Schools For Me» Animation

Why You Should Attend 3D Animation Schools

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:24:01 +0000

Many people are interesting in becoming 3D animators. Cartoons and animated movies and television shows have done so well that they have inspired a generation to come up with ways to enhance 3D animation and turn it into a booming industry. Movies like Alice in Wonderland, Avatar, Wall-E, and others have amazing graphics. So much so that people now go to see movies for the graphics.

In order to become an animator and work on one of these movies, you must attend 3D animation schools. Animation schools will teach you all of the tools you need to be successful in this industry.

In school, students will take art classes, which is necessary to be able to create basic cartoons and animations. There will also be graphic design classes, which are key to 3D animation, film classes, because knowing what goes into a movie is vital, editing classes, and actual animation classes themselves. A lot of work goes into becoming a 3D animator.

Most studios will not hire someone who is inexperienced or lacks education. In order to get hired, you must have a portfolio. If you do not have prior experience, and no way of getting any, the best way to get a portfolio together is through 3D animation schools. Schools will give you the experience and the technology to play with to learn how to do 3D animation. You can put together clips of what you’ve done as a portfolio.

It is also important to have connections if you want to get hired for a job with a Hollywood studio. The best place to make those connections is in school. All of your peers, everyone around you is going into the same industry. Professors and teachers are also professionals in the industry.

Most schools will also have job and internship placement programs for students, in order to get them hands on work and experience in the field. This too can be used to construct a better resume and portfolio.

Animations schools benefit students in many ways. Attending 3D animation schools will also allow you to practice your craft on the latest technology, mostly free of charge.

There are many advantages to attending an animation school over a four-year college. While many animators start out at four-year colleges, this can actually prove to hinder you. Four-year schools take up a lot of time that most individuals do not possess. They are also extremely expensive and to go to a good four-year school that has a 3D animation program can cost even more. Plus, there are all of the classes that students are forced to take that have nothing to do with their chosen field of study.

Why You Should Attend 3D Animation Schools

How to Pick a 3D Animation School

3D Animation Schools

Careers in Animation

Career in Animation

Check out our Animation School or
Design Listings

How to Pick a 3D Animation School

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:06:55 +0000

First, let’s understand what 3D animation is…3D computer graphics (in contrast to 2D computer graphics) are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data (often Cartesian) that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images. Such images may be for later display or for real-time viewing. Despite these differences, 3D computer graphics rely on many of the same algorithms as 2D computer vector graphics in the wire-frame model and 2D computer raster graphics in the final rendered display.

In computer graphics software, the distinction between 2D and 3D is occasionally blurred; 2D applications may use 3D techniques to achieve effects such as lighting, and primarily 3D may use 2D rendering techniques. 3D computer graphics are often referred to as 3D models. Apart from the rendered graphic, the model is contained within the graphical data file. However, there are differences. A 3D model is the mathematical representation of any three-dimensional object (either inanimate or living). A model is not technically a graphic until it is visually displayed. Due to 3D printing, 3D models are not confined to virtual space. A model can be displayed visually as a two-dimensional image through a process called 3D rendering, or used in non-graphical computer simulations and calculations.

3D animation schools…In terms of training, few actually get the “right” training. They go to a crash course program and put together a rather weak demo reel in the same timeframe, and then hit the streets looking for a job. These people have no training at all because they know nothing of the art of animation, nothing about lighting, nothing about story telling. They just “think” they know the software. The majority of the failures occur amongst these individuals.

Sound a little disheartening? It should. You are attempting to break into the film industry. You are just like an actor auditioning for a part. Everyone wants the part, you have to want it more than anyone else, so much so that they couldn’t cast anyone else but you for the role. If you go to a top quality and reputable online 3D animation school your chances of getting your foot in the door for an interview increase ten-fold. Students of crash course programs tend to mimic what they’ve seen before, whether good or bad, which indicates a lack of creativity on their part.

There are a lot of choices to be made…what canvas to use, what medium, what hues, what pose…a lot of questions. Granted you won’t be responsible for every question hat needs to be answered, but you will have to be consciously aware of them. That’s the difference between a good 3D animation school education and an adequate one.

Animation School Listings

Why You Should Attend 3D Animation Schools

How to Pick a 3D Animation School

3D Animation Schools

Careers in Animation

Career in Animation

Check out our Animation School or
Design Listings

3D Animation Schools

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:03:06 +0000

When you are deciding upon a 3D animation school, it’s very important that you thoroughly check out the school and its courses to ensure that it is perfect for you and your future. If it’s a good school and one that will prepare you for what production companies want, then you are well on your way to being successful in this exciting industry. Recruiters are very aware of what each school teaches, the hands-on experiences it offers if any mentoring relationships are offered. If it’s a school that is known for its curriculum and is reputable, then getting a certificate of completion on your resume will put you at the top of the list of a prospective employer.

Unfortunately, it’s not just “what you know” but also “who you know”. With that being true, finding schools that have apprentice/mentorship programs are very desirable. During your hands-on training, you will be meeting industry professionals that could become lifelong contacts as well as open the door for a future job opportunity. This business as in any other, gives no guarantees. The best way to ensure success is with good training, hands-on experience and great industry connections.

Schools of animation are usually very expensive. Therefore it is wise to do your homework before deciding which one to attend. Private schools such as Sheridan, Ringling and others are good schools but will cost you far more than state run institutions that offer the same courses. Of course, if you decide to attend a state school but you don’t reside in that state, then that can be costly as well. The key is to find a well-rounded program that will have you learning about the industry and give you some experience immediately.

Creating a demo reel is very important. Similar to a graphic or fine arts portfolio, this exemplifies who you are and what your skill set is as a 3D animator. Avoid any schools who do not give hands-on training with the end result of creating your own demo reel to secure employment upon graduation. Understand that a good demo reel is something that is created in more than a day or two. When you become a professional, you will probably spend years designing and refining your demo reel. After all, it is your calling card. You want it to be excellent and full of your animation work.

Acquire as much information about different schools as possible by visiting them as well as reading about them online. Make sure they offer a program in 3D animation and not just electives which are not going to train you to compete in this industry. Call or contact each school and ask them to send you a free information packet. Then you will learn firsthand if the school offers what you need to begin a career in 3D animation.

Why You Should Attend 3D Animation Schools

How to Pick a 3D Animation School

3D Animation Schools

Careers in Animation

Career in Animation

Check out our Animation School or
Design Listings

Careers in Animation

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:57:19 +0000

There was a time when artistic talent was practically all that one needed to become an animator. However nowadays careers in animation are better suited for those who not only have artistic talent, but also very well developed computer skills.

Animation in the 21^st century has truly entered into the digital age. And just as animation has evolved into a mostly computer generated process, it has also expanded to create many new opportunities.

At one time animators worked almost exclusively on making cartoons for TV and movies. However nowadays, in addition to TV and movies, there are opportunities for talented animators in video games, advertising, and on the web. Animation of one sort or another is cropping up at us all the time. For a talented animator, there are now perhaps more opportunities than ever before.

Many animators enjoy full time positions, working in-house. These sorts of positions are salaried and can be found at motion picture or television production companies, advertising agencies, web design houses, video game companies or animation studios.

A great many other animators work as freelancers. This is a particularly good option for those who wish to work in the field of web animation. Freelance animators enjoy the freedom of working out of their home office as well as being able to largely, set their own schedule.

Careers in animation offer one an excellent opportunity to earn a good salary while doing something rewarding and creative.

The ideal candidate for an entry-level animation job will likely have a 4-year degree. Many art and design schools now offer animation programs, although related degrees in art, media, design or computer science can also be appropriate.

However, it’s important to remember that animation is a profession, which attracts many bright and talented people. Because of this the job market can be competitive. Anyone seeking an entry-level animation job would do well to attend an internship of one kind or another.

Mentoring programs are one type of internship that can be particularly helpful.

Mentoring programs allow students to learn animation in the environment of a real animation studio, under the guidance of working professional animators.

Beyond the invaluable hands on experience students gain in such programs, they also have the opportunity to make the contacts and connections that can be integral to gaining a foothold in the animation industry.

Careers in animation are a good choice for anyone with creative artistic talent, good computer skills and a drive to succeed.

Why You Should Attend 3D Animation Schools

How to Pick a 3D Animation School

3D Animation Schools

Careers in Animation

Career in Animation

Check out our Animation School or
Design Listings

Career in Animation

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:49:57 +0000

A career in animation is more than just pen and paper…The realm of commercial animation is as diverse as the styles and techniques of animation itself. These days, animators can find work in feature films, television, the Internet, CD-ROM production, as well as product design/visualization, architecture, and interior design. And within each of those industries, animators can perform a variety roles.

2-D Animation may sound old-fashioned in a day and age when computers are everywhere and 3-D animation has taken Hollywood by storm, but 2-D animation continues to be an expanding and popular medium — especially since classical 2-D skills are the foundation for most 3-D work. 2-D animators develop their skills through life drawing, composition, and perspective courses — studying proportion, line of action, structure, and basic anatomy — while working in areas as varied as animation, character design, clean-up, doping, modeling, slugging, and storyboarding.

3-D animators are occupied with many of the same considerations at their 2-D counterparts — computers don’t get rid of the need for skills in life drawing, concept drawing, composition, character design, etc. Another career in animation is a 3-D animator, who deals more extensively with modeling, texturing, and lighting in a 3-D environment, often with the use of such software tools and packages as PhotoShop, SoftImage, Alias/Wavefront, Maya, and others.

The Storyboard Artist interprets scripts to create storyboards. This usually means planning shots, visualizing the story before drawing it, and being careful to maintain continuity among the shots. Starting out on this career track as an assistant, you’ll typically start out by doing clean-up and revisions, eventually working up to preparing some parts of the story board under supervision. This work involves a lot of cutting and pasting, drawing and quick sketching, perspective and composition, and perhaps most importantly, story development and interpretation.

The Layout Artist creates the foundation for the animation by rendering background layouts for each scene — usually referring to storyboards and additional research materials. These layouts don’t appear in the final production, but are critical for the positioning and perspective of the animation. Layouts are usually done with graphite pencil on punched animation paper; the aim is to provide a stage in which the animators will animate their characters and effects, as well as a blueprint or underdrawing, to be rendered in color by the Background Painters.

Most artists enter the world of animation by starting as Inbetweeners — the artists that help the animators and animation assistants complete the action of a scene. It may not sound like much, but it’s an important step where you’ll learn the basics of animation. An inbetween is one of the transition drawings between two extreme drawings — the key drawings that distill the essence of an animated action. The inbetweens fill in the action between these key drawings. You’ll usually work in a team and learn to imitate the animator’s drawings and line quality. Enjoy your career in animation!

Why You Should Attend 3D Animation Schools

How to Pick a 3D Animation School

3D Animation Schools

Careers in Animation

Career in Animation

Check out our Animation School or
Design Listings