Animation as a career prospect for youngsters
The highly digitized world that we live in is opening up new and bright career options for the current and future workforce. Animation is one of them. In fact, it is one of the most sought-after career options for youngsters these days, thanks to popular animation movies like Kung Fu Panda and Ice Age among others. If your teenager has a creative flair and has a keen sense and interest in visuals, then it will be a good idea to nudge his passion and motivate him to take up animation as a career. Students from any stream can join animation courses after class 12. Here is a broad overview of this career option.
The role of animators
The common tasks performed by animators include creating special effects ranging from advertisements to video games. Some animators develop a specialty such as hand-drawing, 3D designing, and creating computer-generated images. Using multiple tools and techniques, animators accomplish various models and animation programs. In bigger tasks, animators may be assigned to work on storyboarding, creating a plot, and developing characters. Some of the tasks common to animators in every field include:
- Creating frames
- Designing animated backgrounds, environment, objects, and sets.
- Using computer software
- Using photographs to develop them into 3D characters.
- Meeting any script, soundtrack requirement for an advertisement or movie.
Essential skills required
Animation and technology complement each other. So technical skills are mandatory for an animator. A strong creative sense and detail of animated designs can fetch animators the best jobs in the industry. Additionally, successful animators need the following skills to make it big:
- Adobe creative suite
- Graphic design, motion graphics
- Interaction design
- Maya
- UX wireframes
- Prototyping
- User interface ( UI )design
- Cinema 4D and 3D design
- Creativity
- Collaboration and communication skills
- Editing
- Research
- Organizational and problem-solving skills
- Writing skills
- Time management
Job scope in animation
Animation design is a technical field. So it opens up job prospects in multiple areas where specialization is required. The possible jobs of an animator may include:
- Radio and television broadcasting
- Character animators
- 2D and 3D creation
- Digital ink and paint artist
- Software publishing
- Technical consulting services
- Video industry and editing
- Storyboard artist, texture, and layout artist
- Sketch artists, graphic designers
- Computer game developers
Educational requirement and qualification
Most employers look for an animator with a bachelor’s degree for entry-level positions along with a professional portfolio. Some institutions may look for animators with certificate courses or an associate degree in design. Students typically need to go for courses in drawing, 3D programming, computer graphics, and video editing courses. Some degree courses also provide knowledge of kinematics while others teach students to build portfolios and self-marketing strategies to pitch to an animation studio. A Bachelor’s degree in fine arts, entertainment design, and illustration gives an edge to aspiring animators over others.