Animation is a very exciting and simulating field, offering vast potential to breathe life into any story or character. Its application extends from feature films, OTT to video games and beyond in every aspect of entertainment in today’s world. However, before doing an animation course, it is important to weigh whether this is the right career choice for you or not. This blog talks about what you should know before joining an animation course.

Know where your interest lies and whether you have the right aptitude for animation

Before joining an animation course, take time to evaluate your skills and assess where your interest lies. Do some self reflection and ask yourself these questions

• Do you enjoy drawing, storytelling and design?
• Are you curious to know about how animated films, games, or visual design is created?
• Do you have patience and are you very detail-oriented? Animation is time-consuming.
• Do you admire animated movies, series, or games for their visual appeal or storytelling?
• Have you played with any of the fundamental animation tools or made little projects on your own?

With free or very low-cost tutorials on YouTube or by downloading beginner-friendly tools such as Canva, Pencil 2D, Blender or Krita – you can create simple animations in order to be able to get an idea about your interest without doing any monetary investment in the initial stage.

Understand What Animation is all about

Animation is much more than drawing characters or making visually good-looking images. It is essentially a blend of art, technical skills and storytelling in order to create the illusion of movement. Animators would need to understand the following core areas

• Art and Design: This involves drawing, sculpting, character design, object or environmental design along with color theory, composition, perspective and visual storytelling.

• Technology: Proficiency in programs like Maya, Blender, Toon Boom or After Effects and integrating animation with live action footage

• Storytelling: Building narratives that bring stories to life in order to connect with audiences.

• Anatomy and Movement: Realistic motion is mostly based on understanding human and animal anatomy.
• Acting: In order to animate, one needs to study gestures, expressions etc and act out scenes along with translating human feelings and emotions into animated body language.

• Problem Solving: An animator would need to able to technically solve problems in order to find ways to solve issues that crop up during their work process.

• Collaboration: In such a work, one needs collaborators in terms of teamwork to work with sound designers, script editors, voice artists etc.

Ask yourself: Are you prepared to enter this creative and technical world? 

Research Course Content and Structure

Not all animation courses in Kolkata are similar. There are courses on 2D animation, Stop Motion or 3D Animation – which is the most popular and sought after. Research the curriculum thoroughly to ensure it aligns with your career goals.

Key elements to look for in an animation course include:

• Core Curriculum: Does it have the basic core topics – drawing, storyboarding, character designing, 3D modeling, texturing, lighting, rigging, and rendering along with options to specialize in areas like Motion Graphics, Gaming or VFX?

• Hands-on training: Does it provide the opportunity to work on real-world projects or internships?

• Industry Trends: Does the course allow you to learn the latest technologies and trends in VR/AR along with other aspects of animation?

• Software Tools: Does iot teach you the latest versions of the software tools like Maya, Blender, After Effects, Unreal Gaming etc..

Avoid animation courses that are more theoretical as you will need more practical exposure and those that lack industry-relevant skills.

Check the Credibility of the Institution

There are quite a few animation colleges in Kolkata. Some of the most popular are Arena Animation, Maac, Ilead and Moople. However in terms of latest course curriculum with Generative AI content– Arena Animation is the top animation institute in Kolkata. This institute offers a 3D Real Time course in Animation with Gen AI which is the most sought after animation course in Kolkata. Their curriculum is planned in such a way that you will be equipped with all the skills required to master animation and land a successful animation career.

Before committing to any animation course or an animation college in Kolkata, check for:

• Accreditation: Is the accrediting institution recognized or known in this industry and do they offer a recognized certification?

• Duration of course: Check out the course duration and timing .Is it part time or full time? Does it offer practice machine slots? It must meet your requirements

• Instructors: Do they employ industry trained instructors who have worked in the animation industry?

• Mode of teaching: Do they offer face to face, online or hybrid mode and whether their classes are pre recorded. Always opt for a hybrid model of teaching along with live classes.

• Portfolio : How much importance is given for your practical projects, assessments and final portfolio which will form the most important part for landing you the desired job

• Industry Connections: Are they partnering with animation studios or game companies and do they have ties with animation houses or professional companies?

• Student Reviews: Verify what past students have to say about their teaching practices and methods.

• Alumni Success Stories: Have the passed out students got jobs with big-name companies in the industry?

Search for online reviews and forums also can provide you information about the quality of an animation course that you want to opt for.

Factor in Costs and ROI 

Animation courses can range from a few thousands for online classes to Rs 2-3 lacs for a proper certification or degree. Ask yourself if the investment is worth the return. Questions to ask yourself-

• How much is the typical starting pay for a beginner level animator?
• Can I do freelance jobs to repay an education loan?
• What is the growth for salary improvement after one year, three years etc.
• How long will it take for me to become an animation Director
• Does the animation course offer a strong portfolio or demo reel development?
• Are there financing options, scholarships, or other alternatives like paid internships etc?

Keep in mind that a good strong portfolio usually outweighs the need for a degree in the animation industry.

Know the Career Pathways

Animation is a very vast and diverse field with so many exciting career opportunities. The options include but are not limited to the following:

1. 2D and 3D Animator
2. Storyboard Artist
3. Character Designer
4. Game Animator
5. Visual Effects (VFX) Artist
6. Motion Graphics Artist
7. Rigging Artist
8. Lighting/ Texturing Artist
9. Concept Artist
10. Compositor
11. Animation Director
12. Stop Motion Animator
13. Educator or Mentor
14. Medical Animator
15. Product Animator
16. Social Media Animator

Do a little bit of research on these job descriptions and the required skills for the jobs you are interested in. This will help you select an animation course that suits your career goals.

Prepare for the Challenges

Animation is rewarding but it has its own challenges:

• Time-Consuming. One animation sequence can even take hours or days. So, your working hours will be long and you have to stay focused in order to complete your work. Because it is time consuming – you have to have good time management skills and plan your work otherwise a lot of good work can be half completed and not see the end of day.

• Competitive Industry: Entry to the industry usually involves networking and a lot of perseverance. Also it is a competitive industry – so you have to keep producing good work and improving on portfolio to show your skill.

• Continuous Learning: Software and industry trends evolve rapidly – so it requires you to keep learning constantly and upgrade your skills if you want to flourish in this industry. Also experiment with new styles to improve your skills. There is constant need for improvement in this industry.

• Attention to detail: In order to make realistic animation – you need to be precise and focused. Small errors can spoil the realism of a scene. So, review your work constantly and remember to take feedback from seniors and the industry

• Creative Blocks: This is an area which every animator faces and you need to overcome this by watching inspiring films or follow the artists whose work you admire and follow. Also collaboration with other artists help.

• Balancing Creativity with Client expectations and budget: An animator also needs to be aware of the client’s budget and expectations which sometimes limits your creativity. So, in this case – one needs to work on personal projects to enhance and enhance one’s creativity

Make sure you are ready to tackle these hurdles with determination before you dive into the world of animation.

Conclusion

Enrolling in an animation course can be the best experience of your lifetime, but it definitely is not a decision to be taken lightly. Understand the field, assess your interests and skills, and then research your options thoroughly. It will help you make the right choice for success in the animation career. Remember, your creativity and dedication will always be your greatest assets in animation.

If you are passionate and want to succeed in this creative field, you could look at joining Arena Animation which is currently one of the best animation training institutes to opt for. Their course structure is well planned based on the current creative industry demand which allows you to be prepared for the world of animation! Apart from their quality animation classes in Kolkata, their animation course fee can be paid in installments and is very affordable making it accessible for everyone.

Remember, in animation, your creativity and dedication will always be your greatest assets. So, what are you waiting for?