Animation is Not Just Child's Play
A New Age of Animation
The demand for technically advanced animation is explosive. According to Stephanie Kirchmeyer, managing director of the Paris-based production company SIP Animation, “The animation audience is made up of this new generation of kids who were born and grew up with the Internet, cell phones, etc. The digital generation of kids not only watches TV but expects to find its favorite characters in all kinds of broadcast media. So first, we have to think beyond TV- think multiplatforms but, of course, still think quality programs.”
Keep Up with the Joneses: Hone Your Animation Talents
Television networks are searching animation schools for the best talents in production and technology in order to keep young viewers from yawning. To remain competitive, animation designers, directors, artists, and producers are using highly developed tools that are less labor-intensive than the 2-D animation of yesteryear. Some of the tools and digital software available to today’s animators include:
- Flash
- Lightwave
- Maya
- Toonboom
- Computer-generated imagery
- 3-D visual effects
- Stop-motion animation
- Clay modeling
Although these tools are essential to create high-level animation, the eye-pleasing visuals are not enough. A well-developed story is a must for a well-rounded animation. Story lines and plots should be character-driven, daring, and jam-packed with wit and original humor. A good animation story may succeed no matter how the animation looks, but a good-looking display with nothing else to offer won’t. Animation schools will not only focus on the importance of eye-catching visuals, but also on the need to create a complete work.
The new digital universe has opened up a playground for future animators. Enroll in an animation school that will teach you the basics of animation and you’ll be a force to be reckoned with in the industry.
