animation

[Arima]

How should I go about getting a career in animation? I'm looking to get a career in animation. Making video games, cartoons, shows (like Japanese anime), and even movies (like Wall-E). I haven't finished high school yet so I'm wondering, how should I go about pursuing this right now? Any special classes or electives I should be taking at this time? Thank you very much for all suggestions and answers!

[Squeemish]

The best way is to find an animation school and do everything you can to get enrolled.

While you're still in high school, I would suggest drawing every chance you can.

Also, get some books on animation. I'd especially recommend Cartoon Animation by Preston Blair and Character Animation Crash Course! by Eric Goldberg. Both can be found at amazon.com

Don't fall into the trap of thinking that because you might want to work in CG animation, that you don't need to know how to draw. It's extremely important to learn how to make something look good on paper, before you can make it look good in a computer.

Also, I'd suggest getting a copy of anime studio, adobe flash or some other animation program. You can really learn a lot just by experimenting yourself.

Hope that helps

[DravenX]

Go to this website about animation.

http://www.animationarena.com/learning- ... ation.html

And there's also a program called daz3d for character animation etc...

http://www.daz3d.com

[Squeemish]

Great link, nice to see all that info in one place.

[DravenX]

And like squeemish said draw as much as you can on a daily basis.

[Arima]

Study the work of those who have come before you, then when you're done with high school enroll in animation mentor. It's an online school not only founded by people from places like Pixar and ILM, you are directly taught by pro animators from places like Pixar, Disney, ILM, Sony image works and DreamWorks. I learned more in two weeks at animation mentor than I had learned in two years at another art college. It's cheaper than a normal art college, and better. Since its online, it doesn't matter what part of the world you're in, you can study there. They also don't mess around and make you take irrelevant courses like math or english for an animation career - it's 100% animation. I can't recommend it highly enough.

http://www.animationmentor.com/

[greyspot]

Like everyone else said, keep drawing. Make flipbook animations and animations on the PC. Learn some 3D animation techniques and if you need animation for PC on the cheap, do some small GIF animations just as quick and fun exercises. You could volunteer your in-progress-talents for some of the aspiring Constructors if you wish. Just PRACTICE!

For learning 3D, get Blender. http://www.blender3d.org
Currently, the new version is being completely reworked. So have patience as the Blender team hammers out the bugs.

For a good 2D animation program, check out Pencil. http://www.pencil-animation.org/
It hasn't had an official update in a while, but the Sourceforge page is still active, even as of yesterday. I haven't used it that much because I am terrible animation-wise, although it is fun! Check it out, it's very promising!

This is a tiny and helpful tool. Quickly converts a string of frames to an AVI file.http://makeavi.sourceforge.net

Good luck with your animation career!

Love,

Me

PS. Isn't this thread in the wrong category?

[GMG]

Anyone else notice the spammy ad links in this guy's sig?
I'm guessing they were added in later once the original post had a few replies.

[Arima]

You're correct - they were edited in later.

[Mipey]

They're getting craftier with each day.