Post 01
The animation industry combines creativity and technology to produce engaging content for films, television, video games, music videos, and other media. It encompasses various job roles, including animator, director, and producer.
https://www.screenskills.com/job-profiles/browse/animation
Through my online research and conversations with various creative individuals who have left university to pursue careers in the animation industry, I found that they all agree on one point: securing a job in the industry is quite challenging, but it is not impossible.
“Need to address the elephant in the room.“
During the pandemic, the animation industry thrived because remote work was possible. Studios hired many artists to keep up with the increased demand. However, once the market stabilised and the world returned to normal, studios had to scale back, which led to project cancellations and layoffs. Additionally, streaming services like Netflix generate less revenue than movie theatres.
Many animation studios are already experimenting with AI tools that can generate animation faster and more cost-effectively than humans can. Unfortunately, this advancement could potentially replace up to 90% of animation jobs. However, what many people don’t understand is that animation is fundamentally about human expression, real emotion, and authentic stories. If studios begin to treat filmmaking like a product rather than an art form, it will lose its creative essence. And by understanding why it’s happening, I can now seek job roles while keeping in mind that the reason it can be sometimes difficult is not because my work isn’t good enough, but because the industry is somewhat flawed.
“It’s a complicated situation, but I hope it gets better.”
I now have an optimistic view of everything. I decided to reach out to some Central Saint Martins graduates who are currently working as artists in studios. I wanted to learn how they are navigating their careers, hear their stories, and ask them questions about what I might face when I graduate from university next year. Additionally, I sought their advice on how to navigate the challenges ahead.
I began by sending coffee chat requests to artists and filmmakers whom I admire.
Beatriz Antunes – 2D Animator & Designer
https://www.beatrizanimates.com/
Alina Besanidou – 2D Animator and Illustrator
https://www.alinabeska.com
Targeted Outreach: Send polite, personalized messages or emails to industry professionals. Express admiration for their specific work and ask thoughtful questions about their career path or process, not for a job. Most professionals are happy to share their experiences.
Examples of Questions to ask 🙂 And dont be shy. Be polite and friendly.