Skilled trade workers are in high demand across Ontario, and apprenticeships are a critical pathway to these rewarding careers yet knowing how to start can be a barrier for some would-be apprentices. Many find themselves in a "chicken and egg" situation, needing an employer to sponsor them while employers often seek candidates with work experience.
Our Apprenticeship Specialists are ready to guide future apprentices, and the first step is making sure people know where to start. That’s where the idea for an animated video came in. We wanted to create an engaging resource to demystify the apprenticeship process.
This opened the door to a unique experiential learning opportunity that brought students from different programs together to create something relevant and impactful. The result: a vibrant, animated explainer video titled How to Start an Apprenticeship in Ontario. These students created a professional-quality piece to proudly showcase in their portfolios.
In this blog, we’ll go through the behind-the-scenes of how this video was created and the experience our students had making it.
The animation process
For Emily Mathewson, an Animation Advanced Diploma student, the project gave her the ability to stretch her creative muscles.
“When I was first given the base idea—that we were creating a video to teach people about the different pathways of apprenticeship—I began by gathering some inspiration to help define the visual tone and feel,” Emily explains. “I collected reference images for character design, backgrounds and animation style.”
Once the creative direction was set, Emily began storyboarding. “I started with rough sketches and once we finalized the script, I revised the storyboards to align more closely, making sure the visuals matched the pacing, tone and messaging throughout,” she shares. Regular check-ins with Mohawk’s marketing team helped shape and refine the final product. “The feedback was incredibly helpful in making sure everything stayed clear, fun and informative,” Emily says.
This collaborative process mirrors the kind of professional environment Emily will enter once she graduates. One where creativity thrives through teamwork and constructive critique.
Visuals that reflect real people
Every character in the video was designed with intention. From their clothing and features to the way they interact on screen, Emily created a cast of characters that felt relatable.
“It was important to showcase a diverse group of people, so I gave each character a distinct personality through their clothing and features,” Emily explains. She also paid special attention to colour. “I gave the main character bright red hair and a colourful, eye-catching outfit to help her stand out and grab the viewer’s attention right away.”
Emily took a minimalist approach to the background design to guide the viewer's eye to what mattered in each scene—the character. “I aimed to keep the backgrounds simple and neutral-toned, so the focus remained on the characters while still making each location recognizable,” she says. Mohawk College’s brand palette subtly anchored the setting: “I incorporated Mohawk’s branded colours into the environments, which helped maintain consistency throughout the video.”
Animation and real-world impact
“Animating everything was one of the most exciting parts,” Emily shares. “Seeing the characters, backgrounds and effects come together brought the whole vision to life.”
For Emily, the experience of managing a professional video project from concept to final product was not only fun, but formative.
“Every stage of the process, from early concepts to final animation, taught me something new. It was incredibly rewarding to see how far the idea came,” she reflects. “It was my first time managing every step of a professional animated video from start to finish and I’m really proud of the result.”
This is what experiential learning at Mohawk College is all about: giving students the opportunity to apply their skills in real-world contexts, tackle tough challenges, and leave with more than a grade. This project gave Emily confidence, insight and a portfolio piece that highlights her professional abilities.
Voice-over collaboration
Animation was not the only skill on display. Students also lent their voice-over talents to the project. Sam Little and Sophia Cedillos brought the characters to life with engaging narration, adding personality and clarity to the information being shared. Their work not only strengthened the video, but it also gave them experience in a real production pipeline. High-quality voice-over isn’t just nice-to-have—it adds polish, professionalism and emotional connection to visual content. They were crucial in helping the message land more effectively with the audience.
“When the opportunity came up for my friend Sophia and I to do some voice work for this project, it was really exciting,” says Sam. “Mohawk is all about making its students Future Ready, and with opportunities like this, it rings true. It was amazing to get some real work experience and be able to add our work to our portfolio. I loved getting to do it and the experience that it brought!”
A launchpad for career success
Charlie Bonifacio, the program coordinator of the Animation Advanced Diploma and known for his work in major animation studios, believes in giving students real-world opportunities to apply their skills. As he explains “Emily's journey from concept to final animation illustrates the impact of applied learning and its importance during their time at the college.”
Mohawk College supports experiential learning through many channels. In this case, Emily worked as a Digital Animator in the Marketing & Creative Services department through the Campus Student Employment Program (CSEP). CSEP connects students with on-campus jobs that align with their academic and career interests.
By integrating work and study, the program provides students with professional development opportunities while easing financial stress. It’s a practical way to build both a resume and a network, all within the college community!
A future ready outcome
The How to start an apprenticeship in Ontario project is more than just an explainer video. It’s an example of what’s possible when students are given the chance to apply their skills in meaningful ways. These students turned a real-world challenge into an incredible achievement through creativity and collaboration.
Experiential learning doesn’t just prepare students for the future, it helps them discover what they’re capable of today. Whether through a class project, a campus job or spontaneous volunteer opportunities, these experiences prepare students for what’s next. That’s what it means to be future ready.
