1-1 Character Design

Mentorship

Limited Spots Available!

BECOME THE ARTIST STUDIOS WANT TO HIRE

1-on-1 character design and career mentorship for artists who are serious about building a professional career in animation.

Design better characters. Build a portfolio you're proud of. Learn how to network, sell yourself, and create opportunities instead of waiting for them.

Work directly with professional character designer and creative entrepreneur Caleb Staker.

Caleb has worked with Warner Bros., Disney, Atomic Cartoons, ShadowMachine, and other major studios, and has personally mentored hundreds of artists.

When I graduated it took me 3 very long and painful years trying to figure out how to make a career as a character designer work.

I even spent thousands on online courses and mentorships AFTER getting my degree in the efforts to try and solve my lack of opportunity.

The mentorships were always group classes. I never got enough feedback and the career guidance was never clear.

For this reason I have started my own mentorship program. High-touch 1-1 guidance packaged in a way NOT OFFERED ANYWHERE ELSE.

THIS ISN'T JUST CHARACTER DESIGN MENTORSHIP.

IT'S CAREER MENTORSHIP FOR ARTISTS.

We'll work on your art, but we'll also work on the things that determine whether your art actually creates opportunities.

CHARACTER DESIGN

We’ll develop stronger characters, stronger ideas, stronger storytelling, through exploration, turnarounds, poses expressions and more. I will share the exact methods that got me my first job at Warner Brothers.

PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT

We'll identify what's holding your portfolio back and work toward building a professional portfolio designed around the type of work you actually want to get hired to do.

CAREER STRATEGY

Figure out what you should be working toward, what skills you need to develop, and what steps will move you closer to your goals.

NETWORKING

Learn how to build genuine professional relationships and approach people in the industry without feeling like you're begging for a job.

SELF-PROMOTION

Learn how to communicate your value, present yourself professionally, and make it easier for the right people to discover your work.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Learn how to think beyond the traditional job hunt and identify ways to create your own opportunities as an artist.

Student Work - Kamae Neely

THE VCC ARTIST CAREER SYSTEM

A PERSONALIZED ROADMAP FOR YOUR CAREER

This isn't a prerecorded course where everyone follows the same curriculum.

Your career isn't the same as everyone else's.

We'll start by figuring out where you are, where you want to go, and what's standing between you and that goal.

01. FIND YOUR GAPS

We'll look at your current work, portfolio, goals, skills, and career direction.

We'll identify what's working, what's holding you back, and what deserves your attention first.

02. BUILD YOUR PORTFOLIO

We'll design a cast of characters for an animated series or film. Creating examples of every aspect of a character designers job in the pipeline. We’ll work toward creating a portfolio that represents the professional artist you want to become.

You'll receive direct feedback, draw-over notes, and guidance on what to improve.

03. DEVELOP YOUR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

We'll work on the skills that don't necessarily get taught in art school:

Networking.

Communication.

Self-promotion.

Problem solving.

Career strategy.

Creating opportunities.

04. BUILD YOUR OPPORTUNITY PLAN

Instead of simply waiting for a job posting, you'll learn how to identify people, studios, projects, and opportunities that could move your career forward.

05. EXECUTE

You'll leave with a clearer direction and concrete next steps.

No more wondering what you're supposed to work on next.

FROM “I WANT TO WORK IN ANIMATION"
TO “I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M DOING TO GET THERE."

Student Work Angela Lerias

THIS IS FOR YOU IF...

YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST.

You're willing to put in the work and want someone experienced to help you make that work count.

YOU'RE AN ART STUDENT OR RECENT GRADUATE.

You want to shorten the learning curve and avoid spending years trying to figure everything out by yourself.

YOU'RE AN EMERGING PROFESSIONAL.

You're already working toward a career but feel like you've hit a wall and don't know what to fix next.

YOU WANT TO WORK IN ANIMATION.

You want to understand what studios are actually looking for and how to position yourself for opportunities.

YOU WANT MORE THAN DRAWING LESSONS.

You want to understand the business and career side of being an artist.

YOUR INVESTMENT

2 MONTHS OF 1-ON-1 MENTORSHIP

$1,000

Payment options available.

YOUR $1,000 INCLUDES:

4 Private 1-on-1 Video Calls
8 weeks of direct access to Caleb

Your Personalized Career Roadmap
A specific plan based on your current skills, portfolio and career goals.

Portfolio Development Project
Build a production-style character design portfolio project from concept to final.

Unlimited Email Feedback
Get questions answered and personalized draw-over notes throughout the mentorship

Professional Portfolio Review
Get unlimited portfolio feedback throughout the process and a final review upon completion.

Artist Career Toolkit
Networking resources, outreach strategies etc.

Lifetime Access to the Little Magic Studios Community
Discord + events

This isn't an investment in another art course.

It's an investment in shortening the learning curve between where you are now and where you want your career to be.

Apply Here

Student Work

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Illustration of a fantasy character with purple skin, wearing a long purple dress with spiderweb patterns. The character holds a flaming apple in one hand and a fireball in the other. Surrounding the character are various hand gestures featuring purp
Character design showing a figure dressed in a dark, elegant gown with white hair and blue skin, viewed from multiple angles, featuring intricate patterns and high collar.
Illustrations of a blue-skinned, elf-like character with white hair in various expressions, wearing a dark blue outfit with a high collar, on a gray background.
Illustration of numerous disembodied hands making various gestures, with a woman in a dark jacket and green pants on the left side, and a purple FBI badge is held by one of the hands. The top left corner has the text "The X Files". The bottom include
Character sheet of Dana Scully from The X-Files showing various facial expressions including neutral, concerned, angry, surprised, happy, sad, amused, and confused, along with her standing in a FBI uniform holding a badge.
Illustration of four stylized characters in tribal attire with tattoos and accessories, some holding birds or taking dynamic poses, labeled "Flor Negra."
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Collection of various hand gestures, some holding objects like a candle, an apple, or knitting yarn, others making different signs and positions.
Animation of a girl with long wavy red hair, wearing a beige long dress with a brown top, seen from different angles.
Collection of various cartoon illustrations of a red-haired girl displaying different emotions, including surprise, fear, happiness, confusion, and sadness.
Sheet featuring Pinocchio character expressing various emotions: happiness, surprise, worry, disgust, anger, shyness, love, and laughter, with annotation 'Pinocchio Reimagined' by Xavier Thomas.
A character illustration of Pinocchio from Pinocchio Reimagined, with various hand gesture drawings around him and a wooden-textured background on the bottom displaying the title, artist's name, email, and label 'Very Creative'.
Digital illustration of characters from Pinocchio Reimagined, including a large blue mermaid with long flowing hair in the center, an older man with white hair and patchy patchwork clothing on the left, a young boy with short hair and a white shirt n
Line drawing of Pinocchio in a cage, Pinocchio on a unicycle, and Pinocchio standing with a broken sword, with a wooden plaque at the bottom reading "Pinocchio Reimagined: Pinocchio Special Poses" by Xavier Thomas from Very Creative.
Character turnaround of Pinocchio reimagined, showing five views: front, three-quarter, side, another three-quarter, and back, with a wooden background banner displaying the title and artist's contact information.
Multiple cartoon hands with watches, some holding cigarettes, a glass of water, a gun, and a beaker with a purple substances, all on a dark background.
Cartoon character in various poses: kicking, lounging on a throne, and holding a baby.
Animated character with blond hair and pointed ears, wearing a white shirt and gray pants. Surrounding sketches show different hand poses, some holding spheres. Labeled as Abigail Davis' personal project, "Labyrinth: Animated - Jareth Hand Sheet."
Illustration of a fantasy scene with a woman in a flowing gown reaching towards a shattered mirror. A large figure with blond hair is partially visible in the mirror shards. In the foreground, people in masks and costumes are gathered, with stairs an
Cartoon character expression sheet with various emotions, featuring an elf-like character with pointed ears and blonde hair. Includes a full-color standing pose and multiple black and white sketches showcasing different facial expressions.
Character turnaround illustration of an animated character with pointed ears, long hair, and a distinctive necklace, shown in various poses and angles in both color and outline sketches.
Illustration of a diverse group of characters from "Childhood's End" by Arthur C. Clarke, including a young boy with a soccer ball, a young woman, a middle-aged man in a suit, another man with glasses holding books, and a large dragon-like figure wit
Illustration of a dragon-like character and hand sketches for "Childhood's End" by Arthur C. Clarke, designed by Genna Davis. The character has dark wings and a sleek body, with various hand positions depicted alongside.
Line drawing of alien figure with wings, including flying and sitting poses, related to "Childhood's End" by Arthur C. Clarke.
Character design from 'Childhood's End' featuring a winged, humanoid creature with a long tail and horns, depicted in various poses and angles; includes both colored and outline sketches.
Cartoon characters from "Nacho Libre" in various poses, including wrestling moves and casual interactions.
Illustration of various hand gestures and objects from the movie 'Nacho Libre', including hands holding a corn cob, a bowl, and a brush. Movie logo at the bottom.
Illustration of a character with various expressions from Howl's Moving Castle. The character is shown smiling, talking, angry, shocked, laughing with hands clasped, and surprised, wearing a blue ruffled shirt.
Illustrated character Howl from "Howl's Moving Castle" and various positions of his hands, including holding a rose, book, and performing gestures. Text reads "Howl Hand Chart."
Illustration of a character turn-around from Howl's Moving Castle showing a male figure in a blue coat with diamond patterns, viewed from multiple angles.
Illustration depicting five characters from "Howl's Moving Castle," showcasing them in a lineup with distinct costumes and styles.
Illustrated hand chart showing various hand positions and gestures with some hands having fur. Hands are depicted holding sticks, pointing, and making gestures, labeled with 'Hand Chart' at the top.
Character turnaround illustration of an anthropomorphic monkey in various poses, wearing a martial arts-inspired outfit, featuring a yellow robe with black accents and a tail.
Sketches of an animated monkey character in various expressive poses, each one numbered.
Cartoon character in suit showing various facial expressions, including surprise, confusion, frustration, and smugness.
Character design showing a cartoon man in a suit from multiple angles, including front, side, and back views. He wears glasses and has a distinctive hairstyle.
Illustration of an older man with a purple jacket and cane, alongside various stylized hand gesture sketches.
Various illustrated hands in different poses, holding objects like a fork, needle, cigarette pack, gun, and wine glass, wearing green sleeves.
Four stylized cartoon characters standing together; a shark-themed character, a lava-themed character, a starry night-themed character, and a dark purple-clad character with a cape.
Illustration of a character with braided hair in various expressions, wearing a purple vest over a white shirt.
Cartoon musician with guitar in various dynamic poses, wearing purple vest, white shirt, beige pants, and purple sneakers.
Illustration of hands in various positions, including playing guitar and making gestures.
Character design exploration featuring diverse cartoon-style characters with various outfits and hairstyles, labeled 'I'm in the Band Re-Imagined.' Created by Paola Rivas under mentorship of artist Caleb Staker.
Illustration of an anthropomorphic cat character with a cloak, holding an apple, surrounded by various hand gesture sketches, labeled "Reindeer Games."
Illustration of five diverse cartoon characters in different outfits and poses.
Character sketches of a bearded man with various expressions and angles.
Illustration of colorful, stylized characters inspired by Mesoamerican culture, including a jaguar creature, a tall figure with a skull headdress, warriors, and people in traditional attire.
Illustration of four women in various poses wearing tribal-inspired outfits, with long hair and ornamental headdresses, labeled "Flor Negra."
Sketch of four stylized people in traditional attire, each with distinct features and accessories, appearing to engage in cultural activities, labeled "Flor negra" in the upper left corner.
Sketch of four fantasy characters with unique clothing and walking staffs.
Character design of a woman named Nikté with long black hair, wearing a traditional outfit with turquoise necklace, shown from multiple angles on a white background.

Where my students have landed jobs:

PBS Kids logo with blue circle, green 'PBS', and white 'KIDS' text.
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A black and white logo with a stylized horse head made of abstract lines, encircled and with the word 'SPINDLEHORSE' below.
Colorful animated logo with the words 'DIGITAL GRAMY' in bold black text, surrounded by small colorful shapes and an orange character with big eyes and a smile
Logo for Joey Drew Studios with stylized text inside a circular design, resembling a broken or torn shape.
DreamWorks logo with a boy on a swing inside a blue circle

262+

Students

1250+

1-on-1 calls

1050+

Pages of draw-over notes

FAQs

  • Absolutely! It’s never too early to plan ahead. I started freelancing for Warner Brothers while I was still in my last semester at school. I think its a great idea to get ahead and start building your career now.

  • Yes, I understand every artists situation is different. Payment plans can be arranged. Book a call to further discuss options with me.

  • Of course! I am always available for questions, letters of recommendation etc. Ending a mentorship does not end our relationship.

    In addition, when you join my mentorship program, you gain lifetime access to my personal Discord community and our weekly Sketch Club calls!

    This is not a “rush you through a program” kinda thing. This is a highly planned and polished mentorship where I care about the artists I work with and the relationships we build. Together we are building the future of animation.

  • Yes! This mentorship is all 1-on-1 so we meet when it works best for you. I work with a lot of students that are still in school and am able to work around any schedule.

  • Yes! BUT my time is limited. I am only able to work with 24 artists a year. If you don’t save your spot now, you might have to wait until 2027 for a spot to open up. If you aren’t available to start imminently, reach out now and we can discuss saving you a spot for later in the year.

  • Outside of school (BYUI) and many online courses, I also paid for 1-on-1 mentorship. I studied with Carlos Grangel, Wayne Carlisi and Jim Smith.

  • No! I am open to working 1-on-1 with all ages and skill levels. If you don’t have a portfolio yet, lets build one together!

Listen To What My Students Have To Say

YOUR INVESTMENT

2 MONTHS OF 1-ON-1 MENTORSHIP

$1,000

Payment options available.

YOUR $1,000 INCLUDES:

4 Private 1-on-1 Video Calls
8 weeks of direct access to Caleb

Your Personalized Career Roadmap
A specific plan based on your current skills, portfolio and career goals.

Portfolio Development Project
Build a production-style character design portfolio project from concept to final.

Unlimited Email Feedback
Get questions answered and personalized draw-over notes throughout the mentorship

Professional Portfolio Review
Get unlimited portfolio feedback throughout the process and a final review upon completion.

Artist Career Toolkit
Networking resources, outreach strategies etc.

Lifetime Access to the Little Magic Studios Community
Discord + events

This isn't an investment in another art course.

It's an investment in shortening the learning curve between where you are now and where you want your career to be.

Apply Here

Even More Reviews

“Before starting this mentorship pursing art as a career felt extremely daunting, abstract, and often impossible. Caleb does a phenomenal job of breaking the process down into easy approachable steps all while providing guided personal tips on improving design.

After this course I feel so much more confident in not only my ability to design characters but my ability to navigate the character designer world as well. I highly recommend it to anyone even curious about pursing art, you will truly walk away with some new useful tools in your artsy belt.”

- Abby A.

“Caleb’s mentorship really helped me break out of my comfort zone and become more confident in myself and my art. Caleb is a lovely, supportive and patient Mentor and I felt like I learned so much from him. I had previously studied character design on my 2D Animation course however Caleb managed to explain concepts I previously struggled with in such an easy to understand way that suddenly I felt like everything just clicked! I’m so proud of the body of work I produced with his guidance and I would highly recommend this course, and I’m so happy I had the opportunity to do it!”

- Imi H.

"I enrolled in Caleb's 2-month mentorship program and it felt like an intense art school cram course designed to prepare someone for work as a character designer on a story-based production. The meetings were packed with very substantial advice to grow my career as an artist.

Caleb acted as an art director for a project he assigned me, guiding me not only in designing my characters but also in how I presented and communicated about them through my work. His mentorship challenged me to think more critically, pushed me to complete a large project in a short timeframe, and rewarded the effort with thoughtful feedback and a much stronger portfolio.

If you're willing to put in the work beyond the meetings, Caleb's mentorship delivers real, high impact growth."

- Spencer T.