Where do you want to be in 12 weeks ?
A portfolio ready to send to top-tier Animation Studios. 2–3 polished shots. Feedback from someone who worked at Illumination Studios Paris. That is what Clover Academy gives you.
portfolio shots
weeks
mentorship
- Animations that "almost" work
- Endless adjustments and uncertainty
- Tutorial grind without direction
- Doubt about your demo reel
- 2–3 polished portfolio shots
- Direct feedback from an Illumination animator
- Clear learning path tailored to your level
- Demo reel ready to send to studios
Choose your program
Both programs are 12 weeks. The difference lies in the intensity of mentorship.
€799excl. VAT
Weekly video session. Written feedback on your shots. Access to all study materials.
- 12 x 1h video call
- 2 shots max.
- Study Material
€1299excl. VAT
Double session time, live animation demo and a complete portfolio review by the Clover team.
- 24 × 1h video call (2h/week)
- 3 shots max.
- Complete portfolio review
- Live animation demo
What you learn
Storytelling & Staging
Animation begins before the software opens. We guide you to turn your first idea into a portfolio-ready shot. We improve the way you approach your shot and point you in the right direction. You learn how to convey a story through your key poses and staging.
Industry Tips and Tricks
We share practical tips and tricks from the animation industry to help you improve your skills and workflow. You'll learn how to work efficiently in Autodesk Maya with essential tools used by professionals.
Portfolio-ready Shots
You finish the program with 2–3 polished shots that strengthen your demo reel. Each one assessed and refined by your mentor until they are ready for recruiters. Ready to make your first impression.
Apply now
How it works
From demo reel to portfolio-ready shots, in 5 steps.
Apply nowApplication & selection
Submit your demo reel. We look at motivation, not perfection. You'll hear from us within 5 business days.
Intake interview
30 minutes with your future mentor. We discuss your background, goals and which program suits you best.
Personal learning plan
Your mentor puts together a tailored 12-week plan for you. After signing the quote we'll give you your first challenge.
Ready to go
Once you've paid the invoice, your timeslot is locked and we are ready to go!
Final Delivery
At the end of the program you'll have 2 or 3 polished shots to spice up your portfolio and impress animation studios worldwide.
Your mentors
[Elien]
SENIOR ANIMATORElien Kellens is co-founder of Clover Studios. She is an animator with over 10 years of experience in the animation industry. She started studying animation in 2011 at the Digital Arts & Entertainment program at Howest in Kortrijk (Belgium).
After successfully earning her degree, she immediately began working on the animated movie Cafard (a film by Jan Bultheel). She then further specialized by following a three-month course at Animsquad (an online animation school).
Her journey continued at NWave Pictures (Brussels) and Cyborn (Antwerp), where she worked on feature films such as Robinson Crusoe and The Son of Bigfoot, and Ploey.
It was then time to trade Belgium for France, and in 2018 she started working at Illumination Studios Paris. There, she contributed to feature films such as Minions: The Rise of Gru ,The Super Mario Bros. Movie and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie as well as several shorts and advertisements within Illumination's marketing department.
Elien is a passionate artist. Besides being a dedicated animator, she enjoys calligraphy, watercolor painting, and pottery.
[Joël]
SENIOR ANIMATOR & TEACHERJoel Demare is the co-founder of Clover Studios and an animator with over 14 years of experience in the industry. He began his animation studies in 2008 at the Digital Arts & Entertainment program at Howest in Kortrijk (Belgium).
After graduating, he quickly joined Larian Studios in Ghent as a gameplay and technical animator. Over the next four years, he contributed to several video games, including Divinity: Dragon Commander, Divinity: Original Sin, and Divinity: Original Sin 2.
During his time at Larian Studios, Joel further developed his skills by completing a year-and-a-half online animation course at Animation Mentor.
He later moved to Cyborn in Antwerp, where he worked on his first feature film, Ploey. In 2018, he relocated to France to join Illumination Studios Paris. Starting in the marketing department, he worked on various short films and advertisements, and eventually took on the role of lead animator on multiple projects. He then transitioned to the feature film department, contributing as an animator to films such as The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Migration, Despicable Me 4, and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
Building on his years of experience, Joel began teaching 3D animation in 2025 at his alma mater, the Digital Arts & Entertainment program at Howest in Kortrijk.
Outside of animation, Joel enjoys staying active through sports like tennis and spending his free time playing board games and video games.
Frequently asked questions
No. We look at motivation and potential, not a polished reel. If you can demonstrate that you understand the fundamentals and are serious about improving, you qualify.
You will primarily use Autodesk Maya or Blender for animation, with demos shown in Autodesk Maya. For feedback and review, we use SyncSketch, while Discord is used for live video calls and communication.
Expect to invest 20-25 hours per week. This includes your session, independent practice and feedback revision. The program is intensive by design, results require effort.
Standard gives you weekly 1h sessions and written feedback. Studio Experience doubles session time, includes a complete portfolio review and a Live animation demonstration by one of the mentors.
Yes. Sessions are online so location is no barrier.
Send your demo reel.
Eager to make progress? We're curious about your dream project. We review every demo reel personally. Perfection is not required, motivation and ambition are.