Oli Hyatt invites budding animators to Explore Animation
Computer animation is an exciting part of the booming UK creative industries. Better still, there is currently a skills shortage, which is great news for talented graduates, as well as people taking their first steps on the ladder. But where do you start?
The online course Explore Animation, from world-renowned NFTS and Creative Skillset, is free to join and supported by many top industry practitioners. It’s just one in a growing number of exciting opportunities helping to nurture and develop future homegrown animation talent.
Passion for animation
Once you’ve decided a cutting-edge career in animation is for you, there are many areas you can choose to work in: from computer games animation to special effects in films; commercials to the children’s cartoons. In any case, it’s still a relatively small industry, so a good reputation and contacts are important; but so is hard work and dedication.
Twelve principles of animation FL website (c) NFTS
As is so often the case in the creative industries, you could be expected to work long hours, so animation has to be as much a passion as a job! And whilst prospects for employment are good if you have the right level of talent, you can’t expect to walk into a permanent position, as many animators work on freelance contracts.
Naturally creative
If you want to work in animation, you need to be self-motivated and driven about what you’re doing. It helps if you are creative with a strong artistic background. This can be in fine art or design; or even as an actor.
Blue Zoo character – taken from Blue Zoo Tumblr page – (c) Blue Zoo
In the end, it’s all about making characters come to life, so attention to detail is important, as are good observational skills. Look on the internet, find clips, see how things move and replicate that in the animation you are creating.
Show off your talent
Unlike with other careers, you don’t need to have an animation degree to enter the industry, just make sure you have a strong, concise showreel that really shows off your talent. We get sent 100s of links to showreels and there simply isn’t enough time to watch everything. So make sure you keep this short, with only your very best work on it; and even then, put the best clips on first and everything else in a subsection.
NFTS animation in progress
Employers want to see if the work is well-timed and has strong character poses. With great actors, you can clearly tell what they are feeling. The same should be true in character animation.
One frame at a time
Animation is a labour of love, and when it’s done right, it’s simply the most expressive genre you can work in on screen. I’ve enjoyed 15 years in the business, and I take such pleasure in seeing people’s ideas on a page come to life, one frame at a time. The only limit to what you can achieve and create is your imagination!