Video and Animation, AI Environmental Impact: ID Links 10/27/26

As I read online, I bookmark resources I find interesting and useful. I share these links about once a month here on my blog. This post includes links related to video and animation, AI environmental impact, AI images, working with clients, Rise course examples, and L&D job search.

Video and animation

How long should training videos be?

Rather than specifying a single ideal length for all videos, this article argues for different ranges depending on the purpose and goal. While I’ve cited and used the 2014 research showing a drop in video engagement after 6 minutes, that single number never quite seemed right for all purposes. This article uses more recent research and provides a more nuanced answer.

Lemo-Opuscar · 43 film styles for Claude Code, made in code

A collection of prompts and skills for describing animation styles that Claude can use to generate videos.

Explainer animation Claude skill

This is a Claude Opus 5.5 skill that generates a 30-60 second explainer video based on the info and files in a project. I haven’t tried this myself, but it will be interesting to see how this compares to creating work with more manual direction (even with AI assistance or production). Looking at the skill, it should be possible to describe other styles than the paper craft style here to customize the look and feel.

AI environmental impact

AI Footprint Calculator

I continue to review and bookmark tools that calculate the energy, water, and resource use of AI. I obviously use AI, but considering the energy use is part of how we exercise judgment in when and how we use or avoid AI. This calculator includes more granular AI tasks, separating simple text from deep reasoning and file analysis. It also includes image, audio, and video generation, which many other calculators don’t include. It doesn’t include the comparisons to streaming though, which I think is helpful for perspective.

AI and environmental sustainability

This is the July 2026 update to an older research summary I bookmarked previously on environmental impact and considerations with AI.

AI images

AI Image Editor Drift Test: 40 Edits, 4 Models

This article shares the results of what happens when you make 40 edits in a row with 4 different image models. Nano Banana 2.1 was the most accurate at the edits, but the background had visibly drifted from the original by edit 10. Ideogram and Flux had less background drift, but they weren’t as accurate with the edits.

On any model, branch instead of chaining. Make each edit from the original, or from a version you already approved, instead of from the latest result. A model that redraws the frame adds drift every round, so fewer rounds means less drift.

—Bilal Azhar

Working with clients

Let Your Clients Make Terrible Decisions

This is a topic that comes up regularly in conversations with other consultants and freelancers. What do you do when a client ignores all your advice and decides to do something that you know goes against best practices? The advice here is for freelancers in general, but it applies nicely to L&D consulting. Keep a paper trail of your recommendations, detach professionally, reclaim your time and energy, and be ready to send a proposal for the rescue mission later.

Your job as an expert consultant is to give them the best possible information, highlight the risks, and present strategic alternatives. Once you have done that clearly and professionally, you have fulfilled 100% of your contractual obligation.

If they choose to ignore your map and drive straight into a ditch anyway? That is their choice to make. You are not responsible for saving people from their own decisions after you’ve handed them the life vest.

—Sara at Freelancing Females

Rise course examples

Really Good Rise Courses | Maestro Community

Maestro (the company that makes the Mighty Rise plugin) has collected some examples of high-quality Rise courses. These feature their plugin, so it’s more than just the default Rise functionality and design. However, it’s a good place to get some inspiration.

L&D job searching

Learning & Development Professionals Career Opportunities Board

This LinkedIn group collects and shares L&D opportunities and helps job seekers connect with recruiters.

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