Actually I remember Ken posting a message on this exact same scenario-- that studios will typically close down with no warning and that it's important for the artist to either back up their work or delete it completely. I read this before seeing the c.o.r.e. news. What a coincidence, lol. I suppose that stability is just not a part of a career in animation. Another reason why artistic careers are generally looked down upon or at the very least are not encouraged.
That post was in a response to the CORE shutdown, I found out about it as it happened from my connections and wrote the advice with timeliness in mind.
As for the lack of stability in an animation career--that is something else I have covered.
A lot of animation folks are what I called niche-talents, in that they are good only in a few things, or a couple of styles. IMO, that is what fuels the instability in an artist's working life.
The solution is to have range--that is a wide spectrum of styles or genres you are comfortable/competent in. If you can draw an issue of an X-men comic, storyboard a Dorah the Explorer episode, design characters for a Crayola interactive game, draw a newspaper strip, animate or inbetween a scene, illustrate a book or magazine, draw hawt babes.......then you'll never want for work. You'll have a varied and interesting career, and will work on all kinds of stuff--and will probably be able to keep a roof over your head to boot.
Its doable--I've been doing it for 20+ years now. Some years are better than others, and having two incomes in the household does help, but an artistic career is NO different than any other.
ONE studio closing down.......means nothing. Doesn't matter how big it is......in the long run-it means nothing. In the short-term it might stem some work in a local sense.....but there's work all over the place.
Heck, I'm currently freelancing on a project I'm not even supposed to be allowed to work on, because of restrictive tax credit stipulations. The mythical barriers of location, and conditions........are really just that; myths.
A career in animation is what YOU make it.
—
"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)
Companies fail all the time, it's not exclusive to the animation industry. Look at GM selling their Saab brand, all but shelving Pontiac, and closing Saturn and Hummer. When an animation studio closes, it just seems like a bigger deal than it is because the animation community is much smaller than other industries. I'm not saying CORE closing isn't a big deal, it is. Especially for those involved, and it's ripples are far reaching.
Like Ken said, those with a well rounded talent base will fare better than the niche artists. I know exactly what he means as I'm one of those niche artist he's talking about. I'm an animator, sure I can animate in several mediums but still I'm just an animator. Not a story boarder, character designer, BG designer colorist or what have you. So when projects only start to trickle in, I start to worry. I have friends who can design, animate and board and they weather the doldrums much better than I. But I have no interest in boarding or designing so I try to keep growing as an animator and be the best I can.
I hope all the CORE artists have found work or at least have prospects on the near horizon.
Aloha,
the Ape
—
...we must all face a choice, between what is right... and what is easy."
And I'm not referring to niche talents in a derogatory, insulting or dismissive way.
People bring to this craft what they have.
If you have talent, that is a traditional artistic ability--then there is no reason why you cannot step up to any style, genre or medium. I think they are ALL variations of the same basic thing.
I'm okay to good at a number of things, great at nothing, and lousy at sewing, singing and dancing.
I'm just good enough with my work to get more work--not going to win any awards, but keeping $$ coming in is all.
And tyhat, imo, is good enough.
One can always work on a given area of their talent, and one can always learn something new.
If you have ANY KIND of genuine talent, I think that you can find some kind of work to suit you, if you persevere.
I've gone through the shut-downs of several animation studios in my career ( some abruptly) and there's ALWAYS been other studios opening and offering work elsewhere.
—
"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)
Do not forget the animation market in Europe is getting a very large infusion of money over the next five years. Maybe that will give some relief, if very large projects get the green light.
If you can draw an issue of an X-men comic, storyboard a Dorah the Explorer episode, design characters for a Crayola interactive game, draw a newspaper strip, animate or inbetween a scene, illustrate a book or magazine, draw hawt babes.......then you'll never want for work. You'll have a varied and interesting career, and will work on all kinds of stuff--and will probably be able to keep a roof over your head to boot.
Its doable--I've been doing it for 20+ years now. Some years are better than others, and having two incomes in the household does help, but an artistic career is NO different than any other.
You need to widen your thinking, there are many other things an animation artist can do.
Many.
Things.
"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)
edited for privacy
That post was in a response to the CORE shutdown, I found out about it as it happened from my connections and wrote the advice with timeliness in mind.
As for the lack of stability in an animation career--that is something else I have covered.
A lot of animation folks are what I called niche-talents, in that they are good only in a few things, or a couple of styles. IMO, that is what fuels the instability in an artist's working life.
The solution is to have range--that is a wide spectrum of styles or genres you are comfortable/competent in. If you can draw an issue of an X-men comic, storyboard a Dorah the Explorer episode, design characters for a Crayola interactive game, draw a newspaper strip, animate or inbetween a scene, illustrate a book or magazine, draw hawt babes.......then you'll never want for work. You'll have a varied and interesting career, and will work on all kinds of stuff--and will probably be able to keep a roof over your head to boot.
Its doable--I've been doing it for 20+ years now. Some years are better than others, and having two incomes in the household does help, but an artistic career is NO different than any other.
ONE studio closing down.......means nothing. Doesn't matter how big it is......in the long run-it means nothing. In the short-term it might stem some work in a local sense.....but there's work all over the place.
Heck, I'm currently freelancing on a project I'm not even supposed to be allowed to work on, because of restrictive tax credit stipulations. The mythical barriers of location, and conditions........are really just that; myths.
A career in animation is what YOU make it.
"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)
Companies fail all the time, it's not exclusive to the animation industry. Look at GM selling their Saab brand, all but shelving Pontiac, and closing Saturn and Hummer. When an animation studio closes, it just seems like a bigger deal than it is because the animation community is much smaller than other industries. I'm not saying CORE closing isn't a big deal, it is. Especially for those involved, and it's ripples are far reaching.
Like Ken said, those with a well rounded talent base will fare better than the niche artists. I know exactly what he means as I'm one of those niche artist he's talking about. I'm an animator, sure I can animate in several mediums but still I'm just an animator. Not a story boarder, character designer, BG designer colorist or what have you. So when projects only start to trickle in, I start to worry. I have friends who can design, animate and board and they weather the doldrums much better than I. But I have no interest in boarding or designing so I try to keep growing as an animator and be the best I can.
I hope all the CORE artists have found work or at least have prospects on the near horizon.
Aloha,
the Ape
...we must all face a choice, between what is right... and what is easy."
And I'm not referring to niche talents in a derogatory, insulting or dismissive way.
People bring to this craft what they have.
If you have talent, that is a traditional artistic ability--then there is no reason why you cannot step up to any style, genre or medium. I think they are ALL variations of the same basic thing.
I'm okay to good at a number of things, great at nothing, and lousy at sewing, singing and dancing.
I'm just good enough with my work to get more work--not going to win any awards, but keeping $$ coming in is all.
And tyhat, imo, is good enough.
One can always work on a given area of their talent, and one can always learn something new.
If you have ANY KIND of genuine talent, I think that you can find some kind of work to suit you, if you persevere.
I've gone through the shut-downs of several animation studios in my career ( some abruptly) and there's ALWAYS been other studios opening and offering work elsewhere.
"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)
Do not forget the animation market in Europe is getting a very large infusion of money over the next five years. Maybe that will give some relief, if very large projects get the green light.
edited for privacy
If you can draw an issue of an X-men comic, storyboard a Dorah the Explorer episode, design characters for a Crayola interactive game, draw a newspaper strip, animate or inbetween a scene, illustrate a book or magazine, draw hawt babes.......then you'll never want for work. You'll have a varied and interesting career, and will work on all kinds of stuff--and will probably be able to keep a roof over your head to boot.
Its doable--I've been doing it for 20+ years now. Some years are better than others, and having two incomes in the household does help, but an artistic career is NO different than any other.
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There are many other things an animation artist can do in Core.
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