Miami Animation Meetup August Recap: New Faces, Real Talk, and Career Wins

Our August meetup brought together a tight-knit group of artists, students, and working pros who filled the room with curiosity, generosity, and great conversation. We were thrilled to welcome newcomers alongside returning members—and special shoutout to Yader Fonseca, who previously contributed a guest post to the AVG blog, about creating concept art on NBA 2K25. The vibe? Supportive, sincere, and straight-to-the-point career advice for anyone trying to break into animation, VFX, and games.

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Professions in the Room

We had a fantastic cross-section of the industry represented:

• 2D Animators

• Riggers

• Modelers

• Illustrators

• Concept Artists

• 3D Animators

• MoCap Experts

• Programmers

  
  

We also met recent graduates and students from SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) and MDC (Miami Dade College) who came ready with portfolios, reels, and thoughtful questions.

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Miami Animation Meetup Highlights

Our conversation centered on real pathways into the industry and how to turn connections into opportunities—here are the big takeaways from the meetup:

• Breaking into the industry: Start with clearly defined entry roles, keep reels short and targeted, and ship small, finished projects to show reliability.

• Smart LinkedIn follow-ups: Connect within 24–48 hours, reference a specific insight from your chat, ask clear questions, and include a link to your best work.

• Network where you want to work: Build relationships with people already at the studios/teams you admire. Engage thoughtfully with their posts, join public events, and request brief chats with a specific topic.

• Where opportunities thrive: We discussed different cities and countries where the industry is booming. Balance relocation or remote options by weighing visa rules, tax incentives, studio density, and cost of living.

• Growing Miami’s scene: There’s shared energy to strengthen the local ecosystem—more meetups, portfolio circles, demo nights, and a simple job/mentorship opportunity.

• Gratitude and belonging: Newcomers said they felt welcomed, supported, and excited to have found a like-minded community in Miami to grow their careers.

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Congratulations to Abdiel Diaz

Big news from our community—Abdiel Diaz has accepted a six-month role in Japan with Noitom Robotics. Abdiel’s generosity, sharp career advice, and mocap expertise have been a huge asset to our meetups. We’ll miss his presence while he’s abroad, but we’re thrilled for this next chapter and can’t wait to see what he creates overseas. Wishing him an amazing experience—and we’ll be ready to welcome him back and hear all about it when he returns!

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Upcoming Events

WIFT × AVG: What is Motion Capture? — Interactive Workshop (Full)

When: Tue, Sep 9, 2025 · 6:30–8:30 PM EDT

Where: Miami Mocap Studio — RKG Creative, 278 NE 60th St, Miami, FL 33137

This hands-on mocap studio tour and roundtable has reached capacity. To join the waitlist, follow the instructions on the event page.

Make Friends / Network: Animation, VFX & Gaming

When: Fri, Sep 19, 2025 · 7:00–10:00 PM

Where: Mia Market, 140 NE 39th St Suite 241, Miami, FL 33137

Our next open meetup—come say hi, bring a friend, and grow the Miami scene together. Full details and RSVP are on the event page.

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What’s Next

If you’re building your first reel, switching disciplines, or exploring the Miami scene, this is your space. Bring a friend to the next Miami animation meetup, come with a question, and leave with actions to move your career forward. See you soon!