Career inspirations and mentors

Learning from Lou Kneath

One of the most important realisations for me during this Professional Developement module, has been how much professional confidence is shaped by people, not just skills. While software, workflows and portfolios matter, it is often a mentor who helps you believe you belong in the industry in the first place. For me, that mentor is Lou Kneath, founder of Plus3K Animation Studios.

I had known Lou through business networking before university, but working with her directly as a tutor on Action, Character & Performance (AVFX4102) completely changed how I saw myself as an animator. What Lou doesn’t know about animation genuinely isn’t worth knowing, but just as importantly, she is one of the most generous and supportive creatives I’ve ever worked with.

Confidence, mindset and learning to trust myself

Lou always believed in my creative ability, often more than I believed in myself. She placed a huge emphasis on mindset, reminding us that animation is as much about confidence and decision-making as it is about technique. At a time when I was struggling with Maya and feeling overwhelmed by the technical side of animation, her patience and clarity made a real difference.

One phrase of hers that stuck with me was the idea that software is “just a fancy pencil”. That framing stopped the technology from feeling intimidating and helped me focus on performance, intention and clarity instead of fear. That shift alone unlocked a lot of creative progress for me.

A critique style that brings animation to life

Lou’s feedback was always supportive and constructive, never dismissive. What I loved most was how physical her teaching was, she would act out animation moves, facial expressions and beats, turning critique into performance. That approach made animation feel playful, embodied and human rather than abstract or overly technical.

Being around that energy made learning joyful. It also reinforced something I’ve come to value deeply: animation is about observing life, emotion and behaviour, not just manipulating rigs and keyframes.

Mentor and role model, and proudly, a friend

I see Lou as both a mentor figure and an aspirational role model. She has always encouraged me to reach out, grab a coffee, and talk creatively, and that openness has helped remove the fear of “bothering” industry professionals. We gel as creatives, think similarly, and I’d honestly say we’re friends rather than business contacts. I could talk with Lou for hours and never get bored.

That human connection is something I want to carry forward into my own professional practice: collaboration built on trust, curiosity and shared enthusiasm rather than rigid hierarchies.

Inspiration beyond teaching: work that matters

Lou’s creative output is a constant source of inspiration. Her ability to combine professional-level animation with meaningful, socially engaged storytelling is something I deeply admire.

• My Friend Misty
  A beautifully crafted hybrid series for Sky Kids, blending live action, CelAction2D and hand-drawn animation, proof that high-quality children’s content can be visually rich and emotionally thoughtful.

• Lollipop Lil
  A warm, character-driven comedy created by Lou that centres community, friendship and imaginative play, exactly the kind of storytelling I value.

• The Fell We Climb
  An award-winning animated short created with Anti Racist Cumbria, inspired by lived experiences of Black and Brown young people growing up in Cumbria. This project, which has screened at BAFTA- and Oscar-qualifying festivals alongside studios like Aardman, is especially powerful to me. Lou stayed true to her values, stayed in Carlisle, and proved that world-class animation does not have to come from London or LA.

That decision, to build something globally relevant while remaining rooted locally, is hugely influential for my own ambitions.

Positivity, purpose and creative responsibility

Lou’s character Positively Pigasus sums up her ethos perfectly: optimism, kindness and encouragement without being naïve. I even bought her calendar and gifted it to my eldest daughter, which says a lot about how personally meaningful that work feels to me.

Underlying all of Lou’s projects is a strong sense of responsibility — the belief that creatives can inspire change, explain complex ideas, and help make the world better. That philosophy aligns closely with how I want to approach my own career.

Reflection and next steps

This reflection has helped me recognise how valuable mentorship and creative friendship are to long-term employability. Lou represents the kind of practitioner I aspire to be: technically excellent, emotionally intelligent, community-focused and generous with knowledge.

My next step is simple but important — maintaining that connection. I’m currently waiting on a reply to meet up for a coffee and a proper creative catch-up. Beyond that, I want to continue sharing my work, asking questions, and learning through conversation rather than isolation.

MDIA5007 Professional Developement, has pushed me to think about careers not just as ladders, but as networks of relationships. Lou Kneath is living proof that you can build meaningful, internationally respected creative work, and do it with integrity, warmth and purpose.

References

• Reference listAutodesk (2017). Maya | Computer Animation & Modeling Software | Autodesk. [online] Autodesk.com. Available at: https://www.autodesk.com/products/maya/overview [Accessed 26 Dec. 2025].

• Fox, R. (2025). Award-winning Director Lou Kneath to help local businesses stand out with new workshops - Cumbria Chamber of Commerce. [online] Cumbria Chamber of Commerce. Available at: https://cumbriachamber.co.uk/award-winning-director-lou-kneath-to-help-local-businesses-stand-out-with-new-workshops/ [Accessed 26 Dec. 2025].

• Kneath, L. (2025a). LOLLIPOP LIL | EVERYONE’S FAVOURITE CROSSING GUARD - Plus3K. [online] Plus3K. Available at: https://plus3k.tv/work/lollipop-lil/ [Accessed 26 Dec. 2025].

• Kneath, L. (2025b). MY FRIEND MISTY | SEASON ONE - Plus3K. [online] Plus3K. Available at: https://plus3k.tv/work/my-friend-misty/ [Accessed 26 Dec. 2025].

• Kneath, L. (2025c). THE FELL WE CLIMB | ANTI RACIST CUMBRIA - Plus3K. [online] Plus3K. Available at: https://plus3k.tv/work/the-fell-we-climb/ [Accessed 26 Dec. 2025].

• Kneath, L. (2026). Positively Pigasus. [online] Positively Pigasus. Available at: https://www.positivelypigasus.com/ [Accessed 26 Dec. 2025].

• Plus3k Animation (2025). Plus3K. [online] Plus3K. Available at: https://plus3k.tv/ [Accessed 26 Dec. 2025]. Plus3K Animation Logo.

Fig. 2. Lou Kneath. Image source Cumbria Chamber of Commerce (Fox, 2025)

Fig. 1. Lou Kneath Founder of Plus3K Animation

Fig. 3. Plus 3 Animation logo (Plus3k, 2025)

Fig. 4. Maya logo (Autodesk, 2017)

Fig. 5 Walking ball in Maya work space (Autodesk, 2017)

Fig. 6. Award recived for The Fell We Climb (Plus3k, 2025)

Fig. 7. Award winning The Fell We Climb (Plus3k, 2025)

Fig. 8. My Friend Misty on Sky Kids (Plus3k, 2024)

Fig. 10. Positively Pigasus (Plus3k, 2024)

Fig. 9. Lollipop Lil’ (Plus3k, 2024)

AI Use Statement

Generative AI tools were used to support the structuring, editing, and clarity of this reflective writing. All ideas, critical analysis, and personal reflections are my own.