There are numerous different animator careers that budding young artists can go into, but the one common trait for most of the jobs in this field today is the use of computer technology. While there are still some animation jobs that rely on pencil and paper, they are becoming scarcer by the minute. Of course, you could always try your luck at becoming a cartoonist and getting books published, or even making it big with a newspaper comic strip, but if you want to work in film, television or advertising where most of the jobs are, you have to know computers.
Students have many opportunities to get the training they need for animator careers at colleges and universities since schools started developing animation course in the 1980s. Nowadays, the courses will include lessons on 2D and 3D animation, 3D modeling, 3D set construction, cell animation, character animation, computer graphics, drawing, film theory, interactive animation, multimedia, production processes, and sound and studio practice. Students must have some natural talents and skills to truly excel in these programs, as well as have the ability to keep up with the latest high-tech hardware and software that the schools will require.
After finishing school, there are many animation jobs that graduates can apply for all over the world. Studios such as The Moving Picture Company, DreamWorks, Framestore CFC, ESC Entertainment, and Mill & Aardman Animations are leading the industry in film and television animation. These animation jobs require creativity and a high level of skill in drawing, as well as require an expert knowledge of computer graphics.
The key to making it in the most prestigious animator careers is getting a good education and networking with the right people in the animation industry. You must be able to prove your knowledge of the latest hardware, software and technologies and be able to use them to create realistic animation products. You must also be able to create backgrounds, lighting effects and other visual effects. And, of course, you must also be able to draw to get started. If you can’t draw, you won’t make it past the drawing board.