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Just a question...

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Just a question...

Hi,

I've got a question concerning animators. Why there are so few female animators? I always thought, that it is a typical women dream job... What do you think?

Women don't have the forearm muscles that it takes to wield a pencil for animation.

Just kidding!

I don't really know. I don't think they're really drawn to it (no pun) in the same numbers men are. In my animation program, men outnumbered women by at least 10 to 1. That was less true for computer animation and art in general, but hand-drawn animation just didn't seem to be their cup of tea.

I can't really say anything without sounding sexist, but why do you think that it's a typical women's dream job? Animation requires sitting alone at a light table for hours and hours drawing sequential images. As such, it's much like any other technical computer job that women seem to be drawn away from. I've known a few women in my animation classes who were excellent animators, though they were very outnumbered by the amount of guys in the class, in both traditional and computer animation classes.

Women don't have the forearm muscles that it takes to wield a pencil for animation.

Just kidding!

I don't really know. I don't think they're really drawn to it (no pun) in the same numbers men are. In my animation program, men outnumbered women by at least 10 to 1. That was less true for computer animation and art in general, but hand-drawn animation just didn't seem to be their cup of tea.

In my animation class, the women number the same as the men. There was on who was a natural and I hope she keep going.

You need to check the credits of some of the current movies, I think that they are about fifty fifty.

Being female, I can remember a time when there were hardly any female computer techs, Novell CNEs, Microsoft MCSEs, etc. Anything that's male dominated, it takes a while.
I saw this on Cartoon Network's website. Women did painting and inking in Hanna Barbara's studio in the 60's.
Now that's got to take time and dedication.
I was shocked to find out that women did this in the 60's.
I mean weren't they supposed to be at home cooking and cleaning.
(just kidding)
I love websites like www.theflashdiva.com.
Hmm. I was able to view these pictures on another forum using the img function, so I can assume that the img function is disabled on this forum. Oh well.

http://www.cartoonnetwork.com.au/asp/scrapbook/images/studiotour/paint1.jpg" />

http://www.cartoonnetwork.com.au/asp/scrapbook/images/studiotour/paint2.jpg" />

http://www.cartoonnetwork.com.au/asp/scrapbook/images/studiotour/paint3.jpg" />

Here is a move showing the women painting in the 60's.
http://www.cartoonnetwork.com.au/asp/scrapbook/studiotour/movies/paintingRest.mov

In my experience, I'd say it was usually about 40% women.

I'm the only woman on my MA in Computer Animation, which I was a bit surprised at. It has made me more determined to succeed in the business though.

Maybe we need more animation with content that appeals to women. None of my female friends are interested in watching animation, never mind creating it. I personally get a bit weary of animations featuring robots and green aliens, unless they are done really well with a strong, engaing story, like the Iron Giant for example.

Visit my website:

Claire O'Brien.com

In my experience, the industry has been VERY male dominated. Someone said this is changing with CG animation, andn I believe that to be correct. When i was in college, we had 3 women and 20+ guys.

Now, when I am hiring, I try to grab as many female animators as possible... Not because I am some kind of pig or anything, but I like a good mix male-female, and sometimes, I like to have a female's touch on some scenes/characters. I trust them more to animate female characters, as they animate them as they ARE, not as they PICTURE them (with big breasts and swords :) ).

I was forming a team to make the "Bratz" featurette a couple years ago (if you are not familiar with the Bratz, they are like Barbies), and I insisted on having as many women working on it as possible. They just have a knack for getting that femininity in characters (for the most part). I have met few males who can do that well.

Cheers

"Don't want to end up a cartoon in a cartoon graveyard" - Paul Simon

[QUOTE= I like to have a female's touch on some scenes/characters. I trust them more to animate female characters, as they animate them as they ARE, not as they PICTURE them (with big breasts and swords :) ).

They just have a knack for getting that femininity in characters (for the most part). I have met few males who can do that well.[/QUOTE]
Gees... at the last second you give a nod to the male animators. I thought that way too untill the commentary on "The Incredibles". I was surprised to learn that a guy did Mirage.

Good women animators can handle anything too, just as good male animators, not just femmy roles.
But of course if any animator has an experiential affintiy or empathy for an emotion or character they may raise the bar on a scene.
I remember an article by (I think) John Pomeroy who said he had an animator friend who was once chased down an alley by a gang with knives and clubs. The guy animated a chase scene like no one's business.
A good actor may do a good woman's role like a Mirage but it will be alot of observation with getting in charcater. A good actress may've experienced alot of what the female character has emotionally..even movement...and maybe alot less chance for a stereotypical P.O.V...so you see, she she has a well of living-it to draw upon. But they all have to be good actors in the first place and being a male or female is not a prerequisite for animating one nor will one necessarily do a better job than the other animating their own sex.

I've known and worked with dozens of women animators over my career--more so in recent years. Some of the best animation I've seen has come from women animators.

Graphiteman is correct in that the numbers are around 40%

"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)

Hi,

I've got a question concerning animators. Why there are so few female animators? I always thought, that it is a typical women dream job... What do you think?

I think if women are turned -off by animation it is the idea of the slapstick /burlesque tradition where the characters were sexualised like Betty Boop or Blair/Avery dancing "girl". (Hey, I'm not complaining but I think if one asked a woman artist why she did not choose animation, she may say that.)
Also in animation's hay-day women characters were generally not central.
I remember an interview with Bob Clampett he was asked by Vicki Gabereau why they weren't more female characters. He said to the effect,"When a woman is around, Bugs would tend to get too....uhh...polite!" So there was an idea it wouldn't be very "lady-like" and that Bugs couldn't be as rowdy, could not bop a woman on the head with a mallet. So that, in a traditional hollywood sense is what is thought of when one hears animation.

As for the "typical women dream job", I know where you may be coming from.
If it's having a family and freelancing I think illustration, of which I've been trying to break into, is more conducive for family and homemaking. A book is genrally done when it it done, when the publisher is happy. There are tons of women illustrators throughout its history. Not that it is any easier.
Animation is a bear and the deadlines are yesterday, paying on a footage or minute or frame rate, not usually hourly.

I wish there were more women in Animation. Its frigging October Fest every night in my Animation building.... :D I feel for the women in our department... I'm sure they are constantly being hit on by very pale, questionable hygene, and somewhat anti social animators, but maybe they enjoy it? Only they know.

www.MattOrnstein.com
Character Animator - Lucas Arts

I'm a female animator. :D There are quite a few females in the animation club at school. I've also seen a fair share of females at Monty (animation/game design building). I think our numbers may be increasing...

"Animation isn't about how well you draw, but how much to believe." -Glen Keane

For better or worse females have the stereotype of being the more emotional, sensitive gender. And stereotypes by definition always have a lick of truth to them. I see no reason why animation should have any sort of minorities other than what would happen incidentally.

I've seen ten guys combined who couldn't add up to one Mew. I would hope there's no limit but interest (though I imagine there could be interference occasionally from the psychological issues of a hiring manager).

Thanks Scattered :D. I agree that stereotypes have a bit of truth in them, but that shouldn't prevent women from doing what they want.

I have met quite a few people who didn't do what they wanted because they were worried about what people think of them. Maybe that's the case with women in animation. Perhaps a lot of us are too worried about being labeled as a "nerd", "weirdo", "loser" etc. and choose careers that are seen more as womens jobs in the eyes of society.

It's a shame really.

"Animation isn't about how well you draw, but how much to believe." -Glen Keane

Shame on what, though? Is it a societal pressure, or a caving in of that individual's personality? The whole idea of a successful animator is built off of overcoming the artist's insecurity and the artist's ego to have an open mind -and- a backbone, and fighting to do what you love for a living. If you cannot will yourself to make that commitment it doesn't matter who you are...

What I was saying wasn't for or against women. My personal opinion though is if there is truth to it, acting is about pathos and emotion, right? So let the masters do what they do best ;)

I was just saying that its a shame that some people wont do what they want because they are afraid of what others will think of them.

My personal opinion though is if there is truth to it, acting is about pathos and emotion, right? So let the masters do what they do best ;)

lol :p

"Animation isn't about how well you draw, but how much to believe." -Glen Keane