At Ubisoft, MOD Career Switch isn’t your typical training program. It’s a launchpad for people with skills, passion, and willingness to start fresh, and this year, the team’s focus is on animation, design, and programming. Whether you’ve just wrapped up your studies or spent years building a career in another industry, MOD helps you make the switch—into a space where your background becomes your superpower.
Learn how three talented individuals, from a makeup artist to animators in TV, made the leap into the world of video games and landed directly in production as animators, thanks to MOD.
Different backgrounds, common aspirations
Sarah Mouawad and Alexis Bélanger came to MOD after building successful careers in animation, with credits on Netflix hits like The Umbrella Academy, Borderlands and Blue Eye Samurai. As the TV animation industry slowed down, both saw MOD as an opportunity to pivot into games.
“I had always wanted to try the games industry but didn’t think I could break in without experience,” Sarah says. “MOD was the first time I felt like there was a door open for someone like me.”
Meanwhile, Sonia Elkady had just finished a 3D animation program when a former teacher sent her the link to apply for MOD. She had no prior experience in game production—just determination and a desire to grow.
None of them knew what to expect. But they saw a chance to bring their creativity into a new medium—and grow while doing it.
MOD gave them hands-on experience, space to grow, and mentorship.
Sarah, coming from a traditional VFX pipeline, found herself navigating unfamiliar territory at first—but with MOD’s mentorship and structure, she quickly adapted. “After just a few months, I felt truly production-ready. Growing alongside people from all kinds of backgrounds pushed me to believe in my skills—and in myself.”
Alexis says one of the most valuable aspects of MOD was how it helped him adapt his skills to game development in a practical, meaningful way. He also discovered the power of working collaboratively. “I used to work on my own, but now teamwork is a core part of my day-to-day.”
For Sonia, who mostly worked with key frame animation, MOD offered a technical foundation that bridged the gap between school and game production. “MOD taught me how to work with motion capture and grasp what it takes to make animations function seamlessly in a game environment,” she explains.
New roles, renewed purpose
Today, these individuals – three among many who participated in MOD this year – are building the future of games at Ubisoft, inspired by their experience with MOD and their new teams. Sarah is now a gameplay animator on The Prince of Persia games, while the Assassin’s Creed brand added Sonia as a 3D animator, and Alexis as a gameplay animator. “If you have the chance, go for it,” says Alexis. “I don’t regret it for a second.”
Whether you’re fresh out of school or bring years of experience from a different field, MOD Career Switch can help you take the leap and land directly onto production.
For past success stories, check out Genevieve’s story from working at NASA to working on top games at Ubisoft.
