4 answers
Cristian
Student
2
Questions
Updated
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What kind of education does an animator and cartoonist need?
What kind of education does an animator and cartoonist need?
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4 answers
Pavida Changkaew
Director, Storyboard artist, Illustrator
6
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Pavida’s Answer
Hello Cristian,
The kind of education that animators and cartoonists need will not be for the degree but will be for the skill, and the good news is that there are different ways to get there, either attending an art school, taking online courses, seeking mentorship, or learning from free resources on the internet. These jobs are looking for people with the skills for the work, therefore, you will need to practice the craft and build a strong portfolio for job applications. Some things to keep in mind when choosing your options are the budget you have, your goal as an artist (do you want to be independent or be hired by a company, or maybe both), and other life circumstances. Here are my pros and cons list for 4 options:
1) Attending art school
- Tuition fees could be pretty expensive
- Might need to relocate/travel
+ Great networking opportunities, surrounded by creatives
+ Learn from professors and class critiques through a designed curriculum
+ Practice collaborating
2) Taking online courses
- Require an amount of money and higher self-discipline
- Fewer collaborative experience
- Mostly receive a certificate but may not receive a degree (You don't need a degree)
+ Take courses from anywhere
+ Some courses are taught by professionals in the industry
+/- You might have to design your curriculum
3) Mentorship (reach out to professionals/some studios have mentorship programs)
- can be competitive or difficult to find good and free mentorship
+ 1 on 1 guidance can be very on-point and save a lot of time
+ Learn from professionals/ people in the industry
4) Learning from free resources
+/- You might have to design your curriculum
- Require high self-discipline, curiosity, open-mindedness
+ Free and accessible 24/7
Steps I would recommend you take:
1) Review each option and see which are available to you, Research different schools/platforms/YouTube channels
2) Learn about different disciplines in each industry (animation vs. comic)
- There are further specific roles for an animator, you can be a 2D traditional, 2D rig, 3D, or even a stop motion animator, and each would require a specific set of knowledge.
- Knowing your specific discipline makes you have a clearer focus and a stronger portfolio. You are not restricted to only doing 1 discipline, but each takes time to practice, and having a focus and then expanding the skillsets later is a good strategy.
3) If you are still unsure of which discipline is best suited for you, I recommend experiment! Making a simple 30-second animation or 5-page comic from start to finish. You will get a sense of what the task is and maybe discover your passion that way. It is even OK if you love all of the process.
Good luck with your art journey!
The kind of education that animators and cartoonists need will not be for the degree but will be for the skill, and the good news is that there are different ways to get there, either attending an art school, taking online courses, seeking mentorship, or learning from free resources on the internet. These jobs are looking for people with the skills for the work, therefore, you will need to practice the craft and build a strong portfolio for job applications. Some things to keep in mind when choosing your options are the budget you have, your goal as an artist (do you want to be independent or be hired by a company, or maybe both), and other life circumstances. Here are my pros and cons list for 4 options:
1) Attending art school
- Tuition fees could be pretty expensive
- Might need to relocate/travel
+ Great networking opportunities, surrounded by creatives
+ Learn from professors and class critiques through a designed curriculum
+ Practice collaborating
2) Taking online courses
- Require an amount of money and higher self-discipline
- Fewer collaborative experience
- Mostly receive a certificate but may not receive a degree (You don't need a degree)
+ Take courses from anywhere
+ Some courses are taught by professionals in the industry
+/- You might have to design your curriculum
3) Mentorship (reach out to professionals/some studios have mentorship programs)
- can be competitive or difficult to find good and free mentorship
+ 1 on 1 guidance can be very on-point and save a lot of time
+ Learn from professionals/ people in the industry
4) Learning from free resources
+/- You might have to design your curriculum
- Require high self-discipline, curiosity, open-mindedness
+ Free and accessible 24/7
Steps I would recommend you take:
1) Review each option and see which are available to you, Research different schools/platforms/YouTube channels
2) Learn about different disciplines in each industry (animation vs. comic)
- There are further specific roles for an animator, you can be a 2D traditional, 2D rig, 3D, or even a stop motion animator, and each would require a specific set of knowledge.
- Knowing your specific discipline makes you have a clearer focus and a stronger portfolio. You are not restricted to only doing 1 discipline, but each takes time to practice, and having a focus and then expanding the skillsets later is a good strategy.
3) If you are still unsure of which discipline is best suited for you, I recommend experiment! Making a simple 30-second animation or 5-page comic from start to finish. You will get a sense of what the task is and maybe discover your passion that way. It is even OK if you love all of the process.
Good luck with your art journey!
Manu Gupta
Cyber Security Consultant
3
Answers
New Delhi, Delhi, India
Updated
Manu’s Answer
You can choose to pursue a degree in animation or fine arts. This would help you cover areas such as drawing, design, storyboarding, animation tools and techniques. Also, in creative fields such as animation, building a portfolio of your skills and creativity is paramount so even if you want to/are study/studying chemistry now but have an artistic mindset and want to build a career in that then you can just learn to use design and animation tools through YouTube later! All the best!
MOHAMMED SURAJ Jalilu
Teaching
2
Answers
Wa, Upper West Region
Updated
MOHAMMED SURAJ’s Answer
To become an animator, you typically need a bachelor's degree in animation, art, graphic design, or a related field. Additionally, acquiring skills in drawing, computer animation software, storytelling, and character design is crucial. Continuous learning and keeping up with industry trends are also essential for success in the field.
Patrick Mungovan
Freelance artist
2
Answers
Rochester, New York
Updated
Patrick’s Answer
The technology for individual digital animation has been evolving for the last 20 years. Back in the early 2010s hardware like drawing monitors and tablets were much more expensive and software like flash was probe to crashing. The tech has become cheaper and there are free programs that are more reliable. I personally use Krita which wont cost you a scent.