Maybe you started animating stick figures on a notepad as a kid. Maybe you love playing video games and would like to experiment with animation software. Or the idea of seeing your characters come to life really excites you. If so, a career in animation might be for you!

In any case, you’re in luck. There are lots of opportunities for people like you to make a good living doing what they love. Except the reality is that talent, skill and passion are usually not enough for you to start a career in animation. So what does it take to get a toehold in the animation industry?

The Benefits of Animation Career Training

In addition to artistic skills and dedication, animation studios look for people who understand what it takes to survive and prosper in the business of animation. Among other elements of what is needed to work in animation, animation career training will help you develop the following:

Develop Your Foundation Skills

Young people are often surprised to discover that in this era of 3D films that old-fashioned drawing is still required. Software can manipulate objects but imagination is what drives everything! Begin your artistic education with a strong foundation of perspective, composition, still-life/object drawing as well as plenty of life drawing. From learning more of the basics of drawing and cartooning, to exploring character design and studying both classical, 2D software-based as well as advanced 3D animation, an in-depth education will help throughout your animation career, wherever it takes you. And a broader range of skills opens up more possibilities for finding a position as well as keeping it.

Learn to Be a Professional Animator

The perceived wisdom in the industry is that it takes about 10 years to become a really good animator. When you finish college, you cannot expect to be an expert but you can be ready to have a professional attitude. Being professional in the workplace means being punctual for work and for meetings, being prepared to take criticism and be ready to redo your work and following directions. Having good professional skills and being a good communicator makes for a better team player. Animation is a team endeavour not unlike an effective and winning sports team.

Build a Solid Demo Reel and website

Studios looking to hire will be interested in seeing what you can do; your website and a demo reel will showcase your skills. Firstly, the studio reps will want to see that you can draw and your demo reel will show off your animation skills. If you get called in for an interview, then you can be assured you have the job as far as your skill level is concerned.

A personal interview so that they can assess your professionalism comes next!

Getting ready for the interview

If you have a solid foundation of animation training you may apply for a variety of different jobs that an animation studio may be offering. Before you even apply for a specific posting, do your homework! Research to become familiar with the production work the studio creates and consider whether you will be a good fit for the company. That way, when they ask you why they should consider hiring you, you’ll be ready with a good answer.

The Animation Diploma Program at Max the Mutt not only teaches you all the artistic and professional skills you’ll need for a career in animation, it prepares you for the realities of that career and will help you develop the necessary skills you need to help launch your dream!

To learn more, contact Max the Mutt today.