Computer Animation

[Eulore]

So I can't decide what the hell to major in in college. I'm kind of interested in computer animation, but don't have much artistic talent. Any computer animators here that can tell me stuff about the job? I want to do something I enjoy, and I can't find motivation to continue going to classes and shit until I find something that I really want to do. Halp prz D:

 

[Willian]

I'm not an animator, but I have a few friends who are, and considered the major. It looked like a lot of math (calculus, linear algebra, matrices) more than art.

 

[Cecilee]

My friend is the opposite. Did nothing but draw in highschool, then got the math background to enter computer animation. He's not designing Halo characters and action scenes, but his job is pretty fun. He sends me demos of the games he's helping to work on. I think overall, to be competent at computer animation you have to have solid math skills, but to excel at it you have to be artistic.

I've heard it's a tough field to make it in.

 

[CmdrFly]

Animation? What about graphics?

If you excel in 2D graphics, you could find yourself doing well in a marketing position. Or even start up your own shorts, like brief cartoons that just show off your skillz. Recruiters find that and if you fit the bill, they'll come to you.

 

[Eulore]

I can do the math easily, it's the artistic bit I'm worried about lol ><

I think it'd be cool to do 3d animation stuff, like pixar type shit. I just have no idea at all as to what skills and stuff you use. Does anyone know if there's teams? Like a head guy, concept artists, people who do stuff on computers, that stuff?

As always, thanks for info

 

[Negorissimo]

If you really want to stand out in Computer Animation learn to draw. Design your own characters and stuff. Get an illustration course, it will help. That way you will have and edge over the computer geeks that know how to work the program but have no style. =D

 

[Arctyrael]

If you really want to stand out in Computer Animation learn to draw. Design your own characters and stuff. Get an illustration course, it will help. That way you will have and edge over the computer geeks that know how to work the program but have no style. =D

like me >.>; but thats ok, I'm really starting to enjoy the web and programming PHP/ASP + MySQL...

Still Animation is something that calls out to me and there are SO MANY different fields of it that its insane. Web animation (Flash), 2D (Web images/Marketing Campaigns), 3D Animation (T.V., Games, Movies etc...), and then if you really really wanna take it to an extreme - 3D Modeling.

If you have programming background, I'd recommend an intro course to either OpenGL or DirectX (Game Programming) and then take a Linear Algebra course. You will see why 3D Modeling is a growing field. You will learn why things are done the way they are in OpenGL/DirectX and much more by taking the Linear course.

 

[exodusamphi]

You could do character animation instead of modeling. For example, taking completed designs and getting the physics behind their movement down and making it walk and do various tasks. That, is really hard though.