So you want to be an Animator? Here's what to expect
Ken Davis is one of the main contributors to this thread, and what a good and experienced and knowledgeable writer about animation he is. If you want to know what it takes to be an animator, I highly recommend you read the thread over on the AWN forum, if you not already have done so.
It's a long read, but oh boy, what a read...
Interesting thread on the AWN forum
Moderators: Víctor Paredes, Belgarath, slowtiger
Well, I haven't read the thread in question, but I can say that the path to becoming a great animator is full of obstacles that one must overcome:
1. Be patient and don't expect to become good at it overnight.
Most animators will end up dedicating several years or even decades of their lives toward honing their skills. The concept of animation by itself might be easy enough to understand, but only hands-on experience can show you exactly how to do it right.
2. Learn to love the job.
Creating animation is a job is full of tedious and often redundant tasks. Even with all the technological advances in the field, much of it is still far from being an exact science, so expect a lot of trial and error along the way. If you commonly become bored or easily frustrated by such things, animation may not be the best career option for you. Don't be afraid to be honest with yourself on this, as dissatisfaction with the job will often show itself in your work. Animation requires dedication.
3. Be a team player.
Animation is generally not something one produces by themselves. (At least, not on the professional level.) Instead of trying to become good at everything, try focusing your efforts on a couple specific tasks. You may need to experiment a bit to determine what tasks you are best suited for, but eventually, you'll figure out where you best fit in. Once you know what tasks you're best at, you can combine your efforts with other animators who specialize in different areas and begin producing amazing pieces of work beyond what any of you could have created by yourselves.
4. Know when to take a break.
It's very easy to get a little too wrapped up in your work when trying to create animation. Just when you think you're almost finished, you might find yourself working for 10/15/20+ hours non-stop without ever realizing it. Fatigue can have a detrimental effect on the quality of your work if you aren't careful. Don't be afraid to get up, stretch and/or even take a short nap, every once in a while. Your work will still be there when you get back, so why not come back to it with a refreshed mind?
5. Avoid "tunnel vision".
When you've expelled a lot of effort onto a certain task, it's only human nature to take pride in what you've created. But, be careful not to let it go to your head. What you may see as great now, may actually be far less impressive to others. Don't be afraid to examine your work for flaws and areas you could improve upon. Nothing is ever truly "finished"... but instead is only one of many steps closer to the ideal goal you're trying to achieve.
1. Be patient and don't expect to become good at it overnight.
Most animators will end up dedicating several years or even decades of their lives toward honing their skills. The concept of animation by itself might be easy enough to understand, but only hands-on experience can show you exactly how to do it right.
2. Learn to love the job.
Creating animation is a job is full of tedious and often redundant tasks. Even with all the technological advances in the field, much of it is still far from being an exact science, so expect a lot of trial and error along the way. If you commonly become bored or easily frustrated by such things, animation may not be the best career option for you. Don't be afraid to be honest with yourself on this, as dissatisfaction with the job will often show itself in your work. Animation requires dedication.
3. Be a team player.
Animation is generally not something one produces by themselves. (At least, not on the professional level.) Instead of trying to become good at everything, try focusing your efforts on a couple specific tasks. You may need to experiment a bit to determine what tasks you are best suited for, but eventually, you'll figure out where you best fit in. Once you know what tasks you're best at, you can combine your efforts with other animators who specialize in different areas and begin producing amazing pieces of work beyond what any of you could have created by yourselves.
4. Know when to take a break.
It's very easy to get a little too wrapped up in your work when trying to create animation. Just when you think you're almost finished, you might find yourself working for 10/15/20+ hours non-stop without ever realizing it. Fatigue can have a detrimental effect on the quality of your work if you aren't careful. Don't be afraid to get up, stretch and/or even take a short nap, every once in a while. Your work will still be there when you get back, so why not come back to it with a refreshed mind?
5. Avoid "tunnel vision".
When you've expelled a lot of effort onto a certain task, it's only human nature to take pride in what you've created. But, be careful not to let it go to your head. What you may see as great now, may actually be far less impressive to others. Don't be afraid to examine your work for flaws and areas you could improve upon. Nothing is ever truly "finished"... but instead is only one of many steps closer to the ideal goal you're trying to achieve.
8==8 Bones 8==8