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Schooling after the BFA? (help)

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Schooling after the BFA? (help)

Hi guys, I'd love to get some feedback on this situation of mine. I noticed a similar question buried in the history of this section but would like to bring it up again.

I recently graduated from a 4-year uni. with a BFA in Digital Media which left me with a jack-of-all-trades-like knowledge of digital art. But I fell for the Animation class we had and (after the research of impending doom) want to pursue 3D modeling/animation in my next move. I just don't know what that move it quite yet.

Do I start all over and attend another 4-year (ugh) degree in Animation and end up with two BFA - looking silly?

Do I dig around for those elusive Masters programs, which seem to make those in the biz here scoff?

Or do I go for one of those intensive vocational/technical schools and dive headfirst into the medium?

Any advice would be appreciated. I intend to work my butt off but I want to make sure the school is the best possible as well.
If you have anything to say about schools on the east coast I'd love to hear that too...I live near the Orlando, FL area so Ringling, DAVE school, and SCAD are all decently close. I'm slowly but surely visiting those and others.

Thank you!

The BFA, or the numbers of BFAs you hold isn't going to make much of a difference in you getting hired in the biz.

My advice is to take measure of where your talent lies in comparison to what is being done in the industry at this time.
Is a Masters-degree-holding artist going to be a BETTER artist than a non-degree-holding talent?
Honestly, I don't think it makes any difference.

Get the training that fills in the areas you are weak in, and go from there.

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

Thanks for the advice Ken. :) I've started making myself a Pro/Con list about Tech schools vs traditional degree schools.

I do want to improve on some of my traditional skills; I've been working on animal and human anatomy after work, but a real course might be more helpful there. I suppose I am leaning away from tech. schools...

Anyone else have additional advice?

Hi cheshiremoo and welcome to the AWN Forums.

You've taken 4 years of art school and you have a good general education. Now zero in on what you want to do. You said 3D Modeling and Animation.

First you're going to have to pick one or the other. This isn't to say that you can know both, but you have to decide what you want to put your efforts into most.

Once you have that figured out, take a step back and honestly appraise your work so far. Try to look at your work as a studio recruiter would instead of how your mother sees your work. Meaning, if the anatomy of a drawing looks wrong but it's shaded nice, then the anatomy is wrong and you need more anatomy study. Versus your mom loving all the pretty pictures that you draw. That is just an example. But see what you need to work on in relation to what you want to focus on.

Now, skip the degree. You can apply to another 4 year BFA school, but take all the best classes that will benefit the craft you want to go into. Modeling, take all the best modeling classes, including sculpting and anatomy classes, but skip the landscape painting classes. Animation, take all the animation classes you can, starting with basic drawn animation as most universities teaching 3D animation don't cover basic animation principles in 3D programs.

Like Ken always says, degree's mean nothing. You either know your craft or you don't. The only people that care about degrees are schools and your parents.

Good luck on your quest. There are plenty of people here to help you out including professionals, teachers and students.

Oh, and try to not be seduced by the school recruiters spouting numbers of graduates working in the field and at what studios. Look at the school's reel of graduating students. Is the work stunning or does it look ok? That is what your work will look like.

Aloha,
the Ape

...we must all face a choice, between what is right... and what is easy."

this is something I really just realized after I read your post. you want to get into 3d animation but because of your age. you most likely didnt grow up with the experience of watching a lot of 2d animation be it american or anime. you dont know the appeal and flexibility that comes with it. but 2d animation is a necessary ingredient for 3d animation.

I really dont know how long it would have taken me to become good at 3d animation if I had not grown up watching so much 2d animation.

your going find to someway to bridge that gap and get the knowledge. thru books, thru classes, old or new 2d video. but thats pretty tough going in without already having a fountain of accumlated experiences of how 2d animation looks and feels

this is something I really just realized after I read your post. you want to get into 3d animation but because of your age. you most likely didnt grow up with the experience of watching a lot of 2d animation be it american or anime. you dont know the appeal and flexibility that comes with it. but 2d animation is a necessary ingredient for 3d animation.

How can you gauge that from the poster--its a pretty wild assumption.
The OP has a 4 yr BFA in hand, which says they have graduated high school, and university--meaning they are in their mid-20's, at least.
Roll the clock back to what would be their childhood and you'll see that 2D has been the predominant medium in cartoons in spite of a few 3D shows making inroads.
Its a given that anyone growing up in the last 30 years would have seen mostly 2D cartoons on television, unless they exclusively filtered their viewing to watch strictly 3D/CGI--simply because 90% of the cartoon programming has been 2D.

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

Thanks AnimatedApe! There isn't anyone from the old campus that can advise me on the 3D world so its a HUGE stress reliever to read the threads here

"Now, skip the degree. You can apply to another 4 year BFA school, but take all the best classes that will benefit the craft you want to go into."

-I'm liking this idea and think it is probably the best way to go for me.

@tyree: I get your point about understanding the mechanics of 2D animation and their application towards 3D - I've had a book for a while "The Animator's Handbook" (i think) that I like to flip through often. It strictly focuses on 2D and specifically references Disney animator's techniques...might be written by one but I'm not sure.

@Ken: you're right, mostly 2D cartoons, hehe (Looney Toons reruns before all violence had to be wiped from tv or something equally ridiculous, Nick, Disney, and early Cartoon Network stuff!)

thanks again :D

Just wanted to add that degrees make a huge difference if you intend to apply for positions outside your country of citizenship.

Just wanted to add that degrees make a huge difference if you intend to apply for positions outside your country of citizenship.

Ahhhhhh, I didn't know that. Good to know.

By the way, great to see you back again Kevan.

Mahalo,
the Ape

...we must all face a choice, between what is right... and what is easy."