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What does it take to be an animator?
I really like to draw but I'm not sure what type of training it takes to become a good enough animator. #professional
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Doc’s Answer
Jose to enter a career as a computer animator, you'll generally need a degree in computer animation and entry-level or internship experience to get your foot in the door. An undergraduate degree program in computer animation will provide you with the technical proficiency and artistic practice you'll need. Keep in mind that an ASSOCIATE DEGREE could suffice for an assistant or entry-level position. However, a BACHELOR'S DEGREE program will provide training in more complex art concepts and advanced technology and a 4-year degree may open up bigger and better opportunities. During college, be sure to work on your portfolio, a collection of your best works that demonstrate your proficiency in a variety of technologies and platforms. Employers weigh applicants' animation portfolios very heavily. In fact, many programs offer resume development courses for just that reason.
The next step to becoming a computer animator is to gain experience. Employers tend to prefer computer animators with some experience in animation and with the software the company uses. There are multiple routes for gaining this experience. For instance, internships may provide valuable on-the-job experience working under the supervision of experienced computer animators. Others pursue freelance positions, which are contracted gigs that provide experience and samples for one's portfolio. The artist may have to start out in an assistant position to acquire the necessary experience assisting animators before advancing to an animator position.
2-DIMENSIONAL ANIMATION – In 2D animation, a character is drawn by hand, on computer, or a combination of both. Even with today's technology, most traditional 2D animation starts with drawings. The artist creates a whole series of images, one after another, making slight changes in the character's position. When these images are run together quickly, it creates the effect of movement. Early animators did all their work by hand, and prepared each image, or cel. When all the cels were finished, they were edited into a film that ran at a speed of twenty-four frames, or individual cels, per second, which was the standard for motion pictures. Classic animated films like Bambi and Snow White (both by Walt Disney Studios) were done this way.
3-DIMENSIONAL ANIMATION – Many modern animation studios (such as DreamWorks and Pixar) use 3D animation tools to create the characters and environments for their movies, sculpting them out of thousands of tiny digital polygons and animating them with computer code. In 3D animation, the process still starts with the creation of a character. But then the animator works on a computer and rigs the character, which means they create a skeletal structure on the computer for the character so they can control its movements, including every curve of a finger and every eye-blink, much like a virtual puppet. Animating in 3D requires much more work with mathematics, such as graphs and curves, than traditional drawing. And it's all done on computer.
Hope this was helpful Jose
Toon Boom Studio is an all in one animation application for beginners that is actually designed to teach you the fundamentals of 2D animation as you work. It’s full of powerful features that make the hardest parts of animation easy enough for an absolute novice to understand and execute.
Adobe Flash is the most widely used piece of software for animations and motion graphics on the web and has been around for over 15 years. In terms of short animations, games and interactive multimedia, Adobe Flash is the industry standard. It’s pervasive presence in the animation world coupled with Adobe’s lust for perfection in their creative products has made Flash the go-to tool for animators of any skill level. Though it may be a little pricey, Adobe Flash is well worth the investment for any amateur animator looking to step up the quality of their work.
The next step to becoming a computer animator is to gain experience. Employers tend to prefer computer animators with some experience in animation and with the software the company uses. There are multiple routes for gaining this experience. For instance, internships may provide valuable on-the-job experience working under the supervision of experienced computer animators. Others pursue freelance positions, which are contracted gigs that provide experience and samples for one's portfolio. The artist may have to start out in an assistant position to acquire the necessary experience assisting animators before advancing to an animator position.
2-DIMENSIONAL ANIMATION – In 2D animation, a character is drawn by hand, on computer, or a combination of both. Even with today's technology, most traditional 2D animation starts with drawings. The artist creates a whole series of images, one after another, making slight changes in the character's position. When these images are run together quickly, it creates the effect of movement. Early animators did all their work by hand, and prepared each image, or cel. When all the cels were finished, they were edited into a film that ran at a speed of twenty-four frames, or individual cels, per second, which was the standard for motion pictures. Classic animated films like Bambi and Snow White (both by Walt Disney Studios) were done this way.
3-DIMENSIONAL ANIMATION – Many modern animation studios (such as DreamWorks and Pixar) use 3D animation tools to create the characters and environments for their movies, sculpting them out of thousands of tiny digital polygons and animating them with computer code. In 3D animation, the process still starts with the creation of a character. But then the animator works on a computer and rigs the character, which means they create a skeletal structure on the computer for the character so they can control its movements, including every curve of a finger and every eye-blink, much like a virtual puppet. Animating in 3D requires much more work with mathematics, such as graphs and curves, than traditional drawing. And it's all done on computer.
Hope this was helpful Jose
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Thank You Shelby. Alone, we can do so little; together we can do so much.
Doc Frick
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Shelby’s Answer
As an animator you could go into film animation, tv animation, graphic design, all sorts of things. A good thing to do is find an animation program, either some sort of certificate program, or even a BA in animation or film. This will help you to decide what exactly you want to do in the field of animation.