I guess a good start is to find out what is required to be a great Animator, right? What should I study to become an Animator?
Animation, of course. Duh!
Thing is, that a Career on Animation is not as simple as it sounds. In order to become an Animator, there are quite a few attributes to meet and skills to master rather than the ability to move things around.
For instance, Walt Disney Animation Studios Artists and Technicians come from a variety of backgrounds that emphasize creative excellence in a collaborative environment. They each share an attention to artistic detail, a keen sense of observation and a clear idea of their own strengths and personal passions. When reviewing school options, look for places that have relationships with animation and/or film companies and provide programs that include some of the following course attributes:
- drawing
- acting skills
- design and color
- film
- acting
- technology[1]
Interested as I am, I know for sure that most animator's dream job would be at Pixar. OK, maybe there are some people who choose something else, but what the heck! I'm not doing this for them. Take a look at this!
A Pixar Animator should be able to bring life to any object or character, showing the character’s internal thoughts and feelings through its physical external motion. To do this, the Animator must be a good actor. His or her work should communicate clearly, containing simple ideas with which an audience can empathize. The animation should be entertaining to watch, employing good timing and relying on individualized, believable characters to put forth humor and emotion.
We want you to be able to bring the character to life, independent of medium. Computer-graphic technical prowess is of course important, but the emphasis is not as strong within the Animation Department. The reality is that computer graphic animators have no advantage over pen-and-ink animators, clay animators, stop-motion animators, etc. So while it’s preferable for someone to have 3D knowledge, it’s not paramount. In fact 3/4 of the Animators on Toy Story were new to computers when hired.
Good animation is clearly visible through almost any technical limitation. In fact, the thrill of great animation is seeing pencil lines or matchsticks and glue come to life; why would it be any different with a computer.
Or, as we never tire of saying: Computers don’t animate. People do.
The classic animators were inspired by real life and all of the other films around them. And so are we. We're not looking to hire Animation Nerds. We want people who draw from their own other experiences, from live action, and yes, from the Old Masters![2]
I like that! I really do. And I'm sure that I can do it.
Last but not least, I found here is an Animator Job Post at Blue Sky Studios. This opens up a good idea of what are the qualifications at least expected from a Studio.
ANIMATOR (#12)
Department : Animation
Description : Animators are responsible for principal and background character animation and must be able to work under tight production deadlines. Must show proficiency in principles of animation including weight, timing, acting and posing of characters.
Responsibilities :
▪ Work with Animation Supervisor and Director in establishing characters and design of movement.
▪ Animate simple to complex shots from start to finish.
▪ Must be able to work collaboratively with animators as well as other departments.
Qualifications :
• Proficiency in basic principles of animation and basic shot rigging.
• Drawing skills a plus!
• Must be proficient in Maya and or XSI[3]
So here I go.
I have a good idea of what I need to do. Get into drawing, acting and start working through the mediums.
I'm on it!!
REFERENCES
1. Disney Career FAQ's. Disney. Retrieved on 2008-10-22
2. Career FAQ by Pixar. Pixar. Retrieved on 2008-10-22
3. Animator Job Post. Blue Sky Studios. Retrieved 2008-10-28
See also:
A Career in Animation by Aardman
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