Jim van der Keyl

Jim Vanderkeyl is a veteran animator and caricaturist with over 35 years of experience at Disney, DreamWorks, and Warner Bros. His iconic credits include The Little Mermaid, Iron Giant, and Kung Fu Panda. Jim earned an Annie Award nomination for his work on the masterpiece The Iron Giant and has contributed to modern hits like Puss in Boots and Monsters vs. Aliens.

Known for his "VDK Fast Track Method," Jim specializes in teaching the mechanical foundations of animation—timing, spacing, and posing. He focuses on "quick wins" using simple shapes to build professional intuition in both 2D and 3D animators.

Beyond motion, Jim is a master of character exaggeration and the author of the Amazon Best Seller, "The Caricaturist's Handbook." Whether through his books or his instruction at iAnimate, Jim is dedicated to "settling the doubts" of artists and providing a clear, actionable roadmap to professional mastery. Stop guessing, start animating, and make it move!