Nick Whittaker
@nickwhittaker.bsky.social
Gameplay and cinematic/narrative animator
Previously: Cold Iron, Blackbird Interactive, Ubisoft Montreal
🍁Toronto, Canada
nickwhittaker.net/portfolio
Previously: Cold Iron, Blackbird Interactive, Ubisoft Montreal
🍁Toronto, Canada
nickwhittaker.net/portfolio
Pinned
#PortfolioDay again, eh?
I'm Nick, and I do all manner of animation in games!
I'm currently on the lookout for my next project (along with... everyone) so let me know if your project needs an animator!
I'm Nick, and I do all manner of animation in games!
I'm currently on the lookout for my next project (along with... everyone) so let me know if your project needs an animator!
Reposted by Nick Whittaker
I’ve been working for 15 years as an animator and I can tell you without a doubt, the best fix I ever found for imposter syndrome is living a full life where your days and worth don’t hinge on whether or not you were a good animator today.
October 15, 2025 at 6:04 AM
I’ve been working for 15 years as an animator and I can tell you without a doubt, the best fix I ever found for imposter syndrome is living a full life where your days and worth don’t hinge on whether or not you were a good animator today.
Two guys just sat down near me in a cafe and started worriedly whispering to each other about cooking the books, and I’ve never been so immediately invested in a conversation
October 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Two guys just sat down near me in a cafe and started worriedly whispering to each other about cooking the books, and I’ve never been so immediately invested in a conversation
Reposted by Nick Whittaker
game does bad: layoffs
game does about as expected: layoffs
game does great: layoffs
game does about as expected: layoffs
game does great: layoffs
August 25, 2025 at 6:57 PM
game does bad: layoffs
game does about as expected: layoffs
game does great: layoffs
game does about as expected: layoffs
game does great: layoffs
Reposted by Nick Whittaker
The idea that 'AI can speed up dev cycles' would require a premise that dev cycles are long because people are taking forever to make assets (so you could replace them with shoddy slop and it'd go faster), which you could only believe is true if you've never actually tried to make a video game
At Gamescom, one sentiment remained consistent: We need to make games quicker. And to do that, more and more studios are turning to AI.
www.gamesindustry.biz/at-gamescom-...
www.gamesindustry.biz/at-gamescom-...
At Gamescom, it felt like the industry now has a plan: make games quicker | Opinion
And at least part of that plan involves AI
www.gamesindustry.biz
August 23, 2025 at 3:47 PM
The idea that 'AI can speed up dev cycles' would require a premise that dev cycles are long because people are taking forever to make assets (so you could replace them with shoddy slop and it'd go faster), which you could only believe is true if you've never actually tried to make a video game
Reposted by Nick Whittaker
Other people have better imposter syndrome than me I bet
August 13, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Other people have better imposter syndrome than me I bet
Reposted by Nick Whittaker
Sniping's a good job, mate. It's challenging work. Outa doors.
#animation #3Danimation #animator #gamedev #maya #3d #3dart
#animation #3Danimation #animator #gamedev #maya #3d #3dart
August 8, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Sniping's a good job, mate. It's challenging work. Outa doors.
#animation #3Danimation #animator #gamedev #maya #3d #3dart
#animation #3Danimation #animator #gamedev #maya #3d #3dart
Sniping's a good job, mate. It's challenging work. Outa doors.
#animation #3Danimation #animator #gamedev #maya #3d #3dart
#animation #3Danimation #animator #gamedev #maya #3d #3dart
August 8, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Sniping's a good job, mate. It's challenging work. Outa doors.
#animation #3Danimation #animator #gamedev #maya #3d #3dart
#animation #3Danimation #animator #gamedev #maya #3d #3dart
#PortfolioDay again, eh?
I'm Nick, and I do all manner of animation in games!
I'm currently on the lookout for my next project (along with... everyone) so let me know if your project needs an animator!
I'm Nick, and I do all manner of animation in games!
I'm currently on the lookout for my next project (along with... everyone) so let me know if your project needs an animator!
July 8, 2025 at 3:47 PM
#PortfolioDay again, eh?
I'm Nick, and I do all manner of animation in games!
I'm currently on the lookout for my next project (along with... everyone) so let me know if your project needs an animator!
I'm Nick, and I do all manner of animation in games!
I'm currently on the lookout for my next project (along with... everyone) so let me know if your project needs an animator!
June 20, 2025 at 5:28 PM
May 31, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Reposted by Nick Whittaker
The word around town is that the next big thing is Artisanal Imagery, hand-made visuals that you simply have to own if you don't want to be left behind
May 23, 2025 at 7:52 AM
The word around town is that the next big thing is Artisanal Imagery, hand-made visuals that you simply have to own if you don't want to be left behind
Reposted by Nick Whittaker
Every time I read a new pitch for what AI can do for games, I just see, "I haven't spoken to anyone who does this, but I have imagined incorrectly what the bulk of their job is and I have an idea of how to automate it."
May 14, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Every time I read a new pitch for what AI can do for games, I just see, "I haven't spoken to anyone who does this, but I have imagined incorrectly what the bulk of their job is and I have an idea of how to automate it."
Reposted by Nick Whittaker
I fucking love working with juniors
No group has more passion, drive, desire to do their best, and love for the medium
Every time I've had input in hiring, I've always pushed for junior positions because they're absolute knowledge sponges and delightful to work with
No group has more passion, drive, desire to do their best, and love for the medium
Every time I've had input in hiring, I've always pushed for junior positions because they're absolute knowledge sponges and delightful to work with
My long-held stance about gamedev is that "juniors will run circles around the entire industry if merely given the chance." Either help lift them up or get out of the way!!!
Just saw this:
May 6, 2025 at 12:52 AM
I fucking love working with juniors
No group has more passion, drive, desire to do their best, and love for the medium
Every time I've had input in hiring, I've always pushed for junior positions because they're absolute knowledge sponges and delightful to work with
No group has more passion, drive, desire to do their best, and love for the medium
Every time I've had input in hiring, I've always pushed for junior positions because they're absolute knowledge sponges and delightful to work with
Reposted by Nick Whittaker
Staying up until we see what happens in Carleton.
a man singing into a microphone wearing a blue jacket that says ria on it
ALT: a man singing into a microphone wearing a blue jacket that says ria on it
media.tenor.com
April 29, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Staying up until we see what happens in Carleton.
Reposted by Nick Whittaker
This is the ‘disruption’ playbook. I have really bad news for anyone stupid enough to be building reliance on generative AI into their processes. It’s so cheap!
i miss when ubers were $10 for a 40 min ride
April 10, 2025 at 4:56 PM
This is the ‘disruption’ playbook. I have really bad news for anyone stupid enough to be building reliance on generative AI into their processes. It’s so cheap!
Reposted by Nick Whittaker
Disco Elysium is the greatest game ever made because it basically explained how it was going to die and then did it
Disco Elysium is being "reimagined" for mobile devices to "captivate the TikTok user"
www.eurogamer.net/disco-elysiu...
www.eurogamer.net/disco-elysiu...
March 13, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Disco Elysium is the greatest game ever made because it basically explained how it was going to die and then did it
Reposted by Nick Whittaker
The hardest I've ever crunched in my life were the times I was given animation tests by studios I didn't work for yet
You can tell the applicant not to spend more than X hours on it, but they will do it anyway because OF COURSE they will. They want the job. All the incentives point toward crunch
You can tell the applicant not to spend more than X hours on it, but they will do it anyway because OF COURSE they will. They want the job. All the incentives point toward crunch
January 15, 2025 at 4:32 PM
The hardest I've ever crunched in my life were the times I was given animation tests by studios I didn't work for yet
You can tell the applicant not to spend more than X hours on it, but they will do it anyway because OF COURSE they will. They want the job. All the incentives point toward crunch
You can tell the applicant not to spend more than X hours on it, but they will do it anyway because OF COURSE they will. They want the job. All the incentives point toward crunch
This is something I’ve been thinking about constantly since visiting Tokyo. More dense walkable neighbourhoods please.
November 28, 2024 at 2:36 PM
This is something I’ve been thinking about constantly since visiting Tokyo. More dense walkable neighbourhoods please.
This is so fun!
I started playing Veilguard so I want to talk about one my favorite parts from my time working on it & something I regret not getting to see through to the end.
💃✨DANCE MAGIC✨🕺
🧵 About why it fits the fantasy genre, the franchise and specifically how it applied to the Shadow Dragons faction. 1/8
💃✨DANCE MAGIC✨🕺
🧵 About why it fits the fantasy genre, the franchise and specifically how it applied to the Shadow Dragons faction. 1/8
November 24, 2024 at 1:08 AM
This is so fun!
It’s great to see the community continuing to grow over here!
Video Game Animators, where you at?
I've created a new starter pack and added a few folks to get the ball rolling.
If you're a video game animator (specifically) then drop your handle in the replies.
Reposts welcome 🙌🏻
go.bsky.app/88k8BgR
I've created a new starter pack and added a few folks to get the ball rolling.
If you're a video game animator (specifically) then drop your handle in the replies.
Reposts welcome 🙌🏻
go.bsky.app/88k8BgR
November 20, 2024 at 12:56 PM
It’s great to see the community continuing to grow over here!
This feels worse than it did in 2016
November 6, 2024 at 1:01 PM
This feels worse than it did in 2016
I’m currently in Japan and know with absolute certainty that I will experience public transit withdrawal once I return to Toronto
October 24, 2024 at 3:16 PM
I’m currently in Japan and know with absolute certainty that I will experience public transit withdrawal once I return to Toronto
Looking forward to fully getting to abandon the dumpster fire app
September 19, 2024 at 3:55 PM
Looking forward to fully getting to abandon the dumpster fire app