Animation Student Spotlight: Discover Dunja Marković’s journey from doodles to polished 3D animation, blending artistry with industry expertise.

“I discovered how beneficial it is to begin with simple characters and build a strong foundation.”

Blending Experience and Growth: Meet iAnimate Student Dunja Marković

With a decade of experience in motion capture and 2D animation, Serbian animator Dunja Marković knows her craft — but she’s never stopped seeking ways to grow. After exploring numerous animation schools, she was drawn to iAnimate by the impressive portfolios of its instructors. “Once you find people whose work inspires you, the choice becomes simple,” she says. Now, learning from industry veterans who are not only exceptionally skilled but also patient and down-to-earth, Dunja is honing her skills and pushing her animation to new heights.

Recently hired for a new opportunity, Dunja’s start date has been postponed while she recovers from an injury — so, for now, she’s keeping the details under wraps until everything is finalized.

“I researched many animation schools before enrolling. What led me to iAnimate was the instructors and their amazing portfolios…I’m happy to share that they’re not only incredible at what they do, but also down-to-earth, patient, and amazing at teaching.” 

Student Animation Journey

Dunja took the Feature Animation Workshop at iAnimate:

Feature Animation Workshop

• Feature Animation Workshop 1

with Game Animation instructors:

• Darrell Vasquez - Insomniac Games

“Darrell goes above and beyond, and he teaches in such a clear and easy-to-understand way that I can’t help but smile. You get a short lecture on the task ahead, and then you see the magic happen right there on screen, live.”

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Dunja’s Creative Process: From Paper Sketches to Polished Performance

For Dunja, every animation begins away from the screen — with the simplicity of pen and paper. “I always start with doodling,” she explains. “As soon as the task is presented in class, ideas start flowing, and I like to explore them visually right away.” These quick sketches help her capture the essence of a movement or performance before committing to the technical work.

Once she’s happy with her rough draft, Dunja transitions into Maya, where she sets up the scene and prepares her character. This marks the start of the blocking phase, where she lays down the key poses that will form the backbone of the animation. By translating her hand-drawn ideas into clear, strong poses in 3D space, she ensures the animation retains the same energy and clarity she envisioned on paper.

From there, she refines the work — adjusting timing, smoothing transitions, and adding the subtle details that give life to the character. It’s a process that blends the spontaneity of traditional sketching with the precision of digital animation, resulting in work that feels both organic and meticulously crafted.

“I learned how valuable it is to start from the beginning and stay open to exploring new ways of working and learning. With ten years of experience behind me, I was almost impatient to skip the bouncing ball and jump straight into the fun stuff.

But through Darrell’s lectures, I discovered how beneficial it is to begin with simple characters and build a strong foundation. I realized I was in the dark about many tiny details that had been weighing me down professionally and holding me back from working on the kinds of shots I truly wanted to do.

So, from one animator to another — Don’t be afraid to revisit the bouncing ball. It really all starts from there!”

You can reach Dunja via:

Student Spotlight Q&A with Animator Dunja Marković

iAnimate: What do you think of your Online Animation Instructor(s), and how do they help you?

Dunja: I love how simple it is when you have someone who knows what they are doing! Darrell goes above and beyond, and he teaches in such a clear and easy-to-understand way that I can’t help but smile. You get a short lecture on the task ahead, and then you see the magic happen right there on screen, live. It's a college class most of us who graduated in animation never quite got.

iAnimate: How did iAnimate help you to evolve your animation skills as a character animator?

Dunja: I feel like I have more courage to try things out and be confident in trusting the process. It becomes easier when your foundation is strengthened with the right kind of knowledge and shaped by someone who truly knows the craft.

iAnimate: What kind of animator do you consider after taking your student workshop's?

Dunja: A less careful and more playful one! I still have a few Feature Animation workshops left to complete, but I’m very happy with the progress so far. It’s been wonderful.

iAnimate: What kind of project do you want to work on?

Dunja: I recently watched the movie Luca — it has some of the most incredible and vibrant animation I’ve ever seen. Arcane and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, on the other hand, have completely changed how I view animation. And then there’s The Witcher 3 — a generational masterpiece in every aspect.

My goal right now isn't to aim for a specific studio, but to focus on learning and improving so I can be considered for animation projects of a similar caliber. If I can inch closer to that level of quality, I’m confident I’ll find my way to where amazing stories are being made.