative potential of the RenderMan Stylized Tools.
The program fits Bachelor, Master, and Postdoc students who are ready to explore rendering not just as a technical process, but as an artistic medium to shape distinctive visual storytelling. With access to a complete set of assets and workflows provided by 9to3, every student will finish the course with the ability to set up and render their own unique stylized look.
We begin by examining artworks, books, and demo reels. Students discuss what makes certain art styles appealing, and how techniques are used to achieve them. Through this interactive session, they learn to observe critically and connect style choices to storytelling.
Students explore stylized rendering techniques, including tone, lines, watercolour, hatching, and painterly effects. They create concept art based on a chosen visual, then explore how to rebuild it in 3D using light, shadow, camera depth, and movement. They are introduced to RenderMan Stylized Tools and begin hands-on experimentation in Blender, Maya, Katana, or Houdini.
We refine techniques and introduce more advanced workflows for stylization. Students expand their concepts and deepen their skills with the RenderMan tools to shape their own look.
The focus shifts to even more complex techniques, such as hatching and painterly effects. By the end of the course, every student will have created a unique rendering style with the RenderMan Stylized Looks toolset.
Practical details
- Duration: 4 days (preferably within one week; 2 × 2 days is also possible)
- On-site training: interactive, personal, and in-depth
- Software: RenderMan Stylized Looks 27: XPU with Blender, Maya, Katana, and Houdini (26: RIS version is optional)
- Included: free RenderMan license during training + 12-month commercial license
(value € 550) for every student - Requirements: the school provides hardware and animation software
- Maximum participants: 20 students, contact us for more
- Language: English
- Price: € 4.500 (excl. VAT, travel & stay costs)
If you’re interested, fill out the form and share a few details with us. We’ll respond with a confirmation email and invite you to a short online call to get to know each other, explore your goals, and discuss the best timing for your training.
Why schools choose 9to3
- Part of RenderMan Stylized Looks development team
- Proud to offer our training and RenderMan license with the brand-new 27: XPU plugin
- Known for stylization in award-winning films like Across the Spider-Verse and The Mitchells vs. The Machines (with Christos Obretenov)
- Combines project, training, and rendering expertise
- Experienced in look development, including custom tools for toy animation and colour presets
- Over 20 years of teaching experience, from Delft University to international studios
Expert Training
Take your stylized rendering skills to the next level. In this 4-day Expert Training, students learn how to bring fire, water, earth, and air to life. Not realistically, but imaginatively. Using RenderMan Stylized Looks, they’ll paint, stylize, and simulate motion to create dynamic, unique visuals that stand out in any animated scene.
4-day advanced course
in Renderman Stylized Looks
The Expert Training takes students deeper into the art of stylized rendering, focusing on the four elements. While it may seem simple at first, creating a stylized version of clouds, splashing waves, or erupting fire requires careful thought and creative problem-solving. This course teaches students how to bring these elements to life in a stylized manner, rather than relying on photorealism.
In animation films with strong visual styles, elements such as the sky, water, fire, or explosions often appear photorealistic because the technical tools for stylization are lacking, or they are drawn entirely by hand. In this training, students learn to paint, stylize, and imagine using the RenderMan Stylized Looks toolset to achieve a unique artistic effect.
Students learn to push the boundaries of style, breaking out of photorealistic conventions to explore imaginative approaches, especially when it comes to the 4 elements: water, fire, air, earth.
Focus on integrating all techniques and insights. Students practice combining different stylization methods while maintaining visual coherence.
Students develop and apply custom brushes and patterns to enhance the movement and texture of flames, waves, clouds, explosions, and debris.
The final day emphasizes stylized simplification. Students learn to simulate the sensation of movement in a stylized manner, creating dynamic and lively elements that enhance storytelling.
Practical details
- Duration: 4 days (preferably within one week; 2 × 2 days is also possible)
- On-site training: interactive, personal, and in-depth
- Software: RenderMan Stylized Looks 27: XPU with Blender, Maya, Katana, and Houdini (26: RIS version is optional)
- Included: free RenderMan license during training + 12-month commercial license (value € 550) for every student
- Requirements: 9to3 Introduction Course
- Maximum participants: 20 students
- Language: English
- Price: € 4.500 (excl. VAT, travel & stay costs)
Ready to level up your stylized rendering skills? Fill out the form and tell us a bit about your plans. We’ll send a confirmation email and set up a brief online call to discuss your goals and determine the ideal timing for your training.
Tailored Program
We design a training that’s made for your students. Our Tailored Program combines the Introduction and Expert courses, letting look developers create their own unique style with RenderMan Stylized Looks. They can bring their own assets and artwork, and together, we’ll craft a hands-on program that aligns with your school’s goals and curriculum.
Your vision, our expertise:
custom-made 3D stylization
Every school has its own focus, strengths, and goals. With 9to3’s Tailored Program, you get a fully custom-made training that combines the best of our Introduction and Expert courses, allowing students to create a specific style and explore advanced 3D stylization techniques with RenderMan Stylized Looks. This program is especially suitable for look developers, providing them with the tools and guidance to create unique, imaginative visuals.
Bring your own assets and artwork, and we’ll tailor exercises and workflows to fit your projects, curriculum, and learning objectives. With hands-on guidance and access to RenderMan Stylized Tools, your students will complete the course with skills and insights they can directly apply, expanding both their creative and technical capabilities.
If you’re ready to design a training that fits your school perfectly, fill out the form and share a few details with us. We’ll respond with a confirmation email and schedule a brief online call to discuss your goals and tailor the ideal program.
Your students don’t just learn how to use software,
they discover how to create worlds beyond photorealism