I'm a tenth grade student who has never taken an art class, I merely sketch at the bottom of my homework and such. I am really interested in possibly becoming an animator mostly because I just love animated movies and beyond that, the arts in general. But I wonder is that enough? Browsing these forums I see all of the people so passionate about animation and art, devoting their lives to it. And I have nothing to compare I am not even remotely a great artist, but am very determined.
So I suppose this would come to my question, when did you realize this passion? Did you begin pursuing it in highschool.
I am so unsure. I love the idea of being an animator, but it is so alike to the adolescent fantasies of so many others about becoming madonna or that same level.
I suppose another question I'd like to throw in there last moment, what do you suggest I partake at this age to prepare myself for a career, or is simply constantly drawing enough?
Taking the Madonna example (I assume you mean Ciccone...), is it the singing and acting or is it the element of being famous? Half a trillion people say they want to act, even move out to Hollywood to pursue the "actor's career." How many of them do act, or are willing to? As animated work gains more presence even as the audience themselves remains ignorant to specific techniques and processes, there are going to be a ton of people (and institutions like schools) that hover around the idea of being an animator without considering the effort, or as you intimate, the love.
Which side are you on? That will help you make your decision. Given that you produce work to some extent (even if it's drawing on a homework page) it's at least somewhat active and you appreciate it beyond a name or an idea of a status. That's a healthy sign.
You don't need to be a great artist now. If you really -are- determined and choose this path, you'll make yourself get conditioned so that your skills are where they need to be at to make a life (and/or a living) out of it.
I personally was really young when I understood what an animator was, what he or she did, etc. but tons of people don't even realize they like it till they're way older than I am now. The putting it to practice always comes later as you start to commit to making it real. I knew about and was interested by animation, but hardcore, legitimate practice that'd get me anywhere probably wasn't till 8th or 9th grade, and it's just a year and a half ago that I went to school for it.
I do recommend drawing. It's not that not drawing doesn't hurt you so much as drawing helps so immensely. Overall I mean, just even for planning things out, allowing yourself to record possibilities of what you want to show. Obviously for hand-drawn animation it becomes a need.
The timing is right, and I say better sooner than later. Make sure you show by your work and efforts that if indeed your heart is in it you treat it as more than a buzzword or a fad like so many people and schools are in the mood of right now. It'd be the quickest way to separate yourself and get taken seriously. And post stuff here for critiques and comments! =)
I suggest you get your hands a little dirty by doing some animation. A good place to start is at Larry's site he has great tutorials you can work through to see if this actually something you want to do for a living.
http://tooninstitute.awn.com/main.html
Pat Hacker, Visit Scooter's World.
There's a lot of young people (and some not so young) that are attracted by the lure of animation.
I've seen a lot of them, and I've seen a lot of them never make it.
Part of it is because a lot of these people are lured to the job title.
There's something trendy, sexy, mysterious and flamboyant about being an animator.
Its a nigh-mysterious craft that a lot of people admire from afar, with a lot of movies and TV shows that people enjoy.
Because of that enjoyment, people want to be a part of it.
People like yourself.
And they want this job title without really understanding the job.
The people that do this work successfully really devote a tremendous amount of their waking (and sometimes sleeping) life to it. Its a demanding, unrelenting, unforgiving craft and its not easy to get into.......if you are not "doing it".
Doing it means simply creating, drawing, animating, working towards that ulitmate goal, and doing so all the time. 24/7.
Its is a never-ending obsession that talent , in this biz, needs in order to make it anywhere within the biz.
Now, I might sound harsh, even over-bearing, but I want you to understand a few things.
Admission to this craft--as it were--isn't without its price.
There's a lot of posers.......wannabees, that start out with the exact same thoughts as you have. They have a half-hearted, half-assed attitude and quite frankly......piss-poor talent.
Honestly, most of them never make it.
That is because they want that job title, but are unwilling to do the job.
They don't want to get "geeky" over animation, do not want to throw themselves into it 100%, and embrace all aspects of the craft.
They make excuses for lacking skills, laziness in attempting to overcome what they lack.
They do not want to surpress other things in their life in favour of this one all-concerning passion.
That's really what it'll take to do this successfully.
You like the idea of being an animator..........but are you drawing obsessively?
There some voices that say drawing isn't necessary......I'm not one of those voices. Drawing skills...........good art skills of all kinds are an asset.
Some people are scared spitless at the idea of drawing--because they think they are weak at it.
Why would a industry need weak talent?
C'mon, common sense says that it has no use for weak talent.
Thinking that a weak artist can fit in is a delusion.
But a LOT of people skirt around creative skills, like drawing, in a vain attempt to avoid reality.
Take my advice here: don't avoid reality.
Drawing is a undeniable asset, the better you are........and I mean in the class of the works you admire/the shows you watch, the better.
Some people find that standard intimidating.
The industry doesn't want or need those kinds of people.
You need to develop a obsessive mindset to accomplish your goals.
You'll have people tell you not to do this--hey, I'm one of them at this point.
That is the litmus test for a person.......if they can overcome "no" then a lot of other things are correspondingly easier to overcome.
Draw all the time. Not when you feel like it.
All the time.
Not just in the margins of your school books-though a lot of us did that too. Draw on anything that will take a line.
Become obsessive about what you draw on, what you draw with, what the lines you create are like, and what others create.
If things distract you--family, friends, other interests--they WILL deny you your goal.
As a younger person, in this day and age, you have a unprecedented opportunity at your fingertips. I never had this when I started in the biz some 21 years ago, or when I started drawing some 17 years before that, at 5 years old.
99% of the things you will need to know about the animation business exist under the keystrokes of the keyboard in front of you.
Quality tools are abundant, and easy to find/accquire, the methods in using them all around you to discern.
The only thing you really need to bring to the equation.......the most critical portion.... is the mindset and focus.
I've seen artists with all the skills in the world drum out because they were lazy or indifferent. I've seen mediocre artists come from the bottom of the pack and excell only because they had a undying, juggernaut-like drive.
I've also seen too many people give up and pursue other things.
You can decide where you want to place yourself.
If you are unsure, consider that this is not for you.
If you are not creating/drawing....and doing so obsessively, consider this might just be an affectation that's struck you for now--not truly a life's goal.
If you are not prepared to go against the grain of a lot of people around you, its not for you.
Do you want just the job title or do you want to do the job?
You decide.
"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)
Thanks so much for replying, especially Ken Davis, it has provided me with an awful lot to think about.
Ken, I've got an intro to animation class starting next week, and I'd love to use your post as a handout for my new class. I was planning a "ya gotta love it to succeed" speech, but your post is a terrifically eloquent statement.
Can I have your permission to reproduce it and hand it out to my students?
If ya do it like R. Lee Emry, and slip the term "major malfunction" in somewhere, you can use it for life. LOL! :D
Actually, please just acknowledge me as the author and if you wish to expand upon the ideas, go right ahead.
I've tweaked it just a bit more, but if you ever decide to change it more than, say ......50%.....go ahead and call it yours.
Its the idea that's important, not the glory.
"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)
Absolutely - I'd intended on acknowledging you as the author. I figure they're going to hear me yammer at them all semester long, and it'd be nice to have another voice chime in, even if it's in print. :)
Drop me a PM with some of your board credits and I'll include those too. It's good for the class to know the background of the speaker.
Ken's board credits? Will that fit in a PM?
Well,...........I'll TRY! :D
"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)
Thanks Ken. Very impressive list.
You need to start training your eye as well as your hand. Learn the principles and elements of design. Draw a lot, but be working towards something. (okay, I still catch myself mindlessly doodling--esp. on the phone...that maybe doesn't count since it's hard to help...but you get the point.)
Also get Preston Blair's Animation book. For someone your age, it's a great starting point. It's a solid introduction to the basic animation principles while still being really fun to look at and copy.
Ted Nunes - www.tedtoons.com