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Hello! Im Jas, im a sophomore, and i have a question. I want to study in the animation field once im in college, But i have multiple things i want to learn aswell other then animation, how do i go about that? i also need help managing my money and emotions, any advice?
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T.J.’s Answer
Hello Jaslene!
I'll try my best to address all of these in a comprehensive way.
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 :
I suggest you consider setting personal finance goal and find ways to problem-solve.
What concerns you the most around money? Why?
What problems are you running into the most [money management, not having enough, not knowing where to place your money, etc]?
Depending on your problems, you'll need to approach your money differently.
Do you have a financial plan for college? A strategy to pay for it (Student loans, out of pocket)?
It's good to have an idea in mind for how you're going to pay off tuition & other costs. Think about it and discuss with your parents if they are helping you.
If you need money to pay for college, apply for scholarships and/or spend time working (in a gap year or during college, depending on your schedule) to save money to fund your degree.
𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 :
I noticed a tag for mental health. I want to emphasize that it is OK to not feel OK right now.
If you are open to it, you could seek a qualified mental health professional. Again, depending on what you need help with, the person you need to seek out will need to have a specific title.
Check out this article:
★ What Type of Mental Health Professional Is Right for You? | https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-wide-wide-world-of-psychology/201305/what-type-of-mental-health-professional-is-right-for
𝐀𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 :
Lastly, I encourage you to develop specific personal goals in animation.
There's 𝘚𝘖 many roles within animation.
Even depending on the industry (Feature Animation, TV Animation, Game Animation, or Commercial) the roles are different, and may require different skill sets from you.
Also, you will need to decide whether to focus on 2D Animation, or 3D animation. Some people do both, but some start off specializing in either 2d or 3d.
Generally, here's a list of most common jobs in animation, regardless of whether it's film, tv, games, etc:
https://www.reddit.com/r/animationcareer/comments/hrj1p2/animation_is_more_than_character_animation/
(For instance: If you want to be in charge of actually bringing images to life [Animating], you would take the work that a Storyboard artist created and create animatics).
Here's some other things to keep in mind:
#1. The level of creative freedom you have depends on the size of the studio.
I'd generally visualize it like this:
The Bigger the studio - less freedom/creative control you'll have. You may only be allowed to focus on one special area (only characters, only environments, etc).
The Smaller the studio - more freedom & control you'll have. You may get to focus and work on multiple things, and even lead the entire creative direction on a team.
#2. Animation centers around projects or gigs.
What this means is... People in the industry will work on something for a specific amount of time. Most cannot stay at a studio after a show or movie is complete. They need to find more work afterwards.
Some people find applying for jobs constantly frustrating. Some enjoy the variety and flexibility.
If you fall into the former category (you feel stress from interviewing, networking, or lack of consistent work), you may struggle with your mental health more.
As you consider animation, try to visualize whether you'll enjoy or at least be able to handle the nature of the career itself.
#3. You can become an animator without working for a studio.
Many people see studio work as the only way, but you can become someone who creates personal projects and get community support.
(One of my favorite animators gets money working full-time on YouTube, and publishes original short films frequently. https://www.youtube.com/@DeadSound)
So don't feel discouraged at all! There are multiple ways to be successful at something.
Overall, the animation role that will fit you best is the subject you're willing to work hard for and that you enjoy the most.
Explore all of the common jobs listed in the link. Look up artists in those roles. Look at their portfolios. See what appeals to you and try new things.
I don't know what your other interests are, but you might even find a way to combine animation with other things you care about :)
To learn more about animation (across TV/Film and Games), check out these YouTube professionals:
✶ Trent Kaniuga | https://www.youtube.com/@TrentKaniuga
✶ Michelle Lam | https://www.youtube.com/@mewTripled
✶ Toniko Pantoja | https://www.youtube.com/@TonikoPantoja
✶ Aaron Blaise (Disney Veteran) | https://www.youtube.com/@AaronBlaiseArt
✶ Laura Price | https://www.youtube.com/@lulusketches
✶ Robyn O | https://www.youtube.com/@RobynO_O
✶ Jason Weimann | https://www.youtube.com/@Unity3dCollege
- - His video on Game Dev Jobs & Art Roles is informative, as well (https://youtu.be/v24j8vzR0CY?t=629)
✶ Michelle Chang | https://www.youtube.com/@lemoncholy
𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨: 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬
Okay, the true last section of advice...
Professionals in the Animation industry often get asked, "Is it worth it to go to college for Animation?"
The general consensus / answer for this question is... 𝙉𝙤.
College is not necessary to be a successful artist.
What matters the most to getting a job is:
#1. Your portfolio (to display your skills for the role you're applying for)
#2. Understanding of the animation pipeline (the process of completing a project from start to finish).
#3. Networking & Social skills.
Yes, some professionals may have majored in art, illustration, game design, etc in college.
However, it's recommended to practice your skills through dedication vs getting your diploma.
The main reason animators advocate against college is it can give you a significant amount of debt. Furthermore, it can take a while to develop a career in animation to make enough money to pay the debt off.
Plus, there's more resources available now VS back then (when professionals started) due to the Internet.
To learn animation, you can try YouTube (Free) or attend an online animation school (Paid).
Online animation schools are significantly cheaper than 4-year-colleges.
I'll leave some online programs for you to check out:
Good web programs for 3d:
- Animation Mentor
- IAnimate
- Animsquad
- Animschool
- CGTarian
- Animation Sherpa
Good web programs for 2d:
- Aaron Blaise's website | https://creatureartteacher.com/
- CGMA/CG Master Academy
- animationclub.school
- dorogov-mentor.com
- Animator guild
- Schoolism
Hopefully this helps :D
Sending you support and encouragement with money, mental health, and animation :)
I'll try my best to address all of these in a comprehensive way.
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 :
I suggest you consider setting personal finance goal and find ways to problem-solve.
What concerns you the most around money? Why?
What problems are you running into the most [money management, not having enough, not knowing where to place your money, etc]?
Depending on your problems, you'll need to approach your money differently.
Do you have a financial plan for college? A strategy to pay for it (Student loans, out of pocket)?
It's good to have an idea in mind for how you're going to pay off tuition & other costs. Think about it and discuss with your parents if they are helping you.
If you need money to pay for college, apply for scholarships and/or spend time working (in a gap year or during college, depending on your schedule) to save money to fund your degree.
𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 :
I noticed a tag for mental health. I want to emphasize that it is OK to not feel OK right now.
If you are open to it, you could seek a qualified mental health professional. Again, depending on what you need help with, the person you need to seek out will need to have a specific title.
Check out this article:
★ What Type of Mental Health Professional Is Right for You? | https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-wide-wide-world-of-psychology/201305/what-type-of-mental-health-professional-is-right-for
𝐀𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 :
Lastly, I encourage you to develop specific personal goals in animation.
There's 𝘚𝘖 many roles within animation.
Even depending on the industry (Feature Animation, TV Animation, Game Animation, or Commercial) the roles are different, and may require different skill sets from you.
Also, you will need to decide whether to focus on 2D Animation, or 3D animation. Some people do both, but some start off specializing in either 2d or 3d.
Generally, here's a list of most common jobs in animation, regardless of whether it's film, tv, games, etc:
https://www.reddit.com/r/animationcareer/comments/hrj1p2/animation_is_more_than_character_animation/
(For instance: If you want to be in charge of actually bringing images to life [Animating], you would take the work that a Storyboard artist created and create animatics).
Here's some other things to keep in mind:
#1. The level of creative freedom you have depends on the size of the studio.
I'd generally visualize it like this:
The Bigger the studio - less freedom/creative control you'll have. You may only be allowed to focus on one special area (only characters, only environments, etc).
The Smaller the studio - more freedom & control you'll have. You may get to focus and work on multiple things, and even lead the entire creative direction on a team.
#2. Animation centers around projects or gigs.
What this means is... People in the industry will work on something for a specific amount of time. Most cannot stay at a studio after a show or movie is complete. They need to find more work afterwards.
Some people find applying for jobs constantly frustrating. Some enjoy the variety and flexibility.
If you fall into the former category (you feel stress from interviewing, networking, or lack of consistent work), you may struggle with your mental health more.
As you consider animation, try to visualize whether you'll enjoy or at least be able to handle the nature of the career itself.
#3. You can become an animator without working for a studio.
Many people see studio work as the only way, but you can become someone who creates personal projects and get community support.
(One of my favorite animators gets money working full-time on YouTube, and publishes original short films frequently. https://www.youtube.com/@DeadSound)
So don't feel discouraged at all! There are multiple ways to be successful at something.
Overall, the animation role that will fit you best is the subject you're willing to work hard for and that you enjoy the most.
Explore all of the common jobs listed in the link. Look up artists in those roles. Look at their portfolios. See what appeals to you and try new things.
I don't know what your other interests are, but you might even find a way to combine animation with other things you care about :)
To learn more about animation (across TV/Film and Games), check out these YouTube professionals:
✶ Trent Kaniuga | https://www.youtube.com/@TrentKaniuga
✶ Michelle Lam | https://www.youtube.com/@mewTripled
✶ Toniko Pantoja | https://www.youtube.com/@TonikoPantoja
✶ Aaron Blaise (Disney Veteran) | https://www.youtube.com/@AaronBlaiseArt
✶ Laura Price | https://www.youtube.com/@lulusketches
✶ Robyn O | https://www.youtube.com/@RobynO_O
✶ Jason Weimann | https://www.youtube.com/@Unity3dCollege
- - His video on Game Dev Jobs & Art Roles is informative, as well (https://youtu.be/v24j8vzR0CY?t=629)
✶ Michelle Chang | https://www.youtube.com/@lemoncholy
𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨: 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬
Okay, the true last section of advice...
Professionals in the Animation industry often get asked, "Is it worth it to go to college for Animation?"
The general consensus / answer for this question is... 𝙉𝙤.
College is not necessary to be a successful artist.
What matters the most to getting a job is:
#1. Your portfolio (to display your skills for the role you're applying for)
#2. Understanding of the animation pipeline (the process of completing a project from start to finish).
#3. Networking & Social skills.
Yes, some professionals may have majored in art, illustration, game design, etc in college.
However, it's recommended to practice your skills through dedication vs getting your diploma.
The main reason animators advocate against college is it can give you a significant amount of debt. Furthermore, it can take a while to develop a career in animation to make enough money to pay the debt off.
Plus, there's more resources available now VS back then (when professionals started) due to the Internet.
To learn animation, you can try YouTube (Free) or attend an online animation school (Paid).
Online animation schools are significantly cheaper than 4-year-colleges.
I'll leave some online programs for you to check out:
Good web programs for 3d:
- Animation Mentor
- IAnimate
- Animsquad
- Animschool
- CGTarian
- Animation Sherpa
Good web programs for 2d:
- Aaron Blaise's website | https://creatureartteacher.com/
- CGMA/CG Master Academy
- animationclub.school
- dorogov-mentor.com
- Animator guild
- Schoolism
Hopefully this helps :D
Sending you support and encouragement with money, mental health, and animation :)
Judith-Ann Anderson
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) at AndeersonCounselingTexas( ACT)
106
Answers
Updated
Judith-Ann’s Answer
Hello, Jas. While the field of animation is growing, the courses offered are growing, and the competition is growing. I'm sure you will find plenty of courses to take. I would suggest you take your own art to an animator and ask for their suggestions as far as a good career path for you.
I'm glad you asked about managing your money and emotions. The best advice I have about managing your money is 1) put 10% of each paycheck into a savings account that earns interest. 2) Always live within your means. 3)Don't let credit card balance go any higher than what you can pay off at the end of the month because the interest rate will eat into your monthly cash flow exponentially.
I'm really glad to discuss emotions with you. Emotions are a beautiful part of our existence if you feel them in the moment and express them appropriately. To suppress feelings or act out on them can be very destructive for you and others around you. For instance: Saying something like "I'm feeling angry about your statement" is appropriate. Yelling, screaming, name calling, swearing, hitting, throwing things is not appropriate- that 's what I call rage. To suppress feelings can lead to depression or anxiety or physical things like stomach aches. Other things that help healthy emotions are exercise or walking, meditation, limits of time on social media, good sleep hygiene, minimal use of mind altering substances (really better not to partake at all), good eating habits, healthy friendships.
I congratulate you on preparing for your future and thinking of all the important things to consider. Look for mentors and counselors who can guide you through all these areas. May your journey be full of happiness, creativity, wisdom, and love!
I'm glad you asked about managing your money and emotions. The best advice I have about managing your money is 1) put 10% of each paycheck into a savings account that earns interest. 2) Always live within your means. 3)Don't let credit card balance go any higher than what you can pay off at the end of the month because the interest rate will eat into your monthly cash flow exponentially.
I'm really glad to discuss emotions with you. Emotions are a beautiful part of our existence if you feel them in the moment and express them appropriately. To suppress feelings or act out on them can be very destructive for you and others around you. For instance: Saying something like "I'm feeling angry about your statement" is appropriate. Yelling, screaming, name calling, swearing, hitting, throwing things is not appropriate- that 's what I call rage. To suppress feelings can lead to depression or anxiety or physical things like stomach aches. Other things that help healthy emotions are exercise or walking, meditation, limits of time on social media, good sleep hygiene, minimal use of mind altering substances (really better not to partake at all), good eating habits, healthy friendships.
I congratulate you on preparing for your future and thinking of all the important things to consider. Look for mentors and counselors who can guide you through all these areas. May your journey be full of happiness, creativity, wisdom, and love!
Updated
Jessica’s Answer
Hey Jas, it's Jessy!
Firstly, I want to say thank you for opening up and sharing your concerns with us.
Moving forward, it's essential to find a balance in life. You're interested in animation, but you also have other passions. It's perfectly fine to enjoy various activities, but to reach your full potential, it's crucial to focus on one thing at a time and maintain a proper balance. For example, you might be into a specific type of animation, soccer, and learning a musical instrument. You can pursue all three by setting aside specific days and times for each interest, just not simultaneously. This approach ensures you don't overwork yourself, as your body and mind require rest.
Regarding finances, it's wise to prioritize life's basic necessities, such as food, shelter, and clothing. Make an effort to save money and avoid unnecessary expenses. If you're considering investing, consult with an expert before committing any funds to prevent scams.
When it comes to managing your emotions, remember that too much of anything can be harmful. Excessive excitement might lead to unfulfilled promises, while extreme anger or sadness could result in regrettable actions. To maintain emotional well-being, surround yourself with positive people you can talk to and share your daily experiences with. Maintain a positive mindset, and if someone upsets you, remember they're not worth your anger. Instead, ignore them and move on. You'll appreciate your self-control when you're calmer. Alternatively, you could seek guidance from a counselor or therapist for additional support.
I hope these suggestions prove helpful to you.
Find a balance
Focus on one thing at a time
Don't over spend
Always have a positive mindset
Visit a counselor or therapist for help
Firstly, I want to say thank you for opening up and sharing your concerns with us.
Moving forward, it's essential to find a balance in life. You're interested in animation, but you also have other passions. It's perfectly fine to enjoy various activities, but to reach your full potential, it's crucial to focus on one thing at a time and maintain a proper balance. For example, you might be into a specific type of animation, soccer, and learning a musical instrument. You can pursue all three by setting aside specific days and times for each interest, just not simultaneously. This approach ensures you don't overwork yourself, as your body and mind require rest.
Regarding finances, it's wise to prioritize life's basic necessities, such as food, shelter, and clothing. Make an effort to save money and avoid unnecessary expenses. If you're considering investing, consult with an expert before committing any funds to prevent scams.
When it comes to managing your emotions, remember that too much of anything can be harmful. Excessive excitement might lead to unfulfilled promises, while extreme anger or sadness could result in regrettable actions. To maintain emotional well-being, surround yourself with positive people you can talk to and share your daily experiences with. Maintain a positive mindset, and if someone upsets you, remember they're not worth your anger. Instead, ignore them and move on. You'll appreciate your self-control when you're calmer. Alternatively, you could seek guidance from a counselor or therapist for additional support.
I hope these suggestions prove helpful to you.
Jessica recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Gabby’s Answer
Hi Jas! You could possibly pick gen-ed classes that relate to other things you want to learn about. Also, you could add a minor and those do not require as much classes so you would not need to spend extra years in college if planned out accordingly.
Updated
Sundar’s Answer
Get a 4 year degree in computer graphics or game programming from De Vry University.
But overall you will be better if you join computer science 4 year degree in any university.. your life will be good.
But overall you will be better if you join computer science 4 year degree in any university.. your life will be good.
Updated
Srikanth’s Answer
You seem to love graphics and other disciplines, so find a niche combining those interests to be irreplaceable. Consider these options: 1. Major in Graphics with a minor in another field. 2. Complete undergrad in Graphics and then pursue a master's in another field. 3. Work in Graphics while doing a side gig in another interest. 4. Try different roles in various fields initially, then focus on the one you love most.
To manage money and emotions, take online courses to learn the fundamentals. Coursera offers free or inexpensive courses on these topics that you can complete at your own pace. Here are two examples: 1. https://www.coursera.org/learn/financial-planning 2. https://www.coursera.org/learn/managing-emotions-uncertainty-stress
To manage money and emotions, take online courses to learn the fundamentals. Coursera offers free or inexpensive courses on these topics that you can complete at your own pace. Here are two examples: 1. https://www.coursera.org/learn/financial-planning 2. https://www.coursera.org/learn/managing-emotions-uncertainty-stress