CAREER IN ANIMATION

INTRODUCTION
The word animation is derived from a Latin word ‘anima’, meaning ‘soul’ i.e. when life breathes into characters. The art of animation started with the cavemen who used to draw pictures on the rocks surfaces. Then who can forget Walt Disney for the creation of his cartoons especially the Mickey Mouse! In the present sense it means linking the series of drawings and simulating their movements together. It is a rapid display of 2D or 3D images to create an illusion of motion. It is an art form in which inanimate objects are brought into life by sequencing the drawn images.
Early examples of attempts to capture the phenomenon of motion into a still drawing can be found in Paleolithic cave paintings, where animals are often depicted with multiple legs in superimposed positions, clearly attempting to convey the perception of motion.
Animation is one of the blooming & rapidly growing segments in the computer sector. Today it is applied to almost every sector. It will not be wrong to say that its use is a sign of modernization. Today Animation is applied almost everywhere. Starting to movies to real world, the uses of animations are wide. Even sectors like education and studies get benefited by animation. Many display and study principles which are hard to make students understand can be represented and shown with the help of animation. That is how it brings modernization along with it.
Blockbuster movies such as Kung Fu Panda, The Chronicles of Narnia, Wall-E, Coraline, Up, Bolt, Ice Age and Monsters vs. Aliens are striking examples of the miracle that is animation. Animation industry has boundless scope for those who love to create magic. Animation application areas include myriad avenues in the following areas
·       Entertainment (movies and television)
·       Business (product promotions and marketing demos)
·       Sales (presentations)
·       Education (Computer Based Tutorials/Web Based Tutorials)
·       Publishing (graphics and printing)
·       Virtual reality in Defence
·       Web designing
·       Engineering
·       Advertising (commercials and print ads)
·       Fashion designing and interior designing
·       Development of computer games/mobile games
·       Medical, legal and insurance industry (presentations and models)
·       Leading studios and training institutes

NATURE OF WORK
There is not a single field sans animation effects these days. From cartoons to movies, advertisements, product designing, websites and research, animation has a hold everywhere. Gaming and graphics are the latest additions to its credit. One can work as a
·       Modeler
·       Layout artist
·       Clean-up artist
·       Scanner operator
·       Digital ink and paint artist
·       Compositor
·       Key frame animator
·       Background artist
·       In-between animator
Every role is crucial for the successful creation of the animated project. Game modellers, rigging artists, game animators, level designers, environment modellers and mobile game designers are some of the latest career options.

CONDITIONS OF WORK

Positives/Negatives

+ives
·      The global animation industry is huge and as an animation artist, you have great scope both in India and abroad.
·      Animation as a profession is very lucrative.

-ives
·      Working for long hours is one of the stressful situations an animator has to face most of the time during their career.
·      Working on computer for long time can arise physical problems

Hours of Work
Animators usually work normal office hours, although they may work additional hours to meet deadlines. Many animators work freelance, and part-time and temporary contracts are common.

EARNINGS
One can be a junior animator and can start earning between Rs.12000 to Rs.14000. A senior animator with an experience of 3 to 5 years can take home a sum of Rs.25000 to Rs.35000. But if you have a portfolio of some good and outstanding animation work you would even be able to earn more than Rs.50000 to Rs.60000.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING
12th standard from any recognized board with minimum of 45% marks and a degree or a diploma in animation and advanced courses is necessary for career in animation. One who has bachelor's degree in any discipline preferably arts is also eligible for degree or a diploma. One should have a basic knowledge of handling computers. Some of the institutes like Industrial Design Center (IDC), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and Indian Institute of Design (NID) have a strict eligibility criterion – only graduate of architecture, technology and engineering, fine arts can apply for this course.

SCHOLARSHIP
Aptech Arena extends the Kala Srishti Scholarship programme to its meritorious students. The UD School of Animation, Hyderabad, offers the DiiA (Diversity in India Animation) Scholarship programme, which supports and promotes women to take up a career in animation. Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics (MAAC) provides scholarships to meritorious students annually on the basis of a creativity test that is followed by an interview.
METHODS OF ENTERING THE JOB
After 10 + 2 students have to attend certain entrance exam for getting admission for various animation courses. Some of the main entrance exams for animation courses conducted by certain institutions are given below
  • Arena Animation Academy Entrance Exam
  • DSK International Institute for Industrial Design, Animation and Gaming Entrance Exam
  • Picasso Animation College Entrance Exam
  • Thakur-Toonskool Advanced Animation Academy Entrance Exam
  • Mudra Institute of Communications Entrance Exam
  • Accel Animation Academy Entrance Exam
  • FX School Of Animation Entrance Exam
  • National School of Design Animation Entrance Exam

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES REQUIRED
As the scope of animation is rising as never before, there are many things that you need to keep in mind while opting for this career.
Creativity, Lot of passion and imaginative skills, Flair for sketching/drawing, Lot of dedication, Patience, hard work, good at visualizations, Choice of colours and acting, Innovative, Full of ideas and willing to implement them, these qualities are necessary for a person pursuing career in animation.
Animation is a multitasking job so for that you need to work as a team, therefore, you need to have good communication skills.
Some other skills an animator should have are:
·         be artistic
·         have excellent IT skills
·         able to concentrate for long periods
·         be observant and understand how people move and express emotions
·         have good communication and negotiation skills
·         have good organisational skills
·         be original and inventive
·         work well as part of a team and be able to take direction from senior animators, directors and clients
·         be able to follow a brief and work on their own initiative
·         take criticism well
·         work well under pressure and to strict deadlines.

ADVANCEMENT /PROMOTIONS
As many animators are self-employed, career progression depends on their skills, versatility and ability to promote themselves. With experience, animators may become lead animators or animation directors. They may also move into specialist areas such as animation special effects. There may be opportunities to work overseas or to teach animation.

TYPICAL PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT/SELF EMPLOYMENT
Companies like Dreamworks, Pixar, Blue Sky and Sony pictures give employment to bachelors in animation. They can also get placements in gaming world also.
India has more than 300 animation studios, which employ over 15,000 animation professionals. The gaming industry is one of the top employers and they also pay quite well. Though entertainment through film and television is the main area of application in this profession, animation is also needed in other areas such as business, sales, engineering, education and advertising. Animators can also find jobs in print media and publishing firms. Freelance work is another option, particularly for web animators. Animators can also branch into website design, CD-Rom production, graphics designing and three-dimensional product modeling.
Big names in animation like Fun Bag Animation, Warner Brothers, Industrial Light and Magic and Disney are now exploring India to produce their animation movies on a co-production basis.

TRAINING INSTITUTES
  • Academy of Anima­tion and Gaming (AAG)
  • Frame Box. New Delhi
  • The Toonz-Webel Academy, Kolkata
  • Whistling Woods International, Mumbai
  • The Heart Animation Academy, Hyderabad
  • National Institute of Design (NID) (www.nid.edu.com)
  • J.J School of Arts.
  • Zee Institute of Creative Arts (ZICA) (www.zica.org)
  • Industrial Design Center (IDC), IIT Mumbai and Guwahati
  • Arena Multimedia (www.arena-multimedia.com)
  • Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics (www.maacindia.com)
  • TOONZ Animation India Pvt. Ltd. (www.toonzanimationindia.com)
  • Academy of Digital Arts and Communication (www.killickchallenger.com)
  • RAI University (www.raiuniversity.edu)
  • ANIMASTER (www.animaster.com)

SOURCES OF FURTHER INFORMATION:

  1. http://www.jagranjosh.com/careers/animation-1286366197-1
  2. http://www.icbse.com/careers/career-in-animation
  3. http://content.monsterindia.com/ic1.html?acid=2540
  4. http://entrance-exam.net/animation-courses-after-12th/#ixzz2lWJyeaTo
  5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animation
  6. http://creativepool.com/articles/jobdescriptions/animator-job-description
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