History SoYouWantTo / BeAnAnimator

If you can model or draw realistic characters, by all means go for it, but reality is not a scale on which success is measured. In fact, "realistic" is just a style of drawing, like cartoonish, chibi, anime, stick figure, photo-realistic, etc.; just because something isn't realistic don't mean it isn't good. Also, caring too much about "looking real" can lead to UncannyValley due to a few things out of place, which leads us to #4.

So, you want to have a job in the virtual part of film? There are two types of animation: 2D and 3D. Once you get past the very different ways they're made, the steps taken to make them are fairly similar. Let me explain.

!!1# Do the big things first
This is fairly simple but very important. When modelling or drawing a scene, you may be tempted to do a character first. That's one of the most common places to start, but another good place to start is the room they're in, because that gives you a size reference for everything else there – in other words, it's easier to make characters and objects in an environment than it is to make the environment around the character.

!!2# Don't go to the next stage until the first one is finished.

!!3# Don't be constrained by realism

!!4# Remember that little things can have a big difference.

!!5# Have reference images.

!!6# Consider your target audience.
This is one of the key factors to keep in mind. You see, there is a ''big'' difference between Creator/PBSKids and Creator/AdultSwim. One has to think about what is appropriate for certain ages.

'''It won't happen immediately'''

So, you want to have a job in the virtual part of film? There's two types of animation - 2D, and 3D, and once you get past the very different ways they're made, the steps taken to make them are fairly similar. Let me explain.

This is fairly simple but very important. When modelling or drawing a scene, you may be tempted to do a character first. That's one of the most common places to start, but another good place to start is the room they're in, because that gives you a size reference for everything else there - in other words, it's easier to make characters and objects in an environment than it is to make the environment around the character.

This one applies especially to 3D animation. 3D animation is split into several parts; Modelling (Making objects), rigging (Letting them be animated), animating (Making them move), texturing, and rendering (Filming). These in turn are split into multiple smaller stages, but what's important is that you don't, say, try rigging a model and then going back to continue modelling it. This tends to turn what you're creating into something like a patchwork of "completed" and "uncompleted" .It saves time and effort not to leave a stage until it is finished.

If you can model or draw realistic characters, by all means go for it, but reality is not a scale on which success is measured. In fact, "realistic" is just a style of drawing, like cartoonish, chibi, anime, stick figure, photo-realistic, etc; just because something isn't realistic don't mean it isn't good. Also, caring too much about "looking real" can lead to UncannyValley due to a few things out of place, which leads us to #4.

Human memories are amazing things, but they're also ridiculously flawed. If you want to follow rule #4, you're going to need a frame of reference for anything you do, even if it's not overly realistic.

This is one of the key factors to keep in mind. You see, there is a ''big'' difference between kids' shows and Creator/AdultSwim. One has to think about what is appropriate for certain ages.

'''Watch other's work'''

* You have other needs besides your work. Creator/MontyOum made DeadFantasy while balancing a job, a girlfriend, and two weekly sessions at the gym. Make sure you're rested and ready for your project, otherwise you'll just burn yourself out.

This is one of the key factors to keep in mind. You see, there is a ''big'' difference between kids' shows and AdultSwim. One has to think about what is appropriate for certain ages.

Remember, others have put up a lot of work and have done this for a long time. Watch some animations online, look at what they did to accomplish their work.

You won't get noticed as soon as you put up your work. You have to wait for others to see it. Don't go around trying to push it down people's throats. They'll just think you're desperate for attention.

It's better to ask for help over one single problem, than have it accumulate into a fiasco because you tried to fix it yourself.

Know your limits. If you can't figure out something, just put the mouse down, step back, and do something you enjoy. It won't go anywhere, so just take a break, and it'll be there when you come back.

You have other needs besides your work. Creator/MontyOum made DeadFantasy while balancing a job, a girlfriend, and two weekly sessions at the gym. Make sure you're rested and ready for your project, otherwise you'll just burn yourself out.

The most important bit of advice. Animation is no simple feat, but don't be afraid of the difficulty it presents. Rome wasn't built in a day, after all. Just keep persevering, stay focused, and you'll be able to watch your work, and say "this is what I can do" proudly.

This is one of the key factors to keep in mind. You see, there is a ''big'' difference between kids' shows and AdultSwim. One has to think about what is appropriate for certain ages.

That said, there's only so much reference images can do. They show an object, but from only one angle. Unless you have dozens of images, you're going to need a mental frame of reference too.

Human memories are amazing things, but they're also ridiculously flawed. If you want to follow rule #4, you're going to need a frame of reference for anything you do, even if it's not overly realistic.

Little dislike-able things stick out like a sore thumb unless the entire scene is the same style. You can't ignore these things. There's blooper reels, but there's no reels for "looks normal". People write about UncannyValley, but no one mentions "realistic but not photo-realistic".

This is fairly simple but very important. When modelling or drawing a scene, you may be tempted to do a character first. That's one of the most common places to start, but another good place to start is the room they're in, because that's a fair bit harder.

!!3# Remember that little things can have a big difference.

This one applies especially to 3D animation. 3D animation is split into several parts; Modelling (Making objects), rigging (Letting them be animated), animating (Making them move), texturing, and rendering (Filming). These in turn are split into multiple smaller stages, but what's important is that you don't, say, try rigging a model and then going back to continue modelling it. It saves time and effort not to leave a stage until it is finished.