Want To Be An Animator?
Want To Be An Animator?
Have you made the decision to pursue a career in animation? Are you considering it? The first thing to think about is motivation. Training to become an animator takes a lot of commitment and dedication. You need to be self motivated. It really doesn’t matter if you train at a brick and mortar school or online, you need to self motivate and continuously practice what you are learning.
Like most art forms, animation has artistic aspects but also technical aspects. Learning animation can be compared to learning how to write and play music, or even a martial art in that it takes time, patience and practice. You will need to be able to focus on one thing for an extended period of time…it requires hyper-concentration.
Animation is indeed a skilled trade. Your being paid to perform a skill for someone who needs your expertise…or trading your skilled services for payment.
After graduating from high school I worked in my families business for a few years fixing cars and tending the gas bar, and many other jobs after that. I worked in restaurants, bar tending, a casino, duct cleaning! I value the experience I gained in those years. I learned how to deal with other people, customers. But I certainly knew I wasn’t doing what I was meant to do.
I enrolled in an animation program at my local college. A three year 2D/3D animation program at St.Clair College in Windsor Ontario. It was a fantastic program. I have the privileged to teach there 12 years later but one thing hasn’t changed, self motivation.
Not just with animation training, but anything you set out to do…you get out of it what you put in. You have to really want it, be determined and not stop until you succeed. If your attitude is any different you’re likely headed for disappointment. As I am here, your instructors are there for you, ready to help in any way they can but in the end it boils down to you and what you want.
I now really enjoy my “work”. It’s not work. I’m doing something that I like, time flashes by during my work day and most people can’t say that.
Like anything else in life that brings financial gain and success, staying motivated and being determined to see things through to the end is the key. We have all heard this – you can do anything if you put your mind to it. It’s absolutely true, it works! You just have to get through the steps to get there. One step at a time.
Alright I’m motivated, what next?!!
Look for a school or animation program to enroll in. I strongly suggest a program that teaches both 2D and 3D animation in a combined course…like Animation Career Pro! You may not choose to train with us and that is fine, but learning 2D and 3D together is am important element to your training for more than one reason.
Getting a solid background in 2D (especially hand drawn) animation will greatly enhance your 3D work. Again, learning digital 2D or hand drawn animation takes an incredible amount of effort. But the fact is, it does enhance your 3D abilities because you’ll come out with a solid foundation from which to draw from.
Many solid TV and film actors start out in theater and gain a solid acting foundation in a similar regard.
You don’t want to brand yourself as just a 2D animator or just a 3D animator. Most animators only know 2D or they know 3D so you want to diversify your knowledge and know both. Potential employers will be impressed to see that you can do both and deem you more valuable because the projects that come into the studio can be in 2D or 3D (or a combined hybrid).
In Conclusion
You have to be self motivated and determined to get through the education process. Find an animation program that teaches both 2D and 3D in a combined course so that you emerge a more valuable asset to your potential employer.
