The realm of commercial animation is as diverse as the styles and techniques of animation itself. These days, animators can find work in feature films, television, the Internet, CD-ROM production, as well as product design/visualization, architecture, and interior design. And within each of those industries, animators can perform a variety roles.
2-D Animator
2-D Animation may sound old-fashioned in a day and age when computers are everywhere and 3-D animation has taken Hollywood by storm, but 2-D animation continues to be an expanding and popular medium -- especially since classical 2-D skills are the foundation for most 3-D work. 2-D animators develop their skills through life drawing, composition, and perspective courses -- studying proportion, line of action, structure, and basic anatomy -- while working in areas as varied as animation, character design, clean-up, doping, modeling, slugging, and storyboarding.
3-D Animator
3-D animators are occupied with many of the same considerations at their 2-D counterparts -- computers don't get rid of the need for skills in life drawing, concept drawing, composition, character design, etc. 3-D animators will also deal more extensively with modeling, texturing, and lighting in a 3-D environment, often with the use of such software tools and packages as PhotoShop, SoftImage, Alias/Wavefront, Maya, and others.
Storyboard Artist
The Storyboard Artist interprets scripts to create storyboards. This usually means planning shots, visualizing the story before drawing it and
being careful to maintain continuity among the shots. Starting out on this career track as an assistant, you'll typically start out by
doing clean-up and revisions, eventually working up to preparing some parts of the story board under supervision. This work involves a lot of cutting and pasting, drawing and quick sketching, perspective and composition, and perhaps most importantly, story development and interpretation.
Layout Artist
The Layout Artist creates the foundation for the animation by rendering background layouts for each scene usually referring to storyboards and additional research materials. These layouts don't appear in the final production, but are critical for the positioning and perspective of the animation. Layouts are usually done with graphite pencil on punched animation paper; the aim is to provide a stage in which the animators will animate their characters and effects, as well as a blueprint or underdrawing, to be rendered in color by the Background Painters.
Inbetweener
Most artists enter the world of animation by starting as Inbetweeners -- the artists that help the animators and animation assistants complete the action of a scene. It may not sound like much, but it's an important step where you'll learn the basics of animation. An inbetween is one of the transition drawings between two extreme drawings -- the key drawings that distill the essence of an animated action. The inbetweens fill in the action between these key drawings. You'll usually work in a team and learn to imitate the animator's drawings and line quality.
CAREERS IN MULTIMEDIA
Multimedia Developers
A multimedia developer draws on the skills of the computer programmer and the visual artist to integrate graphics, text, and digital audio and video with interactivity. Multimedia is all about team working - and the ability to understand the differing needs and backgrounds of colleagues. Computer literacy - and a serious interest in the constant developments in technology give a necessary 'core' of ability for potential multimedia artists. Different jobs will all have specific requirements -- and the requirements may change as a project develops.
The nature of the job is also about variety. Final delivery of a project or artwork can be on an interactive CD-ROM or on the World Wide Web, part of a commercial or story for television or the big screen, a presentation for a few people or for millions, for commercial or educational use or for entertainment. Because the use of multimedia in all its forms is such a new and changing field, nothing is set in stone. The same job may have a very different job description in a different company... always find out what skills and experience are required by asking lots of questions! The following list should be a reasonable introduction to the prevalent job titles, and the most commonly requested skills and backgrounds:
Author/ Editor / Content Provider
Produces the text and makes it fit the appropriate space. Requires some expertise in relevant software, e.g. Director and the ability to design useable information. Many will also have programming skills and specialist knowledge of a subject area.
Animator
Produces animation to illustrate appropriate text. Working closely with author and designer. Requires proven computer graphics skills, and animation training and experience. Many aimators work as freelance contributors to individual projects.
Audio-Video Specialist
Edits Audio & Video, creates special effects and synchronizes audio and video to give the needed effects.
Designer
Creates the overall look of the product. Requires proven CAD skills and a broad knowledge of relevant software. Often multi-skilled, able to perform complex image manipulation, etc.
Graphic Artist / Illustrator
A creative graphic artist/illustrator who builds individual pages, using layout and design skills. Needs to be motivated to learn any new software applications with particular expertise in software such as Photoshop.
Multimedia Developer
Involved in the development of an entire project, putting together text, images and sound, needs to be multi-skilled, familiar with the manipulation of text and images. Developers often work in smaller companies and need excellent team skills.
Multimedia Systems Analyst
Very logical and analytical, ability to identify and communicate needs of different team members (and the client) recommending appropriate hardware and software solutions.
Producer / Publisher
Manages the business of the project - negotiating finance, organising staffing to meet the needs of the client. A manager with good creative skills.
Project Manager
Getting it done - co-ordinating, chivvying, understanding and sorting out problems. Broadly based software, management and communication skills.
Sound Technician / Musicians
Sound plays a criticial role in multimedia and fitting the sound to the rest of the information rather like the piano accompaniment to a silent film... takes great skill. Often from a sound recording background - good musicians, who can compose bites are highly sought after. Many companies will use specialist sound providers once the visuals and text are complete, It is rare for sound specialists to be in at the beginning of projects.
Arena Animation, Jayanagar
