Interested in Animation as a Career Choice?

By Canadajobs.com Staff

job, jobs, career

If you're creative and thinking of going to school to study animation, here is some information for you.

What You'll Need:

Most college programs require high school graduation, although mature students without a high school education may be considered. Schools also suggest having math skills, basic computer skills, and sometimes a high school arts credits. Schools vary in terms of requirements, so if you don't have all the necessary courses for a certain college, it might be worth considering another one.

As well, some colleges require a portfolio of drawings to demonstrate your creativity and ability to design both the human form and everyday objects.

What You'll Learn:

At some schools, you'll learn traditional and digital animation. You can choose to focus on either as your education continues. You'll start with the basics of drawing, and move into storyboarding, character animation, scriptwriting for animation, basics of filmmaking, 3D modeling and more. Every program is different, so make sure the one you choose contains all those elements you'd like to learn.

Prepare Yourself:

Start putting together a portfolio. Learn a few of the programs that are taught at the school. If you aren't sure, call the school and inquire what programs they use. Some popular animation programs include Maya, ToonBoom, Eovia's Carrara, and 3DS Max. Though some of these might be very costly to purchase, often you can get trial versions of these programs from the manufacturer's website that let you practice learning the various tools within the program. It's a good idea to start early as some of these programs have a steep learning curve. Some programs, such as Blender and Anim8or, are actually free and let you create stunning designs without having to purchase an expensive program.

After Graduation:

The market for 3D animators is wide and varied. It encompasses a wide range of industries, from working at a production studio, to small animation companies, to ad agencies, to video game manufacturers.

Often, some design companies rely on logos and corporate animations as their "bread and butter." You'd be amazed at how many television commercials and logos are 3D creations.

You could also work at medical design companies, on an animated television series, or a film doing background scenes.

Animation allows you to work on a wide range of projects in various industries. You must be creative, detail-oriented, patient, and have the ability to see the product you are creating before it even gets put to paper or the computer screen. If you enjoy being creative, can work independently, and enjoy bringing characters to life, animation may be a career choice worth considering.