Episode 243: Lee Griffin On Picking Up Blender And Going Viral
Feb 21, 2024
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A data analyst, Lee Griffin, picked up Blender as a hobby and created animations with a Nintendo 64 graphics twist that went viral on social media. He shares insights on growing his following, self-producing content, and his secret motivation. Griffin's journey from gaming to animating, balancing hobbies with a banking software career, and aspirations in game development are discussed. The podcast highlights the emotional impact of creative work, navigating social media promotion, and encouraging others to start and persevere in creative projects.
Lee Griffin self-produces all his animations, creating a unique modern twist on old Nintendo 64 graphics that has gone viral on social media.
Griffin's rapid growth from zero to 60,000 Instagram followers in 12 weeks is attributed to his distinct animation style that resonates with viewers.
The secret motivation behind Griffin's work lies in his passion for animation and his desire to continue creating short animations with a nostalgic gaming aesthetic.
Deep dives
Lee Griffin's Unique Animation Style Garnering Millions of Views on Social Media
Lee Griffin, a 25-year-old data analyst, has developed a unique animation style reminiscent of old Nintendo 64 graphics. Since starting to use Blender last year, he has produced dozens of short animations for social media, gaining millions of views. Lee shares that his inspiration comes from watching animated movies, playing games, and being a visual person. He has a natural ability to observe and recreate animations, relying on his visual instincts. While he uses some references and assets, he primarily creates animations that have a modern twist on nostalgic gaming aesthetics. Despite not having formal training in animation, Lee's animations have found immense popularity on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, leading to requests for commissions. While Lee is selective about commissions, he aspires to continue creating short animations and hopes to eventually develop his own video game.
Lee Griffin's Journey into Animation and Blender
Lee Griffin started using Blender as a hobby in 2022 after being inspired by similar animations he saw on Twitter. Initially, he learned Blender sporadically, but in 2023, he made his own game for a game jam, which led him to experiment with animation using the characters he created. Posting these animations on social media, Lee gained a significant following and continued making short animations. His animation style, reminiscent of N64 and PlayStation graphics, resonates with viewers and sparks nostalgia. Lee's background in computer programming and visual thinking aids him in creating visually appealing and well-timed animations. While Lee has received commissions, he focuses on making animations that he loves and connect with others. Additionally, Lee contemplates future possibilities, including creating a video game in his unique style.
Balancing Animation with Full-Time Job and Future Aspirations
Lee Griffin manages his passion for animation alongside his full-time job in the banking software industry. He dedicates much of his free time to animation, replacing his gaming hobby with animating. Despite not having formal artistic training, Lee's style has impressed viewers and gained a significant following, with requests for commissions flooding in. While Lee is selective about commissions due to time constraints, he enjoys the additional creative outlet and the opportunity to collaborate. Looking ahead, Lee envisions developing a video game that captures the nostalgic essence of his animations and attracts a community of players. However, he plans to ensure a well-planned approach before diving into game development and considers collaborating with other artists for music and assets, leveraging his programming skills and visual thinking to create a distinctive video game.
Lee Griffin's Advice for Aspiring Animators
Lee Griffin encourages aspiring animators to jump into their passion and start creating. He emphasizes that spending more time practicing and creating animations leads to improvement over time. Lee suggests finding inspiration in things that personally resonate, such as songs, and using that inspiration to guide the creation of animations. While Lee acknowledges the importance of tutorials and learning from others, he also emphasizes the significance of finding one's own style and not being too reliant on external resources. Additionally, Lee highlights the value of persistence and self-motivation in the creative journey if one wants to achieve their goals.
Lee Griffin's Unique Artistic Journey
Lee Griffin's artistic journey is notable for its rapid growth and development. Without any formal artistic background, Lee ventured into animation using Blender as a hobby. Inspired by video games and animated movies, he started creating short animations in a distinct style reminiscent of older gaming graphics. Lee's animations quickly gained popularity on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, leading to a significant following and requests for commissions. Balancing his animation endeavors with a full-time job in banking software, Lee aspires to further explore his passion by eventually creating a video game. His journey serves as an inspiration for others wanting to pursue their artistic passions, highlighting the importance of persistence and finding one's unique style.
Support this podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theAIP
This chat features Lee Griffin, a 25 year old data analyst who started learning Blender as a hobby. Since then he’s developed a unique style of animation - a modern twist on old Nintendo 64 graphics - that has gone viral on social media. In the last six months, his short animations have gained him over 60 thousand followers on Instagram, 40 thousand on TikTok, and millions of views between the two platforms. In their chat, Griffin shares how he developed his style, why it’s so attractive for social media, and where he plans to take it.
Tune in to Ibele and Griffin to hear:
*How Griffin self-produces everything
*What Griffin did to grow from zero to 60,000 instagram followers in 12 weeks
*The secret motivation behind Griffin’s work
Social Links:
*Check out Griffin’s website: https://litlee.me/
*Follow Griffin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its_lit_lee/
*Follow Griffin on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lit_leee
*Subscribe to Griffin on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdMSWAlSzdiKLnILJsQnWWg
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