Chris Zwar shares some great insight over on Pro Video Coalition on how to dramatically improve After Effects render times 

Short film created using Explode Shape Layers, Joysticks 'n Sliders and more by Mellow Studio

Fun holiday short created using  Fast Bokeh Pro, True Comp Duplicator, Labels, Obsessive Layers, Ease Copy in After Effects by Ritzy Animation. Includes making of breakdown.

Fantastic Demo Reel using Flow, Explode Shape Layers, KBar, Rift, Cartoon Moblur, Okomito, Friction, Obsessive Layers, GifGun, Ray Dynamic Texture, Limber, Newton, Plexus, Joysticks 'n Sliders, BAO Boa, Roll It!, Pseudo Effect Maker and Ray Dynamic Color by Friction (Jesper Bolther)

PSA created with Ease and Wizz, EaseCopy, Explode Shape Layers, Newton, Ouroboros, Ray Dynamic Color and  Ray Dynamic Texture by Mathieu Quiblier.

Awesome design and animation using Explode Shape Layers, Rift, Sortie and more by Vucko and Zack Lovatt.

Nice animation using Explode Shape Layers by Henning M. Lederer