_Secrets To Being An Animator
__Being an animator means a lot of things. In the past it meant you drew a series of drawings that through the illusion of motion the sense in the viewer that the character, or the sketches, were alive.
Walt Disney pioneered this art form by creating the first sound cartoon (Steamboat Willie) and then the first feature film (Snow White). Snow White was the Avator of its day, spellbinding audiences and launching a number of copycats.
Animation remained 2D, or hand-drawn until George Lucas invested some money into creating a computer graphics division of his special effects business, ILM. Needing money, he sold the little division to Steve Jobs. This company, PIXAR, showed the world that CG, or computer animation, was the future of animation. Pixar's Toy Story revolutionized how animation could be used and CG anim soon made it into live-action films, the first major one being Jurassic Park.
These effects evolved to where it is today, where top live-action directors are now making what are essentially animated films. Steven Speilberg (Tin-Tin), Peter Jackson (Tin-Tin), Robert Zemeckis (Polar Express), Gore Verbinski (Rango), Zac Snyder (Guardians of Gahoole), and more.
Being an animator now can be anyone who works in the visual effects or animation industry. It's not necessarily someone who physically animates. (BTW, most animators focus on bringing characters to life, but it can also mean artists who animate the motion of effects elements (water, fire, smoke) or creatures (dragons, animals, etc).
If you want to be an animator, I suggest studying computer animation and filmmaking. A lot of colleges can focus on this, but be sure to verify the faculty is comprised of working artists. Animation is so technical these days, so you need to learn the latest and greatest. I recommend Animation Mentor (if you need to learn Maya- it's the animation software I use) or check out my blog for great info (http://www.mikelmurphy.com/animator)
If you're looking to hire an animator for your project (usually for advertising or for a feature) then try to find an animator who has a lot of experience with freelancing and can deliver on time, and on budget. Make sure the animator you hire has examples of work that you like, and understands what your needs are.
If you have any questions or need some guidance, check out my blog. I have over a decade of experience and worked on such movies as Lord of the Rings, Ironman, Harry Potter and more.
My blog is http://www.MikeLMurphy.com.
About Me:
Hi, I'm Mike!
I've been an animator for over 15 years on such films as Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Ironman & more.
I've also been an animation director and animation supervisor. If you need an animator for your project, or need some advice as you learn the craft, just ask!
Walt Disney pioneered this art form by creating the first sound cartoon (Steamboat Willie) and then the first feature film (Snow White). Snow White was the Avator of its day, spellbinding audiences and launching a number of copycats.
Animation remained 2D, or hand-drawn until George Lucas invested some money into creating a computer graphics division of his special effects business, ILM. Needing money, he sold the little division to Steve Jobs. This company, PIXAR, showed the world that CG, or computer animation, was the future of animation. Pixar's Toy Story revolutionized how animation could be used and CG anim soon made it into live-action films, the first major one being Jurassic Park.
These effects evolved to where it is today, where top live-action directors are now making what are essentially animated films. Steven Speilberg (Tin-Tin), Peter Jackson (Tin-Tin), Robert Zemeckis (Polar Express), Gore Verbinski (Rango), Zac Snyder (Guardians of Gahoole), and more.
Being an animator now can be anyone who works in the visual effects or animation industry. It's not necessarily someone who physically animates. (BTW, most animators focus on bringing characters to life, but it can also mean artists who animate the motion of effects elements (water, fire, smoke) or creatures (dragons, animals, etc).
If you want to be an animator, I suggest studying computer animation and filmmaking. A lot of colleges can focus on this, but be sure to verify the faculty is comprised of working artists. Animation is so technical these days, so you need to learn the latest and greatest. I recommend Animation Mentor (if you need to learn Maya- it's the animation software I use) or check out my blog for great info (http://www.mikelmurphy.com/animator)
If you're looking to hire an animator for your project (usually for advertising or for a feature) then try to find an animator who has a lot of experience with freelancing and can deliver on time, and on budget. Make sure the animator you hire has examples of work that you like, and understands what your needs are.
If you have any questions or need some guidance, check out my blog. I have over a decade of experience and worked on such movies as Lord of the Rings, Ironman, Harry Potter and more.
My blog is http://www.MikeLMurphy.com.
About Me:
Hi, I'm Mike!
I've been an animator for over 15 years on such films as Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Ironman & more.
I've also been an animation director and animation supervisor. If you need an animator for your project, or need some advice as you learn the craft, just ask!