Tiny Ghost Studios × BC + AI

AI Animation Accelerator

Direct a portfolio-ready animated short with a real studio pipeline.

An artist-led, AI-powered animation intensive — studio-quality results, real client workflow, real community. Build a complete 30–40 second animated short using the AI-powered production pipeline from Tiny Ghost Studios, led by Luke Minaker and Mayumi Rollings: the same approach behind their greenlit original IP Blood and Glitter.

Format: 3 × 3-hour live sessions
Between sessions: 10–16 hrs production
Delivery: Online · Zoom (recorded)
Class size: 20 participants max

10–20×

faster than traditional workflows

~200

industry attendees at Film Club

1B+

views across the instructors’ work

Cohorts

Upcoming and recent runs

Cohort 1
Completed
March 2026
Online · Zoom
20 participants across Canada, the US, and Europe. Completed.
Cohort 2
In progress
May–June 2026
Online · Zoom
Mon May 25, Jun 1, Jun 8 · 6–9 PM PT. Film Club screening Jun 11.
Register ↗
Cohort 3
Enrolling now
Dates to be announced
Online · Zoom
Newly added — join the list to get the dates first.
Register ↗
Cohort 4
Enrolling now
Dates to be announced
Online · Zoom
Newly added — seats open alongside Cohort 3.
Register ↗

Who it’s for

Built for the people making the calls

Animators navigating the industry shift. Filmmakers exploring AI workflows. Creative professionals who want to see what is actually possible — not what Twitter thinks is possible. No AI experience required; curiosity and a commitment to 10–16 hours of work between sessions are.

What you’ll leave with

Outcomes you can use the next day

Direct one complete, portfolio-ready 30–40 second animated short from a client-style brief.
Harness AI as a creative co-pilot, not a replacement — and keep full creative ownership.
Build scroll-stopping work 10–20× faster than traditional methods.
Optionally screen your short at BC + AI Film Club in front of ~200 industry attendees.

Curriculum

What you’ll build

One complete 30–40 second animated short from a client brief. Your vision. Portfolio-ready. Across three 3-hour intensive sessions, with 10–16 hours of independent production work in between.

Session 1 — Storytelling & animatic
The 80/20 flip; reading a client brief; story beats for short-form animated work; building animatics as the structural spine; character sheets and visual continuity; toolchain orientation.
Session 2 — Animation & editing
First-pass animation in the assigned pipeline; iterate against feedback in the private cohort chat; editing, pacing, and sound.
Session 3 — Studio-style review
Creative review with Luke and Mayumi; animation refinement and continuity fixes; packaging for portfolio and screening; optional pathway into BC + AI Film Club.

The capstone

No slop. No shortcuts. Studio-quality results that reflect your creative vision — packaged for your portfolio and an optional screening at BC + AI Film Club, Canada’s most active AI filmmaking community.

Who’s teaching

Practitioners, not lecturers

Luke Minaker

Co-founder, Tiny Ghost Studios

Making animated content professionally since 17, directing since 21. Multiple awards and over a billion views across film, television, and games. Now pioneering hybrid AI workflows that honor traditional craft.

Mayumi Rollings

CEO & Co-founder, Tiny Ghost Studios

Leads the studio’s AI animation practice and the development of original IP including Blood and Glitter — called “the strongest AI IP from anybody working in this space right now.”

Kris Krüg

Program Lead, BC + AI

The public face of BC + AI. Shapes the program arc, connects participants into the wider community, and runs the Film Club screening that caps the cohort. Reach him at [email protected].

Investment

Pricing — and why membership pays off

One price for the full program — 9 hours of instruction, recordings, and community access.

Full program

$650 CAD

BC + AI member

25% off

Use code BCAI25

Students

Ask us

Limited community seats

BC + AI members save 25% with code BCAI25. If cost is a barrier, email [email protected] — we hold a small number of community seats each cohort.

Become a member first →

Budget an additional ~$50 for AI credits and platform subscription fees during the program.

FAQ

Questions, answered

Do I need animation or AI experience?

No. Curiosity and a willingness to put in 10–16 hours of production work between sessions are the only requirements. Working animators tend to move faster, but first-timers have shipped strong shorts in previous cohorts.

What tools will I use?

The Tiny Ghost pipeline blends a handful of current AI tools for image, motion, voice, and editing alongside traditional tools you likely already use. The exact toolchain and setup is covered in Session 1. Most students spend ~$50 CAD on AI credits and short-term subscriptions.

Do I keep the rights to my short?

Yes. You own your work. We may ask permission to feature your short at BC + AI Film Club, on our channels, or in future program marketing — always with full credit to you.

Can I attend internationally?

Yes. Sessions are online via Zoom in Pacific time and recorded. Remote students can submit their short for the Film Club screening even if they can’t attend in person.

What if I miss a session?

Every session is recorded and shared with the cohort, and Luke and Mayumi are available in the private cohort chat between sessions, so you can stay on pace.

What is the refund policy?

Full refund up to 7 days before Session 1. After that we can transfer your seat to a future cohort. Once Session 1 begins, the program is non-refundable.

Ready to join?

Next up: Cohort 3 · Dates to be announced.

Registration runs through Luma. Questions? Email [email protected] or come to Friday Office Hours (12–1 PM PT, free, open to all).