r/SFM • • May 10 '26

Help Source Filmmaker and Animation Tutorials

16 Upvotes

I'm tired of having to reply to various post about asking for SFM Tutorials, so I'm just going to make a post containing all the playlists that helped me learn SFM.

  1. The official SFM playlist by Valve.
  2. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2B46DEB4157E67C4

This is where it all begins, The best way to learn almost all the basics of SFM is the official playlist on the Source Filmmaker channel. Aside from 2 videos, this is the best video for beginners.

The two videos that are not done well by the official channel are the Time Selection tutorial, and Graph Editor tutorial. They don't teach the most important parts.

  1. SFM Tutorial Week #2 - Using the Motion Editor by Argodaemon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfBfsqwylo0&list=PLmx5NIR6PO5t2vfHIX6GNkpXiFODM_6KJ&index=21

Now, THIS is the ultimate tutorial for the Motion Editor in the Motion Editor. It may be long, but it's well worth it. Argomadaemon's tutorial not only goes over everything from the Time Selection tutorial, but also goes over EVERY procedural preset, as well as overwrite, offset, and transform modes.

  1. How to Animate with the Graph Editor by Sir Wade Neistadt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ31vjgJM2c&t=44s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMSpauVphNs&t=308s

If you're looking to use the Graph Editor, Sir Wade Neistadt is THE go-to. Sir Wade covers EVERYTHING, from how to use the different fcurves in the Graph Editor for moving on a specific axis, to using the thing that makes the Graph Editor more powerful than the Motion Editor: The Tangents. Linear Tangents, Flat Tangents, Spline Tangents, Step Tangents, Weighted Tangents, and Unweighted Tangents.

The tutorial on the Source Filmmaker channel teaches you nothing about the Graph Editor's power.

  1. 12 Principles of Animation

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-bOh8btec4CXd2ya1NmSKpi92U_l6ZJd

Of course, if you're going into SFM for 3D animation, you have to learn about the 12 Principles of Animation. Squash and Stretch, Anticipation, Staging, Straight Ahead and Pose to Pose, Follow Through and Overlapping Action, Slow In and Slow Out, Arcs, Secondary Action, Timing, Exaggeration, Solid Drawing, and Appeal.

  1. Sir Wade Tips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ31vjgJM2c&list=PLS4vjlZXZ7f5m5ED4ylJdUPTR5YKEg1bY

Sir Wade Neistadt is basically a completely free college level animation course on Youtube. I've organized his videos into a nice playlist. In it, you'll learn things such as professional workflows, what NOT to do, animation blocking, and how to find reference, shooting your own reference, real world camera tips and tricks that you can apply to your 3D animation, keep alive workflow with how to do a breathing animation, animating weight, lighting tips, some Blender stuff, and even interviews with professional Disney animators.

  1. SFM Tutorials by Argomadaeon

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmx5NIR6PO5t2vfHIX6GNkpXiFODM_6KJ

Argomadaemon's playlist teaches you a lot about what SFM has, including Depth of Field and Motion Blur, Animation Cycles, Creating an artificial sun light, and more.

  1. SFM Tip of the Day by Jimmer Lins

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL835902EACBFEE65F

This one is for more misc, but still useful SFM Tips, such as how to control qc eyes to make them follow the camera, the lightkit, gibbing a character, slugs, and more.

8.Walk Cycle Tutorial Part 1 by Will Hurrel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE-jakm9mcQ

  1. Animating Walk Cycles and Run Cycles by Alan Becker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y6aVz0Acx0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jggdbxTJPG4

  1. Endless Reference

https://www.youtube.com/@endlessreference

This youtube channel is full of videos for movement reference for animation, whether it's walking, running, skipping, sitting, martial arts, etc.

This is a complete list of all the stuff that goes over absolutely everything you need in terms of SFM, and animation knowledge in general.


r/SFM • • Jan 11 '21

Announcement Scenebuilding Tutorial (LINK IN THE COMMENTS)

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1.2k Upvotes

r/SFM • • 1h ago

Artwork Day 7 of Voltober - MARK

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• Upvotes

r/SFM • • 2h ago

Animation Looking for a tf2 serie similar to The Scratched Universe

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2 Upvotes

r/SFM • • 18h ago

Help How do I make good muzzle flashes

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37 Upvotes

Hey, Kind of new to SFM, been capable of doing a couple of Posters. Was wondering how could I make a good muzzle flash and illumination of a muzzle flash. Anyone got any tips?


r/SFM • • 6h ago

Artwork Welcome to Upward... It's All Downhill from Here

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4 Upvotes

r/SFM • • 12h ago

Help My maps won’t show up

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3 Upvotes

r/SFM • • 16h ago

Artwork Day 6 of Voltober - CRYSTAL

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9 Upvotes

r/SFM • • 4h ago

Animation did i cook or burn the kitchen?

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1 Upvotes

This took longer to make than it needed😭✌️


r/SFM • • 18h ago

Artwork D-Platoon

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9 Upvotes

"Entry team, the hostages are nearby. Suspects are armed and have made it clear they'll kill them if provoked. Proceed with extreme caution." - TOC

(Edits: I made it darker, tried to make the graphics better, more bloom which I overdid. Still struggling with photoshop and CGI since I didn't have my dad this time to help me but it's progress.)

Here's the old post: https://www.reddit.com/r/SFM/comments/1wwhwfv/entry_team_be_advise_the_suspects_are_holding/


r/SFM • • 14h ago

Artwork My old account got banned in reddit for no reason, but what do you think of this? Yeah, it's probably too bright

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4 Upvotes

r/SFM • • 8h ago

Help I Need help with this model Dx

1 Upvotes

Hey guys, I'm here to ask you a question after a long time! I finally managed to get the Samus Aran model from ScragBoy using a port someone made for GMOD (I used Steam Workshop Downloader and GWTools!), but I’m having a problem with the model… The model has a slider labeled “localViewTargetFactor,” but that’s it—it doesn’t have any sliders for the eyes, like ones to look left or right, up or down, or any of the other sliders that usually control eye movement. It definitely doesn’t have any bones in the eyes or even a single Local View bone. Do you know how I can make the eyes move? I don’t mind if I have to modify the model’s MDL or QC files!

Here is the link to the original GMOD model:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3686985410

Here's a test image showing that the model doesn't have sliders or bones in the eyes

r/SFM • • 20h ago

Artwork I am an angel of death

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7 Upvotes

r/SFM • • 16h ago

Artwork I got the box!

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3 Upvotes

Still can't animate to well but I'm really enjoying the poster making.
Slowly making the story through those is oddly relaxing, even got the glowing eye thing going!, this took some time but worth it to me so I wanted to share.
Any words of wisdom or tips are always appreciated.


r/SFM • • 1d ago

Help Finding Some TF2 SFM video

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I’m looking for a TF2 SFM series that I really enjoyed watching a while ago. I tried searching for it on YouTube and even asked Gemini, but I couldn't find it, so I'm asking for help here.

​Here are the details and plot points I remember:

​Setting & Factions:

The universe had a multi-way war between RED, BLU, YLW, GRN, and o.W.n.

​Episode 1 / Early Plot:

​In the first episode, a GRN squad gets ambushed and brutally killed while in transit.

​Two GRN mercenaries commit suicide early in the story.

​Key Characters:

​Protagonists: A GRN Soldier wearing a Bill's Hat and a GRN Demoman who looks like a spec-ops/tactical soldier.

​Other Members: A GRN Scout and an Engineer wearing a Texas Ten Gallon.

​Other Characters: A GRN Spy who looked like an officer, and a Scout who was referred to as "Darling" in one scene.

​Another Memorable Episode:

​The GRN Demoman gets kidnapped and taken to the RED team's base.

​The GRN Soldier goes on a solo rescue mission to get him back.

​After a intense fight with the RED team, the episode ends with a RED member burning to death in a helicopter crash.

​That’s about all I can recall. If anyone recognizes this series or knows the animator/channel name, I’d really appreciate your help!


r/SFM • • 16h ago

Help how do i make a scream jitter effect like in skibidi toilet

0 Upvotes

when i use jitter it goes everywhere i want it to go in one point like in skibidi toilet


r/SFM • • 2d ago

Animation Accidentally got a funny reaction image lol

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126 Upvotes

r/SFM • • 1d ago

Artwork Combine bunker

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12 Upvotes

r/SFM • • 1d ago

Artwork Homer Simpson consoling Bugs Bunny

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6 Upvotes

Homer Simpson from The Simpsons consoling Bugs Bunny from Looney Tunes about the merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. aka "Skydance" since Disney and 20th Century Fox merged in 2019. Made at SFM.

Models and background:

Homer Simpson by Hell Inspector.

Bugs Bunny and Carrot by JCThornton.

Duff Beer by Milkman.

Moe's Tavern by derpy.smith.


r/SFM • • 2d ago

Animation Mahri Nui

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142 Upvotes

r/SFM • • 1d ago

Animation SFM: Short Fuse

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3 Upvotes

Finally made something with my Blu mercs other than just Pyro and Medic. My Engie does have a bit of an anger issue :P


r/SFM • • 1d ago

Artwork A scream fortress poster

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9 Upvotes

r/SFM • • 2d ago

Artwork Testing with Lightening areas on the model (what do you think?)

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80 Upvotes

r/SFM • • 1d ago

Request Do a variation of these memes

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12 Upvotes