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Hi, first some background. I am currently in the hell process of getting my first industry job. Keep getting interviews/test but so far I haven’t gotten a job yet...though it’s only been two months since I finally started to apply haha. I originally applied for RISD MICA MCAD SVA Art Center and CalArts and I got accepted into all of them besides CalArts, which I got waitlisted for. Every school I got into offered me scholarships but once I factored in living/food I still couldn’t afford it. So I swallowed my pride and went to community college for a few years then besides reapplying to art schools I decided to make a hour and a half commute every few days to take classes at Concept Design Academy, Which I’m still currently doing. My original plan was to go to Calstate Long Beach or Cal State Fullerton, both have really good animation programs but I could live with my family while I went.


I’m so happy I didn’t go to a traditional art school. I was about to reapply when one of my friends who now works at Dreamworks told me to just do Concept Design instead. I trusted her opinion since she went to SVA and graduated and ended up not having the exact skills she needed for employment and she was super in debt.

I’d say it’s 50/50 with people I know that attended college and currently work in the industry, other half did what I am doing/didn’t get any higher education, some of my closest friends are currently attending SVA. I’m going to be honest most think it’s useless and wishes they went to a state school with a good art program rather than SVA or did what I ended up doing.

If you really want to work in TV/Movie animation look into Concept Design Academy in Pasadena CA or CGMA online or something similar. If you are dead set getting a degree I’d recommend looking into state schools. Art school isn’t worth the debt. If you have to take on all the loans yourself it’s not worth it it will destroy your credit forever and you won’t be able to move where the industry is.

This is about art center(where I originally got accepted and planned on going too) but all my SVA/MICA/RISD friends have similar experiences

http://ghostbri.tumblr.com/post/178516711920/dude-i-really-wanna-go-to-art-center-what#notes

This specific artist also has great resources for finding alternative education.


DONT RUIN YOUR LIFE BC YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WONT SUCCEED IN THE INDUSTRY WITH OUT ART SCHOOL. THERE IS OTHER WAYS.


If you live in/around LA area or are willing to transfer:
http://conceptdesignacad.com/

https://animationguild.org/about-the-guild/education/

https://laafa.edu/


Online recourses:

https://www.cgmasteracademy.com

https://www.schoolism.com

https://www.theanimcourse.com/courses/

Alternative book based educations:

The Animator's Survival Kit: A Manual of Methods, Principles and Formulas for Classical, Computer, Games, Stop Motion and Internet Animators https://www.amazon.com/dp/086547897X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_U7xwCbZNA4X74

Framed Ink: Drawing and Composition for Visual Storytellers https://www.amazon.com/dp/1933492953/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_m8xwCbE8TH4VS

FORCE: Dynamic Life Drawing: 10th Anniversary Edition (Force Drawing Series) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1138919578/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_U8xwCbTRGJHWJ
(This one is currently out of print because they are changing the cover it should be back in a few weeks and be around 15 bucks)

Also here is a few good YouTube channels:

https://www.youtube.com/user/ProkoTV

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS3ZMbzTOXdDuJlhAZuXgaw

https://youtu.be/uDqjIdI4bF4


If you(or anyone reading this) have any questions please feel free to DM me!! If I don’t have a direct answer I know one of my friends that work in the industry will and I could ask. Art School isn’t the only way to obtain a good quality art education and a ton of talented artist make it in the industry without it!

Also sorry this is so LA centric, I grew up in the great LA area and currently work exclusively in it so it’s all I know in-depth.


Quick Edit; I’m a purely 2D based artist. I work mostly in concept and I’m currently working on transitioning into Boarding/Revisions. I don’t work on the animation end of these but that’s Bc most outsource to other countries now.

Most worthwhile university art/animation programs require a portfolio, but it does vary by university and you will have to research this on your own.
To help you sharpen your drawing skills and observational eye - I highly recommend getting the book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. Do the exercises faithfully and you will become better at drawing because it teaches you how to see.
I've coached students without a portfolio in their final year of secondary school and with the exercises in this book, they were able to get a worthwhile portfolio together. The results were truly outstanding.

Graphic designers require less figure drawing skills, but it is definitely an advantage to be able to draw and communicate your composition ideas to clients. A great basic graphic design book is Design Basics Index

Chances of getting a job are the same as any industry.

I'm gonna sound like a broken record here, but it really does depend on what you personally want to end up doing in animation. Your portfolio can be flavored in many different ways - someone who puts a lot of animal/creature animation in their reel will probably end up doing a lot of that, combat/action will end up doing it professionally, etc. If you're looking for a generalized portfolio, I'd recommend this book. I think overall what matters when trying to get into schools would be showing a variety, and that your pieces look good and finished, even if there's only a couple.

Additionally, every school is different. Some animation schools don't even require a reel or anything to get in. If they don't, research them carefully and make sure you know what you're getting into. And don't worry too much about your reel being 'perfect' - that you have anything at all prior to entering school already gives you a leg up over other people.

Finally, once you're there, absorb everything you can. Take advantage of every resource available to you, and connect with people from all different majors and mediums. You never know who you can help and who can help you in the long run. I was often told when I was in school "It's not what you know, but who you know." Establish a good working relationship with people and you probably will always have a helping hand in the industry. Good luck!

For beginners:

Film directing: shot by shot was passed around in college and was on our recommended reading list, but i don't know if it was the best book.

For advanced skills:

In college, my animation professors told me the best way to develop storyboarding skills was to watch films, with emphasis on older films. I was to storyboard a sequence that I thought was pretty good, then study the shots in sequence to understand why the shot choices were made. After that, try to see if could I make it read better /have more impact for the audience than the original one.

Where are you located, in your post it felt like you are in Europe. Sorry if I misread. My point was more that if you have a contact you don't necessarily need to meet in person or spend money to travel. Teleconferencing these sort of things is common now. Many companies have unsolicited show contacts, I also suggest gently reaching out to people on Linkedin. Generally, you want to look to someone in the artistic development department.

All of this assumes your pitch is amazing and what they are looking for. May I suggest instead of approaching your cold intro with "I have a show! Look at it!" ask questions like "what type of show are you looking for?" They are more likely to respond to this. Professional pitchers usually are aware of what each network is looking for every year. They spend a lot of time researching what they want and know there audience. You need to act like you are working with them.

I work at Nick but I am not an insider on this process, I just read a lot and know some show folk. Personally, I would not run a show its really long hours and I like my family life. I am an animation director for promotions in NYC. Nick was taking unsolicited pitches for several years around winter time. This past year they did not but I know they are very open about this online, you can look up the animation studio and find out more info.

This book might also help out a little: https://www.amazon.com/Animation-Development-Production-David-Levy/dp/1581156618

Hope this helps.

1. First, you need to know how to draw really well. Start with art classes, figure drawing, drawing from life, gestures, drawing and capturing emotion and action quickly.
   
   
2. You'll mostly need experience in boards. Dreamworks features or TV? Boards work differently for TV and feature films.
   
   
3. Don't know about that one.
   
   
4. I don't know of any storyboarding schools, but there are animation schools of course. If you're into TV boards, then 2d animation is very similar in how it works.
   
   
5. A sketch pad and pencils.
   
   
6. Any Cintiq will do, honestly. Whatever size you're comfortable with.
   
   
7. My buddy Mark Simon wrote this book. It's mostly boarding for live action, but most of this would apply to feature animation as well. Again, TV boards work differently. They're more like 2D keyframe animation. Storyboards: Motion in Art, Third Edition https://www.amazon.com/dp/0240808053/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_QgOkDbQVXHSRT

Animator here - couple of suggestions:

First, pick up a copy of the Animator's Survival Kit - https://www.amazon.com/Animators-Survival-Kit-Richard-Williams/dp/0571202284

It's basically an animator's bible. It's full of information you will definitely use during your studies and if you choose to follow this crazy artform as a career path.

Study the principles of animation starting with a bouncing ball. As you begin to understand each principle, begin to incorporate more complex things into your practice assignments. Add a tail, then add legs, then arms - before you know it you'll be animating a character.

Practice above all. reading only gets you so far. Pursue information from people more knowledgable than you. Seek out critiques and professional's thoughts on your work. Study motion, people and animals in your day to day life. Have fun and stay inspired! It's a tough road but I know many animators who are self taught. YouTube also is chalk full of tutorials and demonstrations.

Feel free to PM me or contact me here if you'd like to chat more: https://www.nick-st-clair.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Way-Draw-Working-Study/dp/0395530075

Other than that, just draw anywhere, everywhere, anything, and everything. Try to fill up a sketchbook a week. Work on gestures, form, etc.
I'd even suggest trying to do gestures and quick sketches with your other hand. Some of my best sketches came out of my opposite hand.

Look into workshops in your area. Depending on where you are, often the Community Colleges or local art schools will offer weekend workshops.

Framed Ink by Marcos Mateu Mestre is one of the recommended books to read. Definitely helps for storytelling, especially reasoning behind why a shot looks a certain way.

Hey! I'm on the same boat as well. Most people will probably tell you to build your own pc (which is better). But it you prefer portability I would suggest https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0753PV7PH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_qTu1Ab4ZXWXXC. Just make sure to get a cooling pad.

Pen and paper and this book :) https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0571238343/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481542692&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=animation+survival+kit&dpPl=1&dpID=51X0j6srtoL&ref=plSrch

Check this out -
https://www.amazon.com/Directing-Story-Professional-Storytelling-Storyboarding/dp/0240810767

Have him check out these e-books

http://www.animationmentor.com/resources/ebooks/

The other musts would be "The Illusion of Life" and "Animation Survival Kit" and I'd say "The Nine Old Men."