7 answers
Jayden
Student
Durham, North Carolina
1
Question
Asked
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I am in 9th grade and am interested in becoming an animator.
I am in 9th grade I am not the best at art but I am extremely interested in becoming an animator what can I do?
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7 answers
Johannes Muckel
Program Management
3
Answers
Orinda, California
Updated
Johannes’s Answer
Begin with simple steps and dare to explore. Animation offers a vast array of mediums for you to delve into. Platforms like Youtube are treasure troves of information, ready to guide you on your journey. Imagine bringing to life ideas that span just 1-2 minutes. Animate what sparks joy in you. Your unique viewpoint is your strength, so let it shine. With each attempt, the process will become more effortless. You'll soon discover that the skills you gain from one tool can be applied to others in the future.
Dive into creation, experiment, seek feedback, and then create again. The beauty of starting early is the opportunity to build a portfolio over time, which could become a golden ticket to future job opportunities.
Dive into creation, experiment, seek feedback, and then create again. The beauty of starting early is the opportunity to build a portfolio over time, which could become a golden ticket to future job opportunities.
Leticia Santoyo
Head of Marketing
4
Answers
London, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Leticia’s Answer
Hey there, Jayden! Discovering your passions is a fantastic journey, isn't it? Do you have any favorite movies, video games, studios, or animators that really catch your eye? Exploring their work and career paths might spark some great ideas. The internet is brimming with resources, platforms, and courses that are designed just for your age group to help you start honing your skills and channeling your creativity. You might also want to check out local summer camps and workshops. They could be a fun way to connect with other 9th graders who share your interests.
Layne Buckley
Human Resources
42
Answers
Salinas, California
Updated
Layne’s Answer
Great question Jayden! I am not an animator, but I had two close friends who pursued this (one who ended up doing work for television) and I can share what I know about their path. There is not a direct path, but they were successful because they kept practicing their art, and took advantage of jobs and gigs that allowed them to do it. Both actually started out doing caricatures at our local amusement park. One later got an internship at Disney. My advise is to look for and take advantage of opportunities to practice your art so that when a job or gig in animation comes available, you are ready to show your skills.
Practice, practice, practice
Look for jobs and gigs where you can get experience while refining your art
Layne recommends the following next steps:
Dan Geng
Marketing
1
Answer
Belmont, California
Updated
Dan’s Answer
Starting your journey by searching for books and online courses is a smart move. Don't forget to check out educational videos on YouTube, which could be available for free. Based on my experience, I recommend honing basic art skills like drawing and painting. Simultaneously, familiarize yourself with computer modeling and animation software. These combined skills will pave the way for a successful career as an animator in the future.
Rossana Diez
Animator
8
Answers
Doral, Florida
Updated
Rossana’s Answer
Hey Jayden,
That's awesome that you already know what path you want to go down! I've always wished I was able to dive into animation earlier in highschool.
There are a multitude of different forms of animation from 2D, stopmotion, motion design, 3D, and more. This is the perfect chance for you to really see what the world of animation is and which side of it calls the most to you.
You mention that you're not the best artist (I'm assuming you mean in traditional art) and you don't have to be! With certain mediums, like 3D for instance, you don't have to be an artist to animate. In fact, I know many successful animators that do scribble drawings! It's totally up to you if improving your 2D art skills is something you want to do or not - but just know it's not what makes or breaks an animator.
To start off, you can definitely throw yourself into everything Youtube! There is so much educational content available to you free of cost online that you should definitely take advantage of it. Beginning with the basics of animations like the 12 principles, there are so many resources at the tip of your hand to support you. There is also the animator's bible called "The Animator's Survival Kit" by Richard Williams. Everything you need to know about the fundamentals of animation and more are here - highly recommend for you to check it out (can probably find the pdf online!).
I would also suggest to begin to search for nearby colleges that offer animation courses or programs. Some institutions offer pre-college summer programs for high school students specific to the major they are interested in, in your case it would be animation. I personally attended Ringling College of Art and Design and know they offer yearly programs like this over the summer!
That's awesome that you already know what path you want to go down! I've always wished I was able to dive into animation earlier in highschool.
There are a multitude of different forms of animation from 2D, stopmotion, motion design, 3D, and more. This is the perfect chance for you to really see what the world of animation is and which side of it calls the most to you.
You mention that you're not the best artist (I'm assuming you mean in traditional art) and you don't have to be! With certain mediums, like 3D for instance, you don't have to be an artist to animate. In fact, I know many successful animators that do scribble drawings! It's totally up to you if improving your 2D art skills is something you want to do or not - but just know it's not what makes or breaks an animator.
To start off, you can definitely throw yourself into everything Youtube! There is so much educational content available to you free of cost online that you should definitely take advantage of it. Beginning with the basics of animations like the 12 principles, there are so many resources at the tip of your hand to support you. There is also the animator's bible called "The Animator's Survival Kit" by Richard Williams. Everything you need to know about the fundamentals of animation and more are here - highly recommend for you to check it out (can probably find the pdf online!).
I would also suggest to begin to search for nearby colleges that offer animation courses or programs. Some institutions offer pre-college summer programs for high school students specific to the major they are interested in, in your case it would be animation. I personally attended Ringling College of Art and Design and know they offer yearly programs like this over the summer!
Lindley Taylor
Sr. Producer/Motion Designer
7
Answers
Reston, Virginia
Updated
Lindley’s Answer
Hey there, Jayden!
It's fantastic to see your enthusiasm for animation! Here's a little friendly advice: start off small and give things a whirl. Animation is a vast field with numerous mediums to explore - from 2D and 3D to claymation, stop-motion, motion graphics, and so much more. So, why not dabble in different areas and discover what you truly love creating? Remember, your creative journey doesn't have to be confined to animation. Building a solid foundation in art can significantly enhance your animation skills in the future!
Animation can sometimes be a bit challenging since it demands a lot of time, but keeping your experiments bite-sized will help you pinpoint what truly sparks your interest. Plus, there's a treasure trove of free online resources for animation just waiting to be explored. If you're ever in need of inspiration, why not try your hand at some of the daily, weekly, or monthly animation challenges?
In a nutshell, let loose, experiment, and immerse yourself in the world of frames! Have a blast!
It's fantastic to see your enthusiasm for animation! Here's a little friendly advice: start off small and give things a whirl. Animation is a vast field with numerous mediums to explore - from 2D and 3D to claymation, stop-motion, motion graphics, and so much more. So, why not dabble in different areas and discover what you truly love creating? Remember, your creative journey doesn't have to be confined to animation. Building a solid foundation in art can significantly enhance your animation skills in the future!
Animation can sometimes be a bit challenging since it demands a lot of time, but keeping your experiments bite-sized will help you pinpoint what truly sparks your interest. Plus, there's a treasure trove of free online resources for animation just waiting to be explored. If you're ever in need of inspiration, why not try your hand at some of the daily, weekly, or monthly animation challenges?
In a nutshell, let loose, experiment, and immerse yourself in the world of frames! Have a blast!
Lydia Ho
Visual Design
2
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Lydia’s Answer
Hi Jayden! This is so exciting!! I'm not an animator but have worked with many amazing ones in my career so far (Lindley being one of them!)
On top of the abundantly free resources on Youtube, I would also suggest School of Motion's Animation Bootcamp for a more comprehensive curriculum. (https://www.schoolofmotion.com/courses/animation-bootcamp) School of Motion is overall a great resource for all things animation, from 2D to 3D.
Best wishes on your animation journey!
On top of the abundantly free resources on Youtube, I would also suggest School of Motion's Animation Bootcamp for a more comprehensive curriculum. (https://www.schoolofmotion.com/courses/animation-bootcamp) School of Motion is overall a great resource for all things animation, from 2D to 3D.
Best wishes on your animation journey!