Do You Have What it Takes for a Successful Career in Animation?

A team of animators work behind the scenes to make an action packed animated movie, such as the Transformers or Batman v/s Superman. And it’s an everyday affair in an animator’s life, to start a day with intense creative sessions and end on an equally high note. But, to build such a successful career in Animation, a person needs to develop the grit and passion to overcome all sorts of challenges. Animation is a highly specialized and competitive field, especially more in India with an unprecedented growth of 13.8 percent, according to a FICCI-KPMG report.

The first question you must ask yourself is if you wish to devote your time and energy to pursue a career in a field which requires utmost sincerity and discipline. Such personality traits go a long way in determining the course that your career would take. Determining your strengths and weaknesses is crucial for a career in Animation. If you possess the innate ability to see the world around you from a different perspective and have a keen eye for detail, you could very well succeed in this field. Having an artistic flair to assess every movement in its precise nature could add onto the skills and make you stand apart. Further, supporting your innate strengths with right acquisition of technical skills and education is also essential. An animator must be able to synthesize their imagination with analytical drawings and be able to present his or her ideas proficiently. An Animation degree in this regard proves to be vital.

Talking about Animation degrees, it is important to associate yourself with institutions which provide holistic understanding of the field. Many Animation schools are sprouting up all over the country, but only a select few dominate the field by providing comprehensive courses which cover all aspects of Animation. Some such colleges are Sharda University, Greater Noida; Poornima University, Jaipur; Kaziranga University, Assam; Jain University, Bangalore; and Gujarat University. These universities provide diverse undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Animation, visual effects, digital film making, and other specializations in the field. The curriculum in these universities focuses on developing a sound acumen in students and teach them processes from ‘script to screen’.

While you educate yourself with the latest skills that a career in Animation requires, it is additionally important to gain knowledge of the market and the overall industry. Formally seeking employment in this field, one must know what the employers want. A great degree and a matching skill set is of no use if it cannot be applied practically. Hence, one must be seeking ways to test their knowledge through projects and other assignments. Seeking active feedback, and taking criticisms in stride is another important trait which can help you improve and get ahead. The Animation industry is India seeks active and flexible individuals, who are as effective as they are imaginative. India is fast becoming a hub for global giants, such as Walt Disney, Pixar, Universal Studios, outsourcing their Animation projects. Thus, technically skilled people who are adept at delivering high quality product are high in demand.

The next step in preparing yourself for a career in Animation involves knowing what’s on offer in the market and ascertaining your goals. Critical planning for a career is rewarding and fruitful if it leads to attainment of a goal. Animation is one such field which is aligned to several other disciplines, hence proposing multitudinous opportunities to students. Animators are directly involved in industries, such as film making, gaming, VFX, TV entertainment, advertising, and graphic designing. Some rather off beat and newly emerging fields which require animators for creating simulations and models, include forensics, mathematical modelling, scientific research and modelling in disciplines like aeronautics and astronomy, architecture and interior designing, and even in creation of tools for visually handicapped people. So, therefore, Animation touches different fields in such a way that a mid-career transition is also possible. Amidst so many opportunities, it is highly crucial to set a goal and work towards it. For instance, if you are enthusiastic about developing animated educational software, working with an educational institution could be more rewarding rather than working in advertising or TV industry.

Animation as a career is enriching for individuals with innate abilities to be creative and imaginative, and in fact who are more analytical as well. However, high levels of commitment and dedication are prerequisites for success in any career.

So do you think you have what it takes to build a successful career in Animation?