What studios look for in an FX TD reel in 2026

We ask every supervisor we work with the same question: what makes you stop scrolling? The answers are remarkably consistent, and most of them have nothing to do with how big the explosion is.

Lead with your strongest shot

Most reviewers decide in the first twenty seconds. Put your best, most relevant piece first, even if it's not the most recent. If you're applying for a water-heavy show, open with FLIP.

Show how it was built

A finished render shows taste. A breakdown shows skill. Include wireframes, sim passes, velocity fields and the before and after of your art direction. A single frame of your network can say more than a paragraph.

Say exactly what you did

Label each shot with your contribution. "FX: pyro sim, caching, debris" is far more useful than a long list of credits. Leads hire people who can own work, and they need to see where your work starts and stops.

Keep it under two minutes

Cut anything that repeats a skill you've already shown. Three excellent shots beat ten good ones. If you have more, put it on a breakdown page and link it.

If you'd like a reel review before applying, send it to us. We'll give you specific notes either way.