How can experienced animation professionals advance their careers?

"Assess your strengths and goals". No-one is good at everything. 28 years into my animation career, I've come to realize that every single co-worker is better than me at something. It might be background design. It might be storyboarding. It might be the ability to make good pasta. It might be the ability to scroll through a Facebook feed without being overwhelmed by ideas and information. (A skill I currently lack). Regardless of whatever someone else does better than me, I can use that to help identify my own evolving strengths and weaknesses, and ideally improve my skills and fill in my gaps of knowledge and workflow. Plus, the added bonus of building gratitude and appreciation for those around me. Always a good thing.

En mi experiencia para avanzar en la carrera de animación tienes que tener claro tus objetivos, hacia donde quieres ir. Quieres ser un animador de VFX o prefieres decantarte por Cartoon? Quieres y se te da bien llevar equipos? (eso no tiene nada que ver con la animación, tiene mas que ver con empatía y saber detectar las mejores aptitudes de los artistas). Contra mas claro tengas el objetivo mas fácil y rápido llegaras a él. El mundo de la animación en un principio puede parecer fácil, lo típico de "yo lo que quiero es hacer dibujos animados", a la que empiezas a estudiar te das cuenta de que es una carrera super amplia y llena de caminos. Creo que nunca dejamos de avanzar por ese camino, aun después de 20 a?os yo sigo aprendiendo cada día.

Experienced animators can advance by staying updated, specializing, networking, taking leadership roles, regularly updating portfolios, obtaining certifications, getting involved in the industry, exploring freelancing, considering entrepreneurial ventures, and developing soft skills.

Experienced animation professionals can advance their careers by: Continuous Skill Development: Stay updated with the latest industry trends and technologies. Expand skills in areas like 3D modeling, animation software, and emerging technologies. Networking: Attend industry events, conferences, and workshops to connect with peers and potential employers. Portfolio Enhancement: Regularly update and improve your portfolio to reflect your best and most recent work. Diversify your portfolio to demonstrate a range of skills and styles. Specialization: Consider specializing in a niche area of animation, such as character design, rigging, or visual effects, to stand out in the industry.

-Objectif a court terme continuer a travailler sur des projets d’anime au japon -Objectif a long terme, développer mes propre IP

Le plus simple est de publier du travail de qualité sur les réseaux sociaux et de poster régulièrement, les comptes Twitter instagram et autre peuvent suffire à servir de portfolio.

Para hacer un portfolio, que refleje tu estilo y lo que te gustaría hacer. Principalmente pon foco en la calidad sin importar si el encargo es real, create el brief ideal y realiza ese gran trabajo que te traerá grandes satisfacciones.

"Update your portfolio and resumé". I've often heard students and professionals say "I'm almost done my demo reel!" Of course, this is a good thing. We all want to have presentable versions of our work to display the best of our skills and experiences in action, acting, pantomime, and dialogue. But to dig a little deeper, it's helpful to realize that our demo reels are always a work-in-progress and are never truly "finished". After 28 years I refer to my "current demo reel", and I have several available depending on the contextual requirements. Plus, throw in my short films, my live-action acting work, my interviews, podcasts, and my "Adventures in Inbetweening" video breakdowns, a demo reel is a pretty soft and amorphous concept.

Updating your portfolio is very important, not only for your progress but also to make yourself known. You must be very clear about what area you are focusing on with your portfolio, so that it is easy to read. So the best advice I can give you is not to stop updating your portfolio and improve, even if there are bad days, because it is very common to have them.

Por supuesto hay que ir actualizando el portafolio, mas que nada para las empresas o responsables de la contratación vean tu evolución como artista y vean si en tu demo reel hay algo de lo que la empresa esta buscando en ese momento. Yo siempre he dicho que hagas tu demo reel para la empresa a la que quieres aplicar. No presentes una demo reel cartoon si quieres que te contraten en una empresa de VFX por ejemplo. Intenta tener en tu demo todo requerido, por ejemplo en VFX, body mechanics realistas, cuadrúpedos, alguna criatura voladora, algún vehículo

Discord communities, animation forums, and social media groups are buzzing with discussions, critiques, and collaboration opportunities. Share your work, get feedback from masters, and connect with like-minded souls (and maybe even future colleagues!) Seek out mentors and workshops, and Learn from the best! Connect with experienced animators for guidance, attend workshops to master new techniques, and soak up knowledge from industry experts. Remember, investing in your learning pays off big time!

The simple fact of knowing and being able to talk to a professional is worth gold, whenever you can make connections, friendships, it will not only help you to learn but also to not feel alone in this world of animation. So whenever you have someone you can ask about your work or questions about the industry is a big plus.

Conversar com outros profissionais pelo direct do Instagram ajuda demais, e a comunidade de Motions é a melhor que existe frente a outras profiss?es, ent?o entre em contato pelo Instagram, LinkedIn e outra formas, isso o ajudará no seu crescimento, o feedback de outros profissionais o ajudar?o a crescer.

Not even the most experienced creatives are immune from criticism and feedback. I think it's important to seek that out and build on the feedback you receive from a fresh pair of eyes, hopefully someone experienced would know that already to get to this stage. I like sharing WIPS into private animation chats I'm in. Seek out your community!

-Aller dans des événements autour de l’animation. -Ajouter suivre et échanger avec des gens de l’industrie sur les réseaux sociaux peut aider. -créer des groupes de travail avec d’autres amis passionnés pour progresser plus vite.

Pide mas responsabilidad, si ves que los shots que tus leads o supervisores los sacas sin pasarlo levemente mal, pide alguno que represente un challenge para ti. Pasando un pelín mal se aprende, porque te obliga a preguntar a tus compa?eros, leads o supervisores. Recordad que la animación aunque sea un trabajo en el que te puedes pasar 8 horas con los cascos, es un trabajo de equipo, un vistazo fresco te puede ayudar muchísimo.

Une fois pris dans le milieu de l’animation les deadlines peuvent vite s’encha?ner. Il peut être bien à certains moments de sa carrière, pour ceux qui le souhaitent, de développer son propre univers autour des projets personnels ( illustrations, petites animations ect) Créer et partager du contenu éducatif autour du monde de l’animation peu aussi être un fa?on de se démarquer

Get involved in open-source projects. Contributing to open-source projects is a great way to gain exposure and build a reputation. It can also lead to new job opportunities.

The animation industry is experiencing a thrilling renaissance, bursting with exciting opportunities and formidable challenges. Streaming platforms like Netflix and VR/AR technologies fuel a surging demand for diverse, immersive content, opening doors for global collaboration and interactive storytelling. But this boom brings competition, consolidation, and a talent gap, demanding constant learning, adaptability, and strong storytelling skills. Mastering new tech, cultivating passion, and embracing flexibility will be key for animators to thrive in this ever-evolving landscape, shaping the future of animation into a kaleidoscope of creativity and innovation.

La diversification des expériences, que ce soit à travers de nouveaux projets, des formations ou même la création de vos propres opportunités, constitue une excellente manière de dynamiser votre carrière. Continuez à embrasser ces nouvelles voies et à élargir vos horizons.

In 1995 I started in animation. For five years I worked at several Vancouver hand-drawn animation studios. But by 2000, paper 2d was drying up in Vancouver. I took courses in Softimage, Lightwave, Alias Wavefront, and storyboarding. I spent the next ten years working in digital 2d, teaching animation p/t, and learning 3d animation. In 2010 I shifted to 3d animation. For the next 8 years I focused on transferring my 2d skills to the world of 3d, realizing that it's 80% the same job, with 20% being the different technology and look. Since 2018 I've been in mocap. My goal from the beginning has been to stay relevant and have a long career. 28 years in, there aren't many 53 year-olds still in the industry. Cmon oldies, stick around!

Technology is always changing, & in the world of film & game animation that is no different. Animators must always be paying attention to what technologies are being used in the entertainment space & where the industries are headed. A lot of 2D animators were left by the wayside when they were not willing to learn new skills & transition into 3D software like Maya or 3D Studio Max. Now the film animation industry is shifted again. Film is moving more & more in the direction of real-time rendering & animators need to update their skills once again & learn game engine if they want to keep their skills relevant & remain competitive. If they don't, there is always newer talent coming up, that does know the technology. Be constantly learning.

I've been working in at least 4 different industries.. animation, teaching, illustration and consumer products. As one industry drops, I go to another industry to work. Or... I do jobs for at least 2 different industries, to keep the money rolling in. Since animation has been in the dumps lately, I've been relying on two other industries to keep the money flowing in. Recruiters will tell you to focus on just one discipline. And guess what? Ageism is real. So save your money, always. And be diverse in your skill.

Au delà de suivre les tendances entant qu’artistes nous avons besoin des fois de booster notre motivation nos inspirations etc … suivre le travail d’autre artistes est un moyen de nous garder connecté au milieu, de trouver de nouvelles idées et d’apprendre de nouvelles choses.

Firstly, animators should stay attuned to advancements in animation software and tools. As technology evolves, new platforms and features emerge, influencing the way animations are created. Regularly exploring updates in popular software like Blender, Maya, Unreal Engine or Adobe After Effects ensures that animators leverage the full spectrum of possibilities at their disposal. Additionally, embracing new animation techniques is crucial. Whether it's the rise of 3D animation, augmented reality (AR), or virtual reality (VR) experiences, being versatile in various styles broadens an animator's skill set. Familiarity with these trends not only keeps your work fresh but also opens up new opportunities in diverse projects.

Para mi uno de los mejores consejos que le puedo dar a un animador es: Pierde el miedo a borrar! Muchas veces ves que tu shot en un momento determinado no funciona, pruebas a pulir y pulir pero siempre ves un "pop" o no te acaba de gustar. Borra esa parte por completo, empieza de nuevo con la idea clara de lo que quieres, seguro que cuando hiciste eso aun no sabias exactamente que querías. Por mucho que parezca que estas tirando horas de trabajo a la basura en verdad lo que estas haciendo es ahorrándote horas y horas que vienen por delante.

Look at lots of other peoples pictures. They have them everywhere; books, a newspaper, instagram or even a museum. Now imagine there’s like ten thousand more of those. That’s it. That’s animation. Watch animations too. If you pause you’ll be able to see that it’s just a lot of pictures. Pretty crazy right? Who’d ever want to draw that many pictures. Now get back to your desk! That cycle isn’t gonna walk itself.

Move to a different city or country. Animation studios are located all over the world. Moving to a different city or country can open up new opportunities and career paths. Start their own animation studio. Starting their own animation studio is a risky but potentially rewarding career move. It requires a lot of hard work and dedication, but it can also be very fulfilling.