introducing the best 

78 hours 38 minutes and 29 seconds

of your life ;) 

(last time I counted the total course length)

 

The complete guided system that teaches you how Houdini actually works, so you can design, troubleshoot, and finish work with confidence.

Get the Details

 INTRODUCING

LEVEL UP: HOUDINI

THE STRUCTURED PROGRAM

TO GO FROM ZERO TO DESIGNING YOUR OWN SHOTS IN HOUDINI

 

In this guided program, you'll:

  • Rebuild your understanding of Houdini, from the ground up
  • Learn the exact "why" behind every step, and reason through any setup.
  • Create real, portfolio-ready work through guided challenges and Boss Battles.
  • Gain a complete understanding of how Houdini works and why it works.
  • Get direct mentorship and feedback inside a private artist community.

 

By the end, you won’t just know more Houdini
you’ll understand it.

 


LEVEL UP isn’t another collection of tutorials or isolated workflows.

It’s a system that teaches you how to design and reason inside Houdini - so you can build projects intentionally and with full control.

Learn how to take your ideas, and bring them to life in Houdini. 

See How It Works

I'm Will and I'm a 3D artist who learned Houdini the hard way.

I've now taken my Houdini experience, 3D client experience, and freelance experience and distilled learning Houdini down into the most effective and efficient way possible.

 

(Also feel free to connect on Instagram, if you have any questions about the course or just want to say hi! My account info is below :)

 

(1 min 13 second read)

 LEVEL UP: Houdini

a letter from me

 

When I first started learning Houdini I remember feeling completely lost.

 

I learned small parts of different workflows, and was able to make small things work, or follow along with a basic tutorial and even start using a few different shelf tools. But everything felt disconnected, like Houdini was endless things I needed to remember - but none of it made sense. None of it stuck, and I kept feeling overwhelmed.

I'd spend weeks, nights, and weekends watching tutorial after tutorial, trying to follow step-by-step, only to realize that my network looked nothing like the instructor's, and nothing ever clicked.

 

It took me years... with multiple attempts, actually dozens of attempts, and hundreds of abandoned projects, before I finally understood what Houdini was actually doing. It took me way to long to finally feel confident and fully able to say that I now know what is going on and I am now able to approach just about any task I want.

Looking back, I now realize that most workshops and tutorials all miss the same thing.

Most courses, workshops, and tutorials seemed to teach some disconnected specifics and show workflows being applied but didn't fully connect the dots from scratch. And many times they didn't explain how they got to the reasoning behind each action that was taken, or each node that was placed. Most of the time, you'd just follow the nodes they'd put down - hoping that after doing that enough times it would eventually make sense and stick. They jump into Houdini right away, and start teaching you the UI, the buttons, and how to work with Houdini - but skip entirely over how to think like Houdini, and how to approach it with the right intuition.

 

This program was made to try and fix that, and help you achieve your goal and learn Houdini with intuition first. It is my attempt to teach Houdini in a way that lets you understand it holistically. Where you build up your understanding 100% from scratch.

Over seven structured levels: 

We’ll go step by step through the same process I used to finally make Houdini click. 
You’ll have guidance, feedback, and a community moving alongside you the entire way.

 

This isn’t a workshop you’ll watch and forget.


It’s a system you’ll learn by doing, with real projects, personalized mentorship, and support designed to help you finally understand how everything fits together.

 

I made this program so you don’t have to spend years figuring Houdini out the hard way like I did.
 

You don’t need another workshop.
 

You need a system that finally makes Houdini click.

  

- William,

Founding Artist, WTTR Labs + WTTR Studios

 

P.S. Yes, I did time myself reading this (a few times actually). The median time was 01:13.57.

 

HOW LEVEL UP WORKS 

 

So what's the difference between this program and learning Houdini the hard way?

It comes down to starting from the basics, and working our way up.

We'll work together to reset your whole understanding of Houdini and start from scratch. We'll build it back up together, step-by-step and lesson-by-lesson, so you can make connections from the beginning - and see why everything works the way it does.

Instead of staying stuck watching endless tutorials, starting disconnected projects, or wasting months follow along to videos you don't understand, you’ll unlock and train your own mental model behind Houdini itself. 


Each level, you’ll unlock a new layer of understanding - connecting the dots as you go.
You keep building momentum, and feel real progress in your understanding of Houdini.

By the end of the program, you won't just "know" more Houdini.
You'll understand it.

You see how it fits together, why it works the way it does, and have confidence to start those projects you always wanted to.

You’ll understand Houdini better than most people who’ve used it for years,
because you’ll finally see the logic behind it all.

 

See Inside The Program

 

 

The LEVEL UP: Houdini Curriculum  

 

Level 1: Concept Foundations (Free sample on YouTube)

We start from the basics, introducing everything from the ground up. We cover the core foundations and data that make up the information Houdini operates on.

 

Level 2: Core Concepts

 We continue where we left off in Level 1, and start building up our knowledge of the "language of Houdini". We understand what Houdini does at a core level, and what is happening as Houdini reads through our network and setups.

 

Level 3: Procedural Systems

We start to connect the dots of why Houdini is so powerful, we see how to design and organize key procedural components that can be used in our projects. 

 

Level 4: Houdini Applied

Now we begin to apply everything we've learned about how Houdini operates and how to design and approach our projects. We learn the implementation for our big goals we set up in previous levels.

 

Level 5: BOSS BATTLES

 In real-world projects, we apply our new technical knowledge to showcase how we can tackle these complex projects from scratch. Each battle you can approach on your own, or watch me walk through each step and stage to create the finished work.  (A free Boss Battle sample project is on YouTube)

 

Level 6: Simulation Fundamentals

Now that we know how real projects are completed, we'll expand our Houdini knowledge into the "fun parts" of Houdini. We'll get a FULL understanding of how simulations work in Houdini, and in depth lessons covering how to actually create shots using solvers such as Pyro, RBD, and more. (A free RBD sample is on YouTube)

 

Level 7: Simulations Applied (coming soon)

To level up our projects, we'll now take what we learned in Level 6, and apply to full projects and shots. This level is where we create full FX shots, portfolio ready renders, and learn how to layer, to combine, and to manage simulations for real production requirements.

 

 BONUS LEVEL: The Grand Arena 

It's your battle now.

This final level, we team up to work on the projects you want to work on. I help you break down your own ideas and your own projects into how you can best approach them, and give you personalized guidance on how to best start and complete them.

This is what you've been working towards. And together we'll make it happen.

 

 

 

Once you complete every lesson the program doesn't end, it's just the start.

Now that you've built up the skills to complete projects on your own, you keep working towards that goal. I'll still be here to answer questions, give you feedback, and keep you accountable.

LEVEL UP: Houdini

  1. Level 0: Onboarding + Course Tutorial

    9 lessons
    1. Welcome
    2. Why This Course Was Made
    3. What The Course Covers
    4. What This Course Does Not Cover
    5. How the Course is Structured
    6. Suggested Ways To Get The Most Out Of The Course
    7. A Disclaimer On Complexity
    8. Your Final Transformation
    9. Kajabi Course Organization

  2. Level 1: Concept Foundations

    24 lesson
    1. 1.0 - Level 1: INTRODUCTION

    1. 1.1 - 3D Fundamentals: What Is A Scene

      1. What Makes a Cube?
      2. From Cube to Sphere to Dinosaur
      3. What Make a Scene
      4. From Plain Objects to Colored Materials
      5. 3D Scenes, to 2D Image: How the Camera Works

    2. 1.2 - It's All Data: Thinking In Terms Of Information

      1. A 2D Example: Information In Tiers
      2. A 3D Scene: Our 3D Data
      3. More Scenes, More Data

    3. 1.3 - Types Of Scene Data: Where It All Fits In

      1. Data Recap: Keeping It Separate
      2. 3D Data: Building Our First Scene
      3. Data Categories: Where Our Scene Fits In
      4. Making Data Changes Easy
      5. Data Overlap: Common Exceptions
      6. Sparks, Explosions And Splashes

    4. 1.4 - Organizing the 3D Data

      1. The Two General Approaches
      2. Why It Matters: Approaches Applied
      3. A Mix of Both

    5. 1.5 - File Input / Output: Types Of Files

      1. The Common File Formats of Houdini
      2. Writing vs Reading
      3. A Common File Workflow

    6. 1.6 - Data / Information Types: Variables + Attributes

      1. Data Types
      2. Data Types Use Cases
      3. Points Or Vertices Or Polygons?

  3. Level 2: Core Concepts

    14 lesson
    1. 2.0 - Level 2: INTRODUCTION

    1. 2.1 - Nodes, Networks, How Houdini Thinks

      1. Operating On Information
      2. What Is A "Node"
      3. What Is A Parameter
      4. Nodes Made Of Nodes
      5. Networks Of Nodes
      6. How Houdini Reads A Network

    2. 2.2 - Instructions vs Data - "The Recipe" vs "The Cake"

      1. The Recipe vs The Cake
      2. Saving Our Cake: Caching
      3. Instruction Sizes vs Data Sizes
      4. Choosing Our Cache Locations

    3. 2.3 - Goals vs Tasks vs Workflows

      1. Defining Our Big Scary Monster
      2. Framework Example: A Rope Bridge
      3. Framework Challenge: Your Turn Now

  4. Level 3: Procedural Systems

    11 lesson
    1. 3.0 - Level 3: INTRODUCTION

    1. 3.1 - Workflow Dependencies

      1. Destructive vs Procedural Workflows
      2. One Goal, Infinite Workflows
      3. What Makes A Workflow Dependent
      4. Challenges and Benefits of Dependencies
      5. A Practical Procedural Example
      6. Dependencies WE Determine

    2. 3.2 - Procedural Workflow Demonstrated

      1. Building A Building Generator
      2. What Makes Up A Building

    3. 3.3 - Workflow Wizadry: Expanding to Modularity

      1. From Building To Street to City
      2. Big Goals to Small Goals: Why We Do It

  5. Level 4: Houdini Applied

    78 lesson
    1. 4.0 - Level 4: INTRODUCTION

    1. 4.01 - Opening and Navigating Houdini

      1. Opening Houdini, Modifying the UI
      2. Navigating Our Contexts
      3. Adding Nodes, Removing Nodes

    2. 4.02 - Introduction to Contexts: How Our Data Fits In

      1. Contexts We'll Use
      2. Moving Data: How It Fits In
      3. Organizing Our Data Types
      4. A Sample Workflow

    3. 4.03 - Our First Context: SOPS / Geometry / Attributes

      1. Creating Our First Data
      2. Cube vs Sphere vs Dinosaur
      3. Modifying The Data
      4. Saving And Loading The Data
      5. VEX Intro
      6. VOPS Intro

    4. 4.04 - Parameters And Subnetworks: "HDAs" Introduced

      1. Parameters Introduced
      2. Linking And Adjusting Parameters
      3. HDAs Parameters and Custom Nodes

    5. 4.05 - Our Second Context: Stage / Solaris / Layout

      1. USD Introduction
      2. Primitive, Organization, and Our Scene Graph Tree
      3. The Basics Of A Scene

    6. 4.06 - Camera Setup And Basics

      1. Creating Our Camera
      2. Camera Parameters
      3. Camera Animation

    7. 4.07 - Lighting & Rendering Setup And Basics

      1. Recap Of Rendering
      2. Intro To Lighting
      3. Karma Render Settings
      4. Rendering Our First Image
      5. Depth Of Field
      6. Motion Blur

    8. 4.08 - Intro To Materials

      1. Creating A Basic Material
      2. Material Properties and Values
      3. UVs Introduction
      4. More Complex Materials: Textures
      5. More Complex Materials: Noises
      6. More Complex Materials: Attributes
      7. Material Management

    9. 4.09 - Intro To Lighting

      1. Point Light And Sphere Light
      2. Area / Rect Light
      3. Dome Light
      4. Spot Light
      5. Multiple Lighting Setups
      6. Emissive Materials
      7. Lighting Theory

    10. 4.10 - Common Concepts

      1. Working With Curves - "curveu" Attribute Explored
      2. Working With Curves - Rendering Curves
      3. Instancing Workflows Pt. 1 - Scattering Points
      4. Instancing Workflows Pt. 2 - Instancing To Points

    11. 4.11 - Heightfields: Introduction

      1. Project Files - Heightfield Lessons
      2. Example Volcano Project - Project Files
      3. Heightfield Section Overview
      4. Intro To Heightfields
      5. Intro To Heightfields - Pt 2
      6. Heightfield Noise Intro
      7. Heightfield Distort By Noise
      8. Heightfield Masks - Painting Masks
      9. Heightfield Masks - Mask By Object
      10. Heightfield Masks - Modifying Masks
      11. Heightfield Masks - Mask By Features
      12. Heightfield Masks - Merging Masks
      13. Heightfield Mask Expand - Height Layer
      14. Heightfield Pattern Node
      15. Heightfield Combine Layers
      16. Heightfield Slump
      17. Heightfield Layer + Layering - Example 01
      18. Heightfield Layer + Layering - Example 02
      19. Heightfield Layer + Layering - Example 03
      20. Heightfield Erode (intro)

    12. 4.12 - Environment Full Workflow

      1. Project Files - Heightfield Environment Workflow
      2. Section Intro - (Heightfield Environment Workflow)
      3. Volcano Overview - (Heightfield Environment Workflow)
      4. Environment From Scratch - Chapter 01: Part 01 - Planning
      5. Environment From Scratch - Chapter 01: Part 02 - Base Shape
      6. Environment From Scratch - Chapter 01: Part 03 - Volcano Detailing
      7. Environment From Scratch - Chapter 01: Part 04 - Canyon Detailing (part 1)
      8. Environment From Scratch - Chapter 01: Part 04 - Canyon Detailing (part 2)
      9. Environment From Scratch - Chapter 01: Part 05 - Preview Visualize Volcano
      10. Environment From Scratch - Chapter 01: Part 06 - Preview Visualize Canyon
      11. Environment From Scratch - Chapter 01: Part 07 - Final Heightfield Prep

  6. Level 5: BOSS BATTLES - Workflows Applied

    93 lesson
    1. 5.0 - Level 5: INTRODUCTION

    1. BOSS BATTLE - Studio Scene

      1. Project Files: Studio Scene
      2. Part 01 - Project Brief
      3. Part 02 - Framework Breakdown [CHEAT CODES]
      4. Part 03 - Houdini Organization [CHEAT CODES]
      5. Part 04 - Our Full Project [Houdini Implementation CHEAT CODES]

    2. BOSS BATTLE - Abstract Motion Design

      1. Project Files: Abstract Motion Design
      2. Completed Project - Preview
      3. Part 01: Project Brief
      4. Part 02: Framework Breakdown
      5. Part 03: Houdini Organization
      6. Part 04.01 - Scene Modeling - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      7. Part 04.02 - Solaris Layout Prep - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      8. Part 04.03 - Scene Lighting - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      9. Part 04.04 - Materials - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      10. Part 04.05 - Lighting Continued - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      11. Part 04.06 - Animation - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      12. Part 04.07 - Rendering - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      13. Part 04.08 - Animation Final Touches - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      14. Part 04.09 - Final Render Settings - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      15. Part 04.10 - Compositing - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      16. Part 04.11 - Wrap Up and Recap - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]

    3. BOSS BATTLE - Procedural Plants

      1. Project Files: Procedural Plants
      2. Completed Project - Preview
      3. Part 01 - Project Brief
      4. Part 02 - Framework Breakdown [CHEAT CODES]
      5. Part 03 - Houdini Organization [CHEAT CODES]
      6. Part 04 - Our Backdrop Scene - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      7. Part 04 - Our Plant Patch Tool - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      8. Part 04 - Short Grass (modeling) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      9. Part 04 - Tall Grass (modeling) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      10. Part 04 - Clover (modeling) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      11. Part 04 - Yellow Flower (modeling) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      12. Part 04 - Big Purple Flower (modeling) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      13. Part 04 - White Flower (modeling) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      14. Part 04 - Short Grass (materials) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      15. Part 04 - Tall Grass (materials) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      16. Part 04 - Yellow / Pink Flower (materials) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      17. Part 04 - Clover (materials) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      18. Part 04 - White Flower (materials) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      19. Part 04 - Big Purple Flower (materials) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      20. Part 04 - Grass Patch Scene (layout) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      21. Part 04 - Batch Rendering (rendering) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      22. Part 04 - Render Exporting (to videos) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      23. Part 04 - Bonus Camera Angle - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]

    4. BOSS BATTLE - Procedural Crystals

      1. Project Files: Procedural Crystals
      2. Completed Project - Preview Trailer
      3. Part 01: Project Brief
      4. Part 02: Framework Breakdown [CHEAT CODES]
      5. Part 03 - Houdini Organization [CHEAT CODES]
      6. Part 04.01 - Studio Setup - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      7. Part 04.02 - Crystal Modeling - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      8. Part 04.03 - Crystal Instancing Prep - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      9. Part 04.04 - Geometry Prep For Solaris - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      10. Part 04.05 - Rock Materials - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      11. Part 04.06 - Crystal Materials - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      12. Part 04.07 - Assorted Look Dev Part 01 - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      13. Part 04.08 - Assorted Look Dev Part 02 - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]

    5. BOSS BATTLE - Desert Environment Scene

      1. Project Files: Desert Environment
      2. Completed Project - Preview Trailer
      3. Part 01 - Project Brief
      4. Part 02 - Framework Breakdown [CHEAT CODES]
      5. Part 03 - Houdini Organization [CHEAT CODES]
      6. Part 04.01 - Studio Environment - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      7. Part 04.02- First Grass Patch - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      8. Part 04.03 - Grass Variations (modeling) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      9. Part 04.04 - Grass To Solaris (layout)- [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      10. Part 04.05 - Rocks (modeling) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      11. Part 04.06 - Sticks (modeling) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      12. Part 04.07 - Rocks / Sticks To Solaris (layout) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      13. Part 04.08 - Grass Shading (materials) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      14. Part 04.09 - Rocks Shading (materials) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      15. Part 04.10 - Ground Sand Shading (materials) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      16. Part 04.11 - Environment Starting Sand Dune Tool (VOPS) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      17. Part 04.12 - Dune Tool Cleanup (VOPS / HDAs) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      18. Part 04.13 - Sand Dune Showcase (VOPS) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      19. Part 04.14 - Sand Dune Tool Used (VOPS) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      20. Part 04.15 - Sand Dune Shading (materials) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      21. Part 04.16 - Sand Dune Mesh Detailing - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      22. Part 04.17 - Scene Lighting - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      23. Part 04.18 - Scattering Prep (culling by camera) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      24. Part 04.19 - Prop Scattering (basic) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      25. Part 04.20 - Prop Instancing (layout) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      26. Part 04.21 - Prop Scattering (advanced) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      27. Part 04.22 - Prop Material Updates (materials) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      28. Part 04.23 - Sand Material Updates (materials) - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      29. Part 04.24 - Rendering Setup - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      30. Part 04.25 - Camera Animation - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      31. Part 04.26 - Compositing 01: Reference Approach - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      32. Part 04.27 - Compositing 02: Depth + Crypto Pass - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      33. Part 04.28 - Compositing 03: Nightime - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      34. Part 04.29 - Compositing 04: Mars SciFi- [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]
      35. Part 04.30 - Final Composite / Project Wrapup - [Houdini Implementation: CHEAT CODES]

    6. BOSS BATTLE - *in progress*

  7. Level 6: Simulation Fundamentals - RBD

    40 lessons

    1. RBD Section 01: RBD Fundamentals

      1. rbd.01.01 - Project Files - RBD Fundamentals
      2. rbd.01.02 - Overview - RBD Fundamentals
      3. rbd.01.03 - Introduction - RBD Fundamentals
      4. rbd.01.04 - "name" Attribute & Packed Geo - Example 01
      5. rbd.01.05 - "name" Attribute & Packed Geo - Example 02
      6. rbd.01.06 - "name" Attribute & Packed Geo - Example 03
      7. rbd.01.07 - "name" Attribute & Packed Geo - Example 04
      8. rbd.01.08 - "name" Attribute & Packed Geo - Example 05
      9. rbd.01.09 - "active" Attribute - Example 01
      10. rbd.01.10 - "active" Attribute - Example 02
      11. rbd.01.11 - "active" Attribute - Example 03
      12. rbd.01.12 - "animated" Attribute - Example 01
      13. rbd.01.13 - "deforming" Attribute - Example 02
      14. rbd.01.14 - "deforming" Attribute - Example 03
      15. rbd.01.15 - Collision Shapes - Example 01
      16. rbd.01.16 - Collision Shapes - Example 02
      17. rbd.01.17 - Collision Shapes - Example 03
      18. rbd.01.18 - Collision Shapes - Example 04
      19. rbd.01.19 - Collision Shapes - Example 05
      20. rbd.01.20 - Collision Shapes - Example 06
      21. rbd.01.21 - Collision Shapes - Example 07
      22. rbd.01.22 - Section Recap + Review

    2. RBD Section 02: RBD Constraints

      1. rbd.02.01 - Project Files - RBD Constraints
      2. rbd.02.02 - Intro - RBD Constraints
      3. rbd.02.03 - What We'll Learn - RBD Constraints
      4. rbd.02.04 - A Basic Constraint - Part 01
      5. rbd.02.05 - A Basic Constraint - Part 02
      6. rbd.02.06 - Constraints on Packed VS Unpacked Geo
      7. rbd.02.07 - Hard Constraint - Example 01
      8. rbd.02.08 - Hard Constraint - Example 02
      9. rbd.02.09 - Hard Constraint - Example 03
      10. rbd.02.10 - Hard Constraint - Example 04
      11. rbd.02.11 - Hard Vs Soft Constraint
      12. rbd.02.12 - Constraints Example - A Simple Bridge
      13. rbd.02.13 - Constraints Example - More Complex Bridge
      14. rbd.02.14 - Constraints To Animated RBD - Example 01
      15. rbd.02.15 - Constraints To Animated RBD - Example 02
      16. rbd.02.16 - Constraints To Animated RBD - Example 03
      17. rbd.02.17 - Constraints To Animated RBD - Example 04
      18. rbd.02.18 - Constraints Recap

    3. RBD Section 03: RBD Fracturing

    4. RBD Section 04: RBD Extended

  8. Level 6: Simulation Fundamentals - Pyro

    47 lessons

    1. Pyro Section 01: Pyro Fundamentals

      1. pyro.01.01 - Project Files - Pyro Fundamentals
      2. pyro.01.02 - Intro - Pyro Fundamentals
      3. pyro.01.03 - Quick Tip: Scene View Lights
      4. pyro.01.04 - What We'll Cover - Pyro Fundamentals
      5. pyro.01.05 - Preparing Source Volumes
      6. pyro.01.06 - Our First Sim + Pyro Solver Introduction
      7. pyro.01.07 - Changing Source Volumes
      8. pyro.01.08 - Stopping A Source
      9. pyro.01.09 - Velocities
      10. pyro.01.10 - Looping Sourcing
      11. pyro.01.11 - Simulation Forces
      12. pyro.01.12 - Divergence Field
      13. pyro.01.13 - Control Fields
      14. pyro.01.14 - Custom Fields
      15. pyro.01.15 - Collision Introduction
      16. pyro.01.16 - Collision: Fractional Frames & Simulation Substeps
      17. pyro.01.17 - Colored Smoke (Cd field)
      18. pyro.01.18 - Secondary Simulations
      19. pyro.01.19 - Section Recap & Review

    2. Pyro Section 02: Fire

      1. pyro.02.01 - Project Files - Fire
      2. pyro.02.02 - Intro - Fire
      3. pyro.02.03 - What We'll Cover - Fire
      4. pyro.02.04 - Temperature Field Intro
      5. pyro.02.05 - Flame Field Intro
      6. pyro.02.06 - Simple Fire Intro (no smoke)
      7. pyro.02.07 - Simple Fire Intro (with smoke)
      8. pyro.02.08 - Basic Fire Setup
      9. pyro.02.09 - Fire From Scratch
      10. pyro.02.10 - Secondary Sims Example 01
      11. pyro.02.11 - Secondary Sims Example 02
      12. pyro.02.12 - Secondary Smoke Sim From Scratch
      13. pyro.02.13 - Section Recap & Review

    3. Pyro Section 03: Explosions

      1. pyro.03.01 - Project Files - Explosions
      2. pyro.03.02 - Intro - Explosions
      3. pyro.03.03 - What We'll Cover - Explosions
      4. pyro.03.04 - Our First Explosion
      5. pyro.03.05 - Explosion Improvement
      6. pyro.03.06 - Pyro Bake Volume
      7. pyro.03.07 - Sourcing Multiple Explosions (Approach 01)
      8. pyro.03.08 - Sourcing Multiple Explosions (Approach 02)
      9. pyro.03.09 - Shockwave Example
      10. pyro.03.10 - Explosion From Scratch: Main Explosion
      11. pyro.03.11 - Explosion From Scratch: Shockwave
      12. pyro.03.12 - Explosion From Scratch: Timing Changes
      13. pyro.03.13 - Explosion From Scratch: Custom Collision Object
      14. pyro.03.14 - Explosion From Scratch: Final Result
      15. pyro.03.15 - Section Recap & Review

  9. Level 7: BOSS BATTLES - Simulations Applied

    1 lesson
    1. *in progress*

  10. The Grand Arena

    14 lessons

    1. Introduction - How This Level Works

      1. The Grand Arena: *Important Notice*
      2. The Grand Arena - Introduction
      3. The Grand Arena - Project Timeline
      4. The Grand Arena - Submission for Review (Optional)
      5. The Grand Arena - 1-On-1 Mentorship (Project Support)
      6. My Promise To You

    2. The Grand Arena: Your Project

      1. Introduction
      2. Step 01: Choose Your Battle
      3. Step 02: Apply Your Framework
      4. Step 03: Organize Your Approach
      5. Step 04: Houdini Implementation
      6. Step 05: Self Review
      7. Step 06: Submission For Review (Optional)
      8. A Final Note

  11. BONUS Level

    8 lesson
    1. Level Overview

    1. Bonus Compositing

      1. Bonus Compositing - Section Introduction
      2. Houdini Scene Intro + File Downloads
      3. Houdini Scene Node by Node Overview - Bonus Compositing
      4. Houdini COPS Compositing
      5. Adobe After Effects Compositing
      6. Nuke Compositing (in progress)

    2. Bonus Project Files - 7 Day FX Challenge

      1. 7DFX - Project Files

 

TAKE A LOOK INSIDE THE PROGRAM

JUST BELOW

 

OR READ THROUGH ALL 339 INDIVIDUAL LESSONS

(yes, that's a lot of Houdini learning)

JUST ABOVE

 

 

From the basics of Houdini, to full environments and simulation workflows.

We learn it all.

In fact there's quite a bit covered in the 

78 hours 38 minutes and 29 seconds

that we get to spend together ;) 

LEVEL 1: Concept Foundations

(Available for free on YouTube)

We start from the basics, introducing everything from the ground up.

We cover the core foundations and data that make up the information Houdini operates on.

(some lesson screenshots featured below) 

LEVEL 2: Core Concepts

 We continue where we left off in Level 1, and start building up our knowledge of the "language of Houdini". We understand what Houdini does at a core level, and what is happening as Houdini reads through our network and setups.

(some lesson screenshots featured below) 

LEVEL 3: Procedural Systems

We start to connect the dots of why Houdini is so powerful, we see how to design and organize key procedural components that can be used in our projects. 

(some lesson screenshots featured below) 

LEVEL 4: Houdini Applied

Now we begin to apply everything we've learned about how Houdini operates and how to design and approach our projects. We learn the implementation for our big goals we set up in previous levels. 

(some lesson screenshots featured below) 

LEVEL 5: Boss Battles - Workflows Applied

(A free Boss Battle sample project is on YouTube)

In real-world projects, we apply our new technical knowledge to showcase how we can tackle these complex projects from scratch. Each battle you can approach on your own, or watch me walk through each step and stage to create the finished work.

(some lesson screenshots featured below) 

LEVEL 6: Simulation Fundamentals

 (A free RBD sample lesson is on YouTube)

Now that we know how real projects are completed, we'll expand our Houdini knowledge into the "fun parts" of Houdini. We'll get a FULL understanding of how simulations work in Houdini, and in depth lessons covering how to actually create shots using solvers such as Pyro, RBD, and more.

(some lesson screenshots featured below) 

MY PROMISE.

LEVEL UP: HOUDINI

 

BUT WHAT IF THIS WON'T WORK FOR ME?

- You reading this now

 

Fair question. Look, I get it.

Investing in a program like this does carry some risk.

 

You might be asking yourself now...

What if I don't learn anything?

What if this doesn't help me understand Houdini?

What if this doesn't help me apply any of it to my own projects?

What if this is like the other workshops I paid for, where I was left confused and overwhelmed?

What if I'm just not cut out for Houdini?

 

I understand these thoughts and doubts, because for years I asked myself those exact same questions every time I tried to learn Houdini.

Every time I bought a new workshop, I hoped it would be *the one*.

But it never was.

That's why I built LEVEL UP: Houdini differently - so you don't have to guess or doubt if this is something you're cut out for.

And to prove how confident I am, I'll take the risk off your shoulders.

When you join, you'll be covered by the "Understand Or It's On Me" 30-Day Guarantee. Here's how it works.

 

If within 30 days of joining, you don't feel

- Clearer on how Houdini actually works under the hood

- More confident using Houdini

- Genuinely excited to keep working and learning

Then I don't think I deserve your money.

 

Just let me know within 30 days of joining, and I'll give you a full refund.

No hoops to jump through, no proof required of you having to try.

No questions asked.

 


I'm doing it this way, because I want this program to genuinely help you understand Houdini - not to trap you into a course that won't deliver.

So take the next step, and enroll today.  Give yourself the chance to finally make Houdini click.

  

Future you will thank you.

 

- William

 

THE TRAP YOU CAN AVOID

 

If you’ve ever jumped from tutorial to tutorial wondering why nothing sticks - this is why.

Most tutorials assume you already understand the logic of Houdini.
And don't bother trying to teach you.
They show *what to do*, not *why* it works.


LEVEL UP: Houdini gives you your missing foundation.
 

Now Imagine.
 

  • Opening Houdini and knowing exactly what’s happening in your network.
  • Designing your own setups instead of copying others.
  • Watching those past tutorials and knowing what to skip and what to focus on.
  • Building full shots - from layout to lighting to rendering - without second-guessing.
  • Seeing a reference and instantly knowing how to recreate it in Houdini.
  • Feeling motivated, confident, and actually *excited* to learn because everything clicks.


Even old tutorials you felt lost with can become valuable again - you’ll re-watch them and suddenly see what you missed.
Because now you won’t just be following steps anymore...

You’ll be thinking like Houdini.


THE RESULT?

HOUDINI FEELS SIMPLE

Is LEVEL UP right for You?

 

This Is for You If…

  • You’re tired of fragmented learning and want a clear mental framework that actually sticks.
  • You want to understand what's actually happening in your project rather than memorizing nodes or copying someone else's workflow.
  • You want to design and finish your own Houdini work - without having to rely on tutorials or workshop workflows.
  • You’re excited by the idea of Houdini becoming a tool you feel comfortable and creative inside of.
  • You want a full understanding of Houdini, how it works as an whole system, not just isolated tricks, effects, or niche workflows. A robust understanding you can continue to build on for years into your career.

 

This Is NOT for You If…

  • You’re looking for a quick fix, shortcut, or “instant mastery” of Houdini.
  • You only want pre-built workshops or step-by-step effects without taking the time to understand how they work.
  • You want a pure FX or niche-specialization course without learning how to design projects end-to-end. (PLEASE NOTE: Although we do cover FX and simulations in this course, this curriculum is not designed to be a full FX course, so the FX projects included have been designed to be completed as a single artist, and without the resources of a full team or studio)

A FINAL NOTE

 

You didn't end up here by accident.

You’re here reading this now because you know you’re capable of more.

You’ve put in the time, followed the tutorials, but Houdini is still not *clicking* and you're not where you want to be.

  

You can keep doing what you’ve been doing, or you can change the way you learn and build a real, robust understanding that makes everything else easier.

 

LEVEL UP isn’t about just learning more Houdini.

 

It’s about learning it in the right order and filling in the missing gaps that you can't yet see.

 

I wasted years learning Houdini the hard way. But I don't regret the struggle I had to go through. All that extra work, all those long weekends and late nights spent learning are what helped me become the artist that I am today.

 

I'm here now to help you become the artist YOU KNOW that you're capable of being. I believe that you can do it, but now it's up to you to believe that for yourself.

 

- William

Founding Artist, WTTR Labs + WTTR Studios

YOUR INVESTMENT

This isn't learning the buttons you need to click to use Houdini.

It's for the artists who are ready to truly understand it.

LEVEL UP: HOUDINI 

 The Complete System To Learn Houdini - Without Confusion

 

The Complete LEVEL UP: Houdini Curriculum

Everything you need to go from zero, to project ready. Taught step by step, all from the ground up. (Value: $1997+)

 

Mentorship Access

Direct access to me, weekly check-ins, personalized feedback on your projects, Q&A Threads, and priority support + debugging help (Value: $997+)

 

6 Month VIP LABS Community Access

 6 months of access to the private LEVEL UP: Houdini cohort community. Ask questions, request additional lessons and work with other artists working through the same program. (Value: $199+/month)

 

Boss Battles: Real World Projects

Multiple challenge-based real projects to take you from "I followed along" to "I could make this myself" (Value: $297+ EACH)

 

Lifetime Access + Continuous Updates

Buy once, get all future lessons, levels, and Boss Battles added as soon as they are released - with no extra costs, ever. (Value: $997+) 

 

Houdini: VAULT

Completed Boss Battle Projects you can dissect, break apart node-by-node, and use in your own projects [Note: Houdini Indie Files Only] (Value: $497+)

 

Confidence + Clarity 

Finally think like Houdini, and not just memorize buttons. Start to create projects without second guessing (Value: $$$ Priceless)

 

What Students Are Saying

"In all the Houdini courses, and workshops I've taken, none of them took this approach which looking back now I realize why I felt so overwhelmed... So you've already opened my eyes to that idea of how to create what is in your mind's eye and translate that to implementation in Houdini"

- Level Up Member 

(quote shared with permission)

 

LEVEL UP Guarantee

30 Day "Understand Or It's On Me" guarantee

 

 Total Value: $7,371  

Future Pricing**  $1,297

 

Your Investment Today: $1,097

 

Future Pricing Important Notice**

This is just the start for LEVEL UP: Houdini and this is the lowest price the program will ever be offered at (likely lowest price by a lot). Every time new levels, updates, and bonuses are added the price will rise - but not for you.

LEVEL UP: Houdini - (Full Program with Mentorship + Course)

$1,097

What's Included

  • Mentorship Access

  • 6 Month VIP LABS Community Access

  • The Complete LEVEL UP: Curriculum (nearly 80+ hours of theory, workflow, and Houdini training)

  • Boss Battles: Real World Projects

  • Houdini: VAULT

  • Lifetime Access + Continuous Updates

  • Q&A Support

  • 30 Day $ Money Back  LEVEL UP Guarantee

BUY NOW

LEVEL UP: Houdini - (Full Program with Course Only)

$657

What's Included

  • The Complete LEVEL UP: Curriculum (nearly 80+ hours of theory, workflow, and Houdini training)

  • Boss Battles: Real World Projects

  • Houdini: VAULT

  • Lifetime Access + Continuous Updates

  • Q&A Support

  • 30 Day $ Money Back  LEVEL UP Guarantee

 

 

 

BUY NOW

Frequently Asked Questions

LEVEL UP: HOUDINI

 

  • Do I need any prior Houdini knowledge?
    • No, this program starts at the absolute basics. We cover everything from scratch, and if you're new to Houdini or 3D there will be plenty of help to get you started. But the program is also designed so intermediate and more advanced artists can use the same foundations to fix gaps, eliminate bad habits, and master the problem-solving skills they might have missed out on before.
  • Is this too basic for intermediate or experienced artists?
    • Not at all. In fact this program teaches most of the missing skills that artists can go years without learning. Many intermediate artists know how to follow tutorials, but might struggle with...
      • Planning shots from scratch
      • Debugging broken networks
      • Understanding what Houdini is actually doing
      • Design clean, modular, reusable setups
      • Structuring projects and scenes so they don't break with complexity
      • Breaking down references into actionable steps to implement
    • LEVEL UP: Houdini doesn't just teach the implementation, but it teaches the thinking and the problem solving that advanced artists need to rely on daily. If you want deeper mastery, clean workflows, and confident understanding in how to build your own ideas. Then this is for you.
  • What if I've already taken other Houdini courses or workshops?
    • LEVEL UP: Houdini isn't a traditional workshop. Instead of 12 weeks of endless screen recorded tutorials teaching you how to complete a single shot. We learn the foundational skills that will empower you to design your own shots.
    • This program is designed to teach you how to approach your own ideas, and plan them out, to be implemented on your own. In short - it teaches you how to think so you won't need another workshop. You'll just have the skills to complete the shots on your own.
    • If you've ever taken a workshop form Rebelway, Double Jump, or other big name workshop schools and still struggle to put your own ideas into practice. This program will fill the missing gaps that those big workshops often skip over teaching.
  • What if I know how to make small shots, but just have trouble with bigger projects?
    • This is exactly what LEVEL UP: Houdini will help solve. Inside the program you learn how to
      • Break down and "read" a reference image or shot
      • Define your big picture goals
      • Break down the shot into big ideas
      • Plan workflows based on your exact shot
      • Structure your scene / shot in a way that lets you stay organized
      • Solve your problems in the right order
      • Scale your scenes while keeping them in control
      • Design the steps and workflows yourself
      • Implement them all in Houdini to bring the shot to life
    • Many experienced or advanced artists know lots about Houdini. But they are often learning smaller parts to different systems all in isolation. LEVEL UP: Houdini teaches you how to assemble those parts into a full, clean, and cohesive understanding of how Houdini works. So you can design any shot you want.
  • How is this different from tutorials or workshops from Rebelway or Double Jump?
    • Tutorials and workshops teach you how to complete a specific shot. Often times with longer single workshops, you spend weeks copying nodes, following instructor's step-by-step, and memorizing someone else's logic instead of learning how to design your own. By the end of the workshop you have a cool project, but the step you did are often so complex you have trouble translating those into your own ideas.
    • LEVEL UP: Houdini is different, instead of a long workshops where you focus on one project. We start from the basics and teach you the understanding of Houdini, the problem solving, and the frameworks you'll need to complete these bigger shots on your own. You learn the why behind every decision that's made, and you gain the skills to build your own ideas, not just complete someone else's project.
  • What if I get stuck?
    • Within the cohort you get full access to multiple support channels where I'm able to guide you through any problem you have. The curriculum even evolves and adapts based on students questions and experience - so as more questions come up, I design and record new lessons to help students with what they are struggling with.
    • This is a not a "watch and forget" linear course. It's a guided and mentored program designed for a full Houdini transformation, by the end of the program you'll be shocked at how much you've learned and how simple new projects now feel.
  • What do I get after the course is over?
    • After you complete the program, you'll get continued access to all additional lessons and levels added (at no extra charge). This program will be expanding in future cohorts and future months, and as more lessons are added you keep access to all of them.
  • Is this right for me if my goal is freelance work?
    • Absolutely! I've been a full time freelancer my full 3D career, and this program is the distilled result of everything I've learned about using Houdini. Inside this program you learn the most important parts of being a freelance 3D artist. Those key skills, aren't just creating cool renders but they are...
      • Being able to design and break down projects and shots on your own
      • Being able to solve problems on your own
      • Delivering full end-to-end shots (initial idea to final pixels) without hand-holding
      • Building clean and reusable setups and templates that can be reused across shots, projects and clients
      • Building fast setups (that still work)
      • Knowing how to deliver and complete projects
    • LEVEL UP: Houdini gives you all these skills and more. It's the program I wish I had when I started my 3D journey so it's the exact reason why I built if for you.
  • What do I walk away with at the end?
    • At the end of the program, you'll finish with...
      • A true understanding of how Houdini works and thinks
      • The ability to break down references into actionable steps
      • The skills to plan out and build your own workflows and shots
      • Confidence for larger more complex projects
      • Mental models that help you learn other areas of Houdini
      • Clean organized workflows and best-practices that you can apply to future projects
      • A pathway out of "tutorial-hell", once and for all!
  • What's the format of the lessons?
    • All lessons are recorded ahead of time and are not delivered live. This allows you to watch and progress as your own pace, and watch lessons as many times as needed.
  • English is not my native language - do you offer subtitles?
    • Yes! All lessons and videos have English subtitles available (these subtitles will work correctly with a subtitle translator). 
  • How does the "Understand or It's On Me" Guarantee work?
    • The guarantee is just a 30 day, no questions asked, get your money back guarantee.
    • So if at any point during the first 30 days (starting from when you purchased the course) you don't feel like it was worth the $$$ you spent. Then let me know and I'll issue you a FULL Refund. 
    • There's no "requirements" for having to complete a certain number of lessons, or submit any homework assignments. So you can request a refund for any reason ...even if you just decide you don't like me, or the way I teach :(

 

Join LEVEL UP Today!