Animation Career Pro » Tips and Insights

Straying From the Principles Trap

Chris — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:57:08 +0000

As you probably already know, animation principles are the backbone of professional quality character animation. How you use the principles and apply them is just as important.

When you begin to animate with computer software, especially in 3D software like Maya for example, it’s very easy to become so dazzled with how cool 3D objects [...]

Critiquing And Direction – Retakes/Revisions

Chris — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:22:46 +0000

To be completely honest, retakes (sometimes called revisions) are the least fun part of the job of an animator, but they are always a part of an animators job. No matter how talented and skilled, every animator gets retakes.

Retakes and revisions are changes that you have to make to your work. Sometimes it’s changes to [...]

Realizing the Vision of the Creator/Director

Chris — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 03:59:00 +0000

In any animated series or feature film, the director will have a pre-concieved vision of how he/she sees the story play out scene by scene in order to be sucessful as a whole piece.

This is why Animators are provided with support material such as liecas (or animatics), storybords, reference videos, and other support material – [...]

Work From Home vs. In Studio

Chris — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 03:05:00 +0000

Animators work on computers all day. At least most do today. With FTP sites, web based production management systems and easy file transfering, there’s no real reason why we can’t do our work from anywhere in the world and not have to commute to work every day if it isn’t conducive with your life situation. [...]

Getting A Promotion, Eleven Easy Ways To Satisfy The Boss

Chris — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:13:41 +0000

In my own experience, being good at what you do and having an ‘easy-to-get-along-with’ attitude are key to being considered for a promotion.

If you rock the boat too much at work or you’re too outspoken it’s probably not going to help you, but at the same time being too aloof and not communicating with people [...]

Animators Contracts And Pay

Chris — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:57:58 +0000

Although there are permanent/full time positions in studios, most animators work on a contract basis.

An employment contract is a legal document which states the terms of your employment including your salary. This contract is an agreement made between you and the employer before you start work.

I know, you want to hear about those [...]