Animation Job Titles
Modeler
Animator
Painter
Technical Director
and more
Where Animation Jobs are
Broadcast Design
Game Design
CD-ROM Design
Web Design
Simulations
CD-ROMs
Film Effects, Characters & Props
Television Effects, Characters & Props
Location-based entertainment (like the Spiderman Ride in Florida, or the Race for Atlantis ride in Las Vegas.)
How to get Animation Jobs
Don't wait till you have the optimum package and hardware. Start NOW!
Learn the concepts of 3D - you can apply them no matter what software or hardware you use.
Learn how to model - or buy models or use free models from the web if modelmaking is not your strength
Learn the principles of animation
Practice
If you can't get a job doing 3D right away, try doing some pro-bono projects or just some projects that particuallarly interest you. If you like Science Fiction, build and animate some spaceships, robots, etc. If your like comedy better, do a take off on Monty Python's Silly Walks routine using a robot or some other model. Just keep creating.
Create a animation reel
No longer than 5 minutes at the absolute maximum. Can be as short as 30 seconds as long as what you have is choice. Put it on VHS at least since it is the most common viewing machine. Put it on Beta SP video as well. This is the more professional tape stock and you get better quality images than you do with just vhs.
Here is the secret to getting work! When you create your samples of work for your reel spend little if any time on rendering beautiful scenes. Rather, spend time on walk cycles or other animation routines to show you have the concepts of animation down pat. If modeling is your calling, then show plenty of models. You may add music and sound effects to accompany your animations. They can help in the timing of your animation. However, most of the people who review 3D work say they turn the volume down while watching your reels. They want to concentrate on the modeling. Yet music can make the world of difference if you are trying for festivals and contests.
Team work!
Find others who can supplement your skills. If you are good at animation, find someone who is good at music and sound effects, or digital imaging and painting. Build little virtual teams that will help you offer fuller services and learn more for yourself.
Look at what others have done
Many companies either put out videos or cd-roms or both that have examples of work done by artists who use their products. Observe what they've done. Try to emulate them. Aslo, get the magazines that cover your area of interest. Read constantly to keep up with what's new in your field. You won't understand everything at first; just let it wash over you to begin with and sooner than you think, you'll start to pick up more and more of the jargon and concepts.
1 comment:
Top Five Things NOT to Do On Your Demo Reel
By: Carlos Baena, Co-Founder of AnimationMentor.com
At AnimationMentor.com, we dedicate an entire class to teach our students how to build demo reels: What to do, what not to do, how to make a reel stand out to potential recruiters, etc. We've chosen five of the most important things to keep in mind about demo reels to pass along to you. So, here we go, five things NOT to do when creating a demo reel:
1) Do NOT try to make a one-size fits all demo reel. Make your demo reel specific to the position and studio for which you are applying. If you're applying as an animator to a big animation studio where departments are very specialized, then everything on the reel should say only "animation." It should not say "texturing" or "lighting" or "modeling." Also, if you're applying to a visual effects company that does realistic work, then it would help to have examples of that kind of work on your reel. Same thing goes for places where they do cartoon animation. Your reel should reflect the kind of work done at the company to which you're applying.
2) You should NOT include everything you've worked on throughout the years. Keep it short. If you've been working in the industry for, let's say, 10 or 20 years, and you include every single shot you've animated, your demo reel will not be a reel anymore, it'll be a feature film that people will have to sit through. So keep the reel under a minute or two, even if that means not using all of it. Chances are that people, who are reviewing your reel, are looking at another hundred, as well. So, the easier you can make it for them, the better. You don't want to bore them. Instead, they should see your strongest work (even if it's only 30 seconds). Leave them wanting to see more.
3) Make the reel original on the inside, NOT on the outside. Human resources, along with actual animators, will be looking at your reel, and they don't care about how fancy the outside package looks or what you include along with the reel and resume. From key chains to toys, I've seen people include all kinds of things with their reels that do not relate to their animation skills. Put all of your originality into the actual animation content. Make it fun and original for people to watch, but don't overdo it.
4) Do NOT include stuff that is too distracting, whether it's music or fancy titles. If you have a reel with a dialogue animation test, and the music is too loud for people to hear the line the character is saying, or you have this mega-loud techno music going on throughout the whole thing, it will conflict with the purpose of the reel, which is to show your animation skills as clearly and simply as you can. Everything else should be secondary.
5) Do NOT include stuff that other people have animated. Be very clear and honest about what you have done. The industry is very small, people go from company to company and they are very familiar with other people's work. Always include a credit list of the shots on the reel and what you animated for them. In the event that a shot is actually shared by two or more animators, you should clarify the work that you did.
This article was brought to you by AnimationMentor.com, The Online Animation SchoolT .
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