Comments on Animation Tips & Tricks: What’s the Role of the Animator? Is It Beneficial ...

Hi Shawn,

I understand that specialization ...

2008-07-12T01:25:00.000-07:00

Hi Shawn,

I understand that specialization is probably the best approach towards perfecting our craft in a particular skill.

However, am I also right to say that studios are looking out for animators who are well-rounded artists? I recall watching an interview [A Human Story of Computer Animation, 2005] where Andrew Stanton advised aspiring animators to learn everything - from sculpture to drawing to theater, etc. The rationale is that we should be able to draw ideas from the "source" -> life (and the old masters).

While a generalist approach could refer to learning all the disciplines in CG (rigging, modeling, texturing), I think that a generalist approach could also refer to a broad-based understanding of elements of art (composition, forms, lines, colors, etc.)

Do you think it is beneficial to explore different disciplines of art (not merely CG) in general?

Thanks,

Leon

Although I always think it's important to have kno...

2008-07-11T11:17:00.000-07:00

Although I always think it's important to have knowledge of the hole process, I agree that it's a market tendecy to look for specialists in just one discipline. The first time I applied to a studio the CEO told me: you don't need to do everything; you need to do just one thing, very well!

While I agree that it helps to know a little about...

2008-07-09T22:15:00.000-07:00

While I agree that it helps to know a little about a lot. I have a firm belief that the moment you become extraordinarily skilled at one thing, the other atrophies, so if your models look too good your animation cannot be exceptional. There are not just enough hours in a day to be perfect at all aspect of the craft, so i see sepcialisation as the only path to take. Its a bit like being a doctor first you are general practioner the you specialise to a brain surgeon, you can't do that and still master plastic surgery....well except you are immortal and you have the time

Hello Shawn! :)

It's great when a person re...

2008-07-08T09:22:00.000-07:00

Hello Shawn! :)

It's great when a person reads something and immediately is able to relate to it. Thats why I love stopping by this blog almost every day and read your posts.

I'm currently in an internship here in Miami at a TV station but in the Film and VFX department. They liked my work and specially what I animated for class 1 and 2 at AM, so they gave me the opportunity to join them and help them out.

There was moments when other artist were working on the modeling, texturing or rigging the characters and there was no animation on that moment for me to animate. So thanks to my knowledge in Maya and Zbrush, I was able to keep my self busy modeling and sculpting until the RIGS were ready for me to animate. And let me tell you I couldn't wait to get my hands and those rigs and start animating. I also planned my animation doing sketches and with video reference, so when the rigs were ready I was ready to start animating. I was modeling, but always keeping my self learning more and more of what I really want to do that is Animation. :)

Sorry for the long post! :) Wanted to share my short anecdote. hehe

Thanks again Shawn!

-Javier Loredo

great stuff shawn!

I recently ran into that...

2008-07-08T08:02:00.000-07:00

great stuff shawn!

I recently ran into that exact situation. I've been working as a generalist for 3 years now in a small commercial company. I did all rigging/character modeling and animation. So animating was really only a part of my job.

Recently I accepted a new job offer at a larger studio to animate on a feature film. So at my new job i'll only be animating! and finally have the time to really concentrate on the art form :)

Thanks for the inspirational words.

The gen...

2008-07-08T05:53:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the inspirational words.

The generalist approach has its appeal for an animation student.

It's good to know and appreciate what the rest of the team do.

The apprenticeship as a generalist wouldn't be a bad thing in that sense as it increases an animator's ability to communicate.

I know a retired German architect. He undertook compulsory 'journeyman' training in the 1950s. He worked as a buider's labourer, carpenter, tiler, bricklayer... before he entered his profession. Now he's retired, he looks back and advises he would never have been as good an architect, if he didn't understand how the other parts worked.

I agree with keep striving for that character animation job but learning about the wider craft may be the rocket booster that gets you there. Just by a different path.

Hey, I'm only a student. What do I know? Niente.

Wow, well said. I went down a path like that in my...

2008-07-07T18:55:00.000-07:00

Wow, well said. I went down a path like that in my career, starting with a generalist background and concentrating on animation later on. Doing all the lighting and modeling and other stuff is fun, but it made me realize that what I really love to do is animate. This is a great blog, keep up the good work!

Comments on Animation Tips & Tricks: What’s the Role of the Animator? Is It Beneficial ...

Hi Shawn,I understand that specialization ...