The literal meaning of the word animate is ‘to bring life and vigor’. In the technical sense animation is the art or technique of filming a sequence of drawings or models to give the illusion of motion.
The history of animation: The cave men drew pictures of animals with multiple legs in super imposed positions to create an illusion of movement. But since there were no equipments to show the images in motion, they can not be referred to animation in the true sense of word.
Over the years, animations took many forms. Many cartoon characters became popular due to animations. As kids we all have marveled at the animated cartoon characters from mickey mouse to woody woodpecker. From simple flip books to 3D computer generated images, animation has come a long way.
Career in animation: With the onset of video gaming and special effects movies, animation career has a lot of scope all around the world. Animators with an animation degree have a lot of career options. Animation is a multi-billion dollar industry with continuous growth.
Nature of work: Though there are many different kind of jobs in n animation career, but there re some common tasks that animators have to perform in the course of any normal day’s work.
- Story boarding
- Designing animated environment including characters, sets and objects
- Character sketching
- Developing concept
- Modeling characters
- Using animation software programs
- Working as part of a team
Qualification required: Modern day animation is a blend of creativity and technology. An animator needs to have a lot of imaginative skills along with basic artistic abilities. The following are just some basic skills needed to be a successful animator:
- Creativity
- Story telling and character sketching ability
- Artistic skills
- Powerful imagination
- Computer skills
An animation degree can be acquired from any reputed institute. The curriculum of animation courses varies depending on the institute and the career path you choose. However, whatever institute or branch of animation you choose, certain subjects and techniques are core matter of animation:
- History of animation
- Drawing and sketching
- Story telling
- Making story boards
- Different styles of cartooning
- CGI (computer generated imagery)
- 2D and 3D animation
- Techniques and elements of film making
- Marketing
- Projecting ideas
Conclusion: Thus to conclude, animation is as old as mankind itself. It captivates the audience by breathing life into characters. There has been tremendous growth in the animation industry in the recent years. And there is a great scope for those who have an artistic and imaginative streak in them. All it requires is passion about bringing life to characters through various techniques. So if you are thinking of choosing animation as your career, go for it, as there is no time like present for this industry!
