Articles and Resources

As the frontier of 3D animation expands, animation studios are preparing for the next big thing. An internship with one of these studios may be the best way to prepare for a career in animation. First things first: you’ll want training in 3D animation from an animation school.

The process of traditional, hand-drawn 2D animation is both time-consuming and expensive. But with the latest software applications, 2D animation may soon eliminate archaic drafting utensils.

To be a top 2D animator, you need to understand the role that you play in the interpretation of the action. Here are some helpful hints from the Animation Arena on how to make your cartoon animations believable and credible, as well as some resources that will make you a better artist.

Not all advancements in technology are being embraced by the mainstream. In fact, there’s a growing fear in Hollywood that 3D animation will eventually replace the need for living, breathing actors in movies and on television. Is this fear a genuine concern? Or is it panic fueled by the technical unknown?

The eternal battle rages on. Which is better: 2D or 3D animation? The answer to that question depends on the medium and quality of work. Here’s a rundown of the basics of both 2D animation and the newer 3D versions.

With two of the three major video game manufacturers debuting a new console this holiday season, the world of 3D animation will receive some flashy additions. Learning the basics of 3D animation will give you the best chance at working in the industry.

Animation school provides a number of benefits to animation students. Few are so pivotal to a career in animation than a solid foundation in 3D animation software.

The Animation Guild used to boast between 2,000 and 3,000 members, when 2D animation features were the industry standard. Now, only a few hundred members remain. How can you keep 2D animation alive when all the major studios are focused on 3D? For one ex-Disney animator, the answer was to create his own.

The use of computer animation for more than just entertainment is progressing the field of criminal justice. A team of German researchers have created software that uses 3D animation to recreate human faces from skulls and give them expressions, race, and gender.

As a 3D animator, you will face a very different job landscape than most traditional artists do: the pickings are actually good. Although competitive, the industry is growing to meet the demand for 3D animation from just about everyone.

Animation jobs can span many areas, from drawing by hand to creating the 3D computer animation software that is used by so many animators today. You may know about the skills that animators need, but what about the software engineers?

Animation used to be for kids. Remember the old Hollywood animations that took many man-years to complete? Technology has accelerated this process and created many more possibilities. Please take your seats, as the main feature, your 3D program, is about to start:

An education in 3D animation can offer you a world of opportunity in film and software production. 3D animation is increasingly being incorporated into other technologies in a process called technology convergence. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, career opportunities are expanding in 3D animation.

Animation Theater and Electronic Theater presentations. A prestigious forum for computer graphics research. Panels of industry experts discussing a wide variety of topics in animation and visual arts. This is your career launch pad.

GIF, or graphics interchange format, offers a palette of up to 256 distinct colors from the 24-bit RGB color space. Its convenient portability and support capabilities make it the ‘go-to’ animation process for World Wide Web builders.

For a unique fusion of art and technology, the animation industry is your road to an exciting profession. Enjoy creating diverse projects ranging from interactive web sites to movie and television features. Here’s how to make animation your career field.

A career in animation can take you in many directions. Your animation school will introduce you to the full range of options. In the meantime, here are three popular areas of animation to consider.

Japanese anime and manga are all the rage with kids these days. This interest has created a strong market for trained animators. If you’re an anime and manga fan, consider pursuing a career in animation.

The big screen isn’t the only place to apply your talents in animation. Web animation is a new frontier in the industry, and major online advertising initiatives will create the need for many jobs in web animation in the coming years. Animation school is a great place to develop the skills you need to build a career in web animation.

Working in animation doesn’t always mean working an animation desk. If you love the craft but are interested in a career that involves business, public relations, promotions, travel, and networking, animation marketing might be a great career for you.

Once upon a time, stick figure animation was all the rage on television and in the movies. With the promulgation of computer technology animation moved on to the photo-realistic imagery you see today. However, stick figure animation is alive and well on the Internet. Innovative web sites have brought back this old art form in new ways.

As a result of enhancements in animation software artists are no longer required to have the level of drawing or painting skills previous generations of animators needed to succeed. Your love for cartoon animation and your love for computers can help you launch a career in motion pictures, advertising, graphic design, or cartoon animation.

There are many job responsibilities in animation, from layout to compositing. By learning about each activity’s contribution to the production of 3D animation, you can determine what skills an animator needs and whether you have them.

If you dream of getting into the animation business, you should know that there really isn’t just one single path people take to find jobs in animation. Like most creative types, people often meander into animation jobs after leaving more “practical” careers behind. Hence, the career trajectory of Mike Judge:

Most high school kids are relatively clueless about what they want to do in life. Thanks to anime, Rebecca Sears knows that she wants to pursue a career in animation and/or graphic arts.

A career in animation is based on a background in cartoon and 3D animation, a working knowledge of animation software, and project management skills. It can also be based on working the Hollywood machine, and never touching a pencil or keyboard.

Animation job seekers are met with limited opportunities and high competition. Here are a few tips for artists with young careers in animation, including how showing your talents (and not your eyebrow rings) will help you earn career opportunities.

From the Internet to the silver screen, animation can be found just about everywhere these days. As animation schools work to provide industry training for animation job seekers, animation students will do well to remember that after graduation, they have a variety of options available to them.

If you go to animation school, earn a degree, and get a job modeling on the next Shrek installment, that’s a great career opportunity. But what about the professional in the animation industry who writes the lines for Shrek, too?

There is more to animation than CGI and Pixar. Earning an education in animation school qualifies students for more opportunities than just feature films. Here are a few real life examples of animators who have founded successful animation careers through projects that didn’t necessarily sell millions at the box office.

Do you want to pursue a career in animation? If so, you may have to endure some hard times before realizing your dreams.

Animation schools in India teach the same software skills (Maya, Photoshop, Autodesk) as schools here, so why are there so many jobs in animation in India? A little thing called outsourcing keeps Indian careers in animation growing, as more and more animation is used in TV and film all over the world.

What’s the secret to finding jobs in animation? Randy Cook’s story may give you some hints.

Although he isn’t a household name, Norman McLaren made quite a name for himself as an animation pioneer. He and his animation career will be honored at the Cannes Film Festival in 2006.

Finally, here’s some good news for those looking for careers in animation. LAIKA, a film and commercial animation studio, plans to build a state-of-the-art animation campus near Portland Oregon and fill it with newly hired animators.

If you’re one of the many looking for jobs in animation, you might as well get some advice from the pros. A new book was recently released that includes career advice from animators at the top of their field.

Predicted to become a $100 billion industry within years, the animation industry is growing on a global scale. Even the US government is advertising excellent growth for animation jobs in the future. Here’s what’s going on in animation from here to the Philippines.

Women in Animation (WIA) is a group dedicated to helping women achieve successful animation careers. Their annual meeting was held at the end of April at Nickelodeon Studios in Burbank, CA, and the group focused on the subject of 3D animation for television.

From Levi’s stick figure animation to Toyota’s new Yaris commercials, cartoon animation has enjoyed a place in advertising for years. Good to know it’s still a welcome place for animators to work their trade.

Animation, film, TV, advertising - all these industries and more use the art of storyboarding in the production phase. Storyboard artists play an essential role in the development of the stories that play out on screen.

Voice-over acting has always played a major role in cartoons and animated full length films. Today, the video gaming industry is creating many new jobs in animation for voice-over actors.

Going to animation school but still working on projects of your own? Creating your own website or using someone else's to share your animation with the world can be a great marketing tool as well as an outlet for your creativity.

In a recent article on DCCCcafe.com, a Web site resource for digital content creators, the author made a persuasive argument that predicted rising computer animation salaries.

What should you be doing if you want to become an animator? Begin by getting relevant animation training and experience and applying that to what you already know.

Disney and Pixar are definitely the two biggest names in animation right now. Once rivals, they have recently teamed up to produce a number of different movies, probably the biggest being Finding Nemo. Variety Magazine recently reported that the two companies may extend their partnership into the future to collaborate on more animated films.

Brian Long never thought his summer class on pre-Columbian art history would help him land a job at Buoyant Duck, an animation company whose main clients include National Geographic and Animal Planet. Luckily for him, he decided to create a 3-minute animated short about the Torreon Sun Temple in Machu Picchu, Peru.

Artists may create their works using a variety of mediums, and many artists find work in the visual arts arena, as well as in business and commercial settings.

As an illustrator, your work could help communicate a message about a product or tell a story.

More than half of all animators are self-employed - this is about seven times the normal rate for professional and other employment. This fact means that if you are a self employed animator, you have to both have some unique skills to offer clients, and you have to be extra good at marketing your services.

You've finished your animation program and are ready to establish a career. But where do you start? Here are some tips for launching an effective animation job search.

The art of caricature is probably as old as portraiture. Newspapers have long included caricature illustrations, and we are all familiar with newspaper cartoon strips that run more generic caricatures, such as Dilbert.

Volunteering can be a great way to lift your spirits and provide new and challenging animation career opportunities. Volunteering can expand your network, help you grow professionally, and even prove your drive and initiative to current and potential employers.

You've gone through the first three steps in your animation career - you've decided what kind of animation career you want, you've finished your initial animation education, and you've prepared your animation portfolio. Now you need to be successful in at least one job interview - and preferably more to have a choice of animation jobs.

A computer animation is interesting and lucrative career, but it can be a competitive field to break in to. In order to get your ideal animation career, you need to attract the attention and respect of your future employer or client.

Disciples of stick figure drawing, your software title is here. Pivot Stickfigure Animator is a free, downloadable software program that will help you turn your paper characters into living animations using your Windows-based PC.

The key to success in the animation business is staying on top of the latest trends in the industry. Moving animation has grown up since its inception. Here’s what some of the flagship companies are bringing to the table.

The Microsoft PowerPoint application has become the standard for public speaking and education. Here’s a style guide for using the animation tools included in the program without turning off your audience.

From Canada to the Pacific Northwest to the Gulf Coast region, animation art festivals gather the best and brightest talent from across the globe. Earn your degree in animation and take your skills to the big leagues of design.

Snoopy and Charlie Brown are two of the most recognized cartoon characters of all time. Cartooning synthesizes fine art, pop culture, biography, and fiction with hand-drawn expanded with the growth of graphic novels, imported Asian comics, and a global craze for cartoon-based animation. If you’re an aspiring animation artist with hopes of becoming the next Charles Schultz, you may want to keep the field of cartooning in mind.

Animation is quickly becoming a strong global business. As an aspiring animator, a variety of lucrative opportunities may be available to you after you graduate from animation school.

Animation is no longer child’s play Kids today are savvier and more technically advanced than children of past generations. Aspiring animators will have to be prepared to cater to the demands of such sophisticated audiences, and enrolling in an animation school to learn the latest in animation technology can do the trick.

Since the 1950s, stop motion animation has been a part of our popular culture. First appearing in Disney’s 1959 classic Noah’s Ark, stop motion animation has developed into a digital art form. Here’s an overview of the animation technique that uses still frames to create life on screen.

British Telecom (BT) is planning to revolutionize at-home communications by offering Internet/phone/TV access on their broadband network. To get the ball rolling, they’ve teamed up with some popular television networks who will offer content to subscribers. The Cartoon Network was the latest company to ink a deal.

Animation art was once considered child’s play by multimedia professionals—until the Darklight Festival came onto the scene. For one week in Dublin, Ireland, the best of the best in animation art projects come together as artists swap ideas and celebrate their craft. Here’s a taste of what you’ll find if you dare venture into the realm of Darklight.

The three major players in the animation industry - the US, India, and China - continue to make strides in advancing the art. This progress leads to the growth of animation education and animation jobs worldwide.

Knowing a little bit about the top studios in the animation world will give you a sense of where to set your sights as you begin your animation career. If you’d like to be associated with the upper echelon, sharpen your animation skills and give these studios a call.

With the commercialization of computer animation, the wild success of animation outsourcing, and the increasing role of Asian animation studios, the animation industry is experiencing interesting and exciting changes. Take a look at these industry updates on the three largest players in animation: the United States, India, and China.

Cartoon animation has taken a back seat to the flashy, fortune-building visuals of 3D and computer animation - but it’s not dead. Several key forums still support cartoon animation and let cartoon animators practice their craft.

Dragonball Z. Yu-gi-oh. If you’re not sure what these words mean, then you must have missed the Japanese cartoon animation boat. Anime is the cartoon world on steroids. And it’s garnered a massive following throughout the world.

Nine-time Oscar winner and special effects animator Dennis Muren told Wired Magazine that “soul” is missing from many of today’s computer animated special effects. He said “a lot of folks doing effects can churn the material out, but they aren’t giving it any soul. Soul is inherent to the old style, the stop-motion and matte painting.”

Animation has lasted 100 years and shows no sign of stagnating. In fact, most animators still think the industry is in its early stages.

Aspiring filmmakers and animators have a tough road ahead of them. If they can’t network with the right people, their second bet is to gain recognition through film or animation festivals.

We all know that TV and movies are ways to unwind after a long day. But some artforms, like animation, can be used for more than that. At a well-known college in Illinois, professor Sharon Tettegah is using animation as a way to reach troubled children and other patients.

In a unique collision of two very different fields, students contribute to California’s agriculture and animation industries through a contest that promotes both at once.

Mickey Mouse is as popular today as he was when he made his debut in Steamboat Willie back in 1928. For art collectors, early Mickey Mouse animation can be a coveted prize.

Animation studios—or rather, the animation studio—have brought cartoon animation back into public favor, after its drop-off in the late 1990s. The animation tradition that Pixar is leading has wide implications for the industry, including animation job growth for grassroots animation studios across the world.

Tony Millionaire, creator of the famous underground comic strip named “Maakies,” is making his animating debut in a show called “The Drinky Crow Show,” which will be aired on the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim program.

Animators across the country have something to celebrate. The negotiation team for their union worked out a deal with animation producers that will increase their animation salaries and benefits over the next few years.

A prominent college in San Francisco recently introduced a new Bachelor's degree program in Simulation and Virtual Environments. This move signifies a growing collusion between two occupations, animation degrees and graphic design.

About six years ago, a Japanese-influenced style of animation became very popular among the cartoon-watching crowd. This genre was called anime, and the Cartoon Network and Fox Kids imported these cartoons in droves when they discovered how much their audience liked them.

Computer-generated animation has made a significant impact on the animation industry; however, the lost art form of sketching continues to be a much needed and desired profession. Sketching allows you to get involved in your animated creations on a hand-to-paper level. So if you enjoy drawing and sketching, consider a career in animation. You might be pleasantly surprised with the demand for professional sketchers.

Aaron McGruder created the hit comic strip "The Boondocks," and is hoping his cartoon version finds similar success. In an interview by The News Tribune, McGruder discussed how the show's animation techniques differ from other hit cartoons such as "Southpark" and "The Simpsons."*

Aaron McGruder created the hit comic strip "The Boondocks," and is hoping his cartoon version finds similar success. In an interview by The News Tribune, McGruder discussed how the show's animation techniques differ from other hit cartoons such as "Southpark" and "The Simpsons."*

Many stop motion animation puppets are created with lead joint armatures. In fact, in a typical film, thousands of joints must be made over the entire production phase. And while many people who work with lead on a regular basis will tell you you're safe as long as you don't eat it, this is simply not the case. Read on to discover the hidden dangers that lead and other toxic materials associated with stop motion animation can have on your health and well-being.

The Philippines once controlled 90% of the global outsourced animation business. Foreign competition over the years has lured away much of this business. The Philippine government is working with leading national animation companies to get that business back.

Selling a cartoon to the Cartoon Network is, in the cartoon industry, like winning a gold medal at the Olympics. The Cartoon Network continuously steals more and more viewers from other networks, meaning that the cartoons aired on the Cartoon Network get a lot of exposure. This increases the odds that they'll become popular among viewers. Mainframe Entertainment's recent sale to the Cartoon Network bodes well for the future of Zixx.

Planning for a healthy economic future, Singapore is supporting the growth of digital media within its borders. By attracting schools that provide top-notch animation training, as well as animation companies that will need to hire skilled animators, Singapore is confident that it will reap the profits of this fast-gowning industry. Within weeks of one another, both Digipen, a top animation school, and Electronic Arts, a top gaming company, announced plans to open facilities in Sinagpore.

I've been a Garfield fan for most of my life, so I was rather anxious when the Garfield movie came out. I don't propose to comment on the content of the film here, but I was impressed with the look of Garfield, and the way that the animation was done. So much so that I did some investigation into the film production techniques, and how they actually did the animation programming.

After launching and presiding over one of the most popular brands in history, Phil Knight of Nike is following his son Travis into animation.

Animation is a part of our everyday life, used for all kinds of applications other than the ones we automatically think of, as entertainment. Today we use animation for education purposes, for medical illustration, "walk-throughs" for architectural and interior design purposes, and as a way of modeling scientific experiments. One new application is the use of animation for fashion modeling.

Because I travel quite a lot; sometimes in countries where English is not the first language I try to keep up to date with the dates of new film releases and what they are about by visiting the film web site. At the moment I am in New Zealand, and I knew that Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds featuring Tom Cruise is due out sometime this month, so I looked carefully at the film production's web site to find out if I could see it in Auckland, New Zealand.

Over the last weekend I took some time to look at a number of films that I had missed when they were first released. One of them, a French cartoon called the Triplets of Belleville, really caught my imagination.

The problem with having more television channels to broadcast over is that you need more content fill those channels. This is the major challenge for television broadcasters in the twenty first century - a classic dilemma when society is suddenly faced with new technology that changes the way that things are done. Part of the answer is to attract a segmented audience, and cartoons have traditionally been the perfect recyclable content.

If you spend any time watching TV, going to the movies or using the Internet, you will be aware that the last five years have seen great developments in the use of animation. The use of animation in conjunction with video has really changed the nature of the images that can be produced, making the filming of such epics as Lord of the Rings and Matrix possible.

Montreal (May 17, 2005) - Toon Boom Animation announced today the Beta release of Toon Boom Studio v3 for Mac and PC. This latest Toon Boom Studio release enables users to build animations the easy way -- select artworks from existing libraries and animate using motion paths.

About Toon Boom Animation Inc.

Is all of the attention that Japanese animation art gets due to innovation, quality or character - or is it a combination of all three and more?

A computer animation career that serves and protects? It’s not as much of a stretch as you might think. Many technical professionals in federal, state, and local law enforcement use animation class lessons to keep the world safe for democracy.

Guinness, Rush Hour 3, and the Hungarian government recently received a jolt from a group of talented technical artists. These projects underscore the dynamic applications of digital design courses in every aspect of global culture.

Many students earn an animation degree and then stumble wide-eyed into the industry. They want to create and they want their projects to be seen. Here are the three best ways to get your animation work out to the masses, and maybe land yourself a job.

You know you want to attend a computer animation school. But do you need to personal attention of the classroom setting? Or would you prefer the freedom of a distance learning format? With some programs, you can experience both styles.

Before you begin any career training, you’ll need a plan of action in order to maximize your learning and earning potential. If you know exactly how to make animation classes work for you, the computerized world can be your creative, dynamic way to a living.

Animation is a large industry with impressive growth potential. Computer animation alone is projected to exceed $32 billion in two years. To take full advantage of the career opportunities, start planning during animation school. Explore this global industry and available jobs before you graduate, and you’ll hit the ground running.

The connection between animation school and the industry couldn’t be more direct: its instructors. Nearly every instructor you will encounter in animation school has real experience in the animation industry, and is prepared to impart it to students.

In order to keep up with diverse and changing technologies, today’s computer animation schools have focused their curriculums. In addition to developing technical skills, graduates today must also master the art and the academics of these versatile programs.

Most people think of big budget computer animation features when they hear the word “animation.” But animation encompasses many career directions—trained animators go on to become cartoonists, video game designers, and more. Animation school can help you develop your talent and focus your sights on a career goal.

Growing up you’ve always been able to draw and doodle. It’s a talent that you enjoy, but never took seriously. Here are some cartoon animation works that are making the world a better place to live. And you can be a part of it using your creative abilities.

Most animation career enthusiasts know that in order to land a job at any animation studio, you need to go to animation school. But what are the specific benefits of getting an animation degree? Opportunities such as mentorships and contests can be instrumental in launching a career in animation.

According to animation industry journeyman Andrew Daffy, knowing what you want to accomplish in your animation career will help you succeed. Going to animation school and focusing your coursework is the first step to developing your niche in the industry.

Training from actual industry experts is what animation school is all about. Whether online or on-campus, animation school is designed to give students the best career preparation possible.

Going to animation school is the best way to start your career. And why not start it as a student of the very people whose careers you want?

More than 150 online animation school students graduated recently from a California-based online animation school. The animation degree program was taught by a group of mentors and instructors, all of them with jobs as professional animators, and all online.

The animation department at an East Coast arts school has recently seen the benefits of a great corporate partnership: Intel has shared with the school their latest animation technology. This is just one of the benefits of animation school.

A successful animator in New York earned his degree in painting and graphic design. His success in animation is the reason why animation schools need to help students hone their artistic skills, as well as their computer animation skills.

John Lasseter, the creative genius behind Pixar, could probably be considered the reigning king of computer animation. Lasseter helped hone his creative genius in animation school before landing his first job at Disney.

Some of the best animators have backgrounds in illustration. Before enrolling in an animation college, make sure the institution will teach you how to draw.

If you’re an animation student, there’s an attraction at Disney’s MGM studios theme park that may interest you more than a water ride or a haunted house.

The animation industry is predicted to be valued at $32.7 billion in three years. The relationship between animation schools and animation studios remains an essential component to managing this exciting growth and providing opportunity for the young animators who will make it happen.

About one third of professionals in media are under 35. What does that tell you? People are getting their education and starting their careers early. An animation program is the best way to get a career in animation started.

Julio Del Hierro was worried sick about telling his father he wanted to go to animation school. His father, who was an immigrant with dreams of his kids becoming doctors and lawyers, grudgingly encouraged his son, who now has a Disney credit to his name.

Andreas Deja wanted to be an animator ever since he saw “The Jungle Book.” After following his dreams, he’s now one of Disney’s top animators.

Animex, the annual festival for animation careers, takes place in northern England, drawing a huge crowd of animators, directors, producers, and students from all over the world. This last February, the seventh annual Animex festival took place, garnering over 400 entries for its contests for those in animation careers.

Paul Dini, a noted animation writer/producer, touts animation courses and an overall animation education as the best way to get into the industry.

A columnist for an online Asian technical publication recently fueled the flames of an ongoing debate within the animation industry. This debate centers on the technology focus within animation training programs today as opposed to the focus on learning the art of animation. He claimed that today's hi tech animation software could make anyone an animator within a few days. This remark drew many letters of complaint among animators worldwide.

The Chicago Tribune recently published an article about AnimationMentor.com, a new online animation school created by professionals at Dreamworks, Pixar, and other top animation studios. Professional animators created this school to address the increasing demand for computer animators caused by the success of many popular computer animated films.

Although it isn't official yet, it looks like Disney is going to merge with Pixar Animation, which will be the biggest shakeup in the animation industry in years. This merger will probably shrink the current animation job market, as these two major animation studios will inevitably shrink their total workforce after the merger.

Traditional animation is one of the job routes you can take once you earn a degree in animation, but the field of animation is full of possibilities.

In the fall semester of 2005, 12 graduate students will start their first class at the University of Central Florida's Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy. The program is the world's first graduate school devoted to computer game design.

Although we usually associate cartoons with entertainment, in fact they can have many more serious applications. Children love cartoons - as we all know from the fondness they have for the cartoon networks - so why not make this attractive medium work for teaching and learning?

Choosing the right animation school involves so much more than degrees offered. And like anything else of importance, you'll need to devote some time and attention to making the right choice. Before you decide upon an animation school, consider researching and evaluating the following comprehensive checklist.

Although we usually think of animation as being an entertainment tool to create films and programs usable for the film industry, television, and the internet, animation is used for far more serious applications. In particular, there is an increase in the use of animation training; that is using animation to instruct people in skills, knowledge and to illustrate and strengthen educational processes.

So you've decided that what you really want is an animation career. Great! In fact, this is only the first branch of a whole decision tree that you need to navigate. You now need to decide what kind of animation you want to specialize in - computer animation, games, website design, movies, industrial and business presentation, flight simulation, medical presentations.

Montreal (May 11, 2005) - Today Toon Boom Animation announced that Algonquin College has chosen Toon Boom Harmony as part of its three-year Animation program. Algonquin's program provides students with training in both traditional and digital animation. Following a first year of studies, students have the option of pursuing either traditional or digital animation. They learn the skills necessary to work effectively as animators in a variety of settings. Graduates acquire the skills necessary to work independently, collaboratively, and in studio settings.

If you are interested in a career involving the web, a degree in web design and development can prepare you with the skills to dive right in.

What job opportunities will digital video editing degrees create for me?

Microsoft PowerPoint has upgraded for the upcoming year. Not only does it have the same intuitive processes that have made the program an industry favorite, but it’s also added a generous helping of animation options to keep your audiences spellbound.

There are a variety of animation programs on the Web and in the stores with rich features and hefty price tags. But what you might not know is that you can download many of these software titles and try them on a trial basis, or even for free!

An animation pro is only as good as the software she’s using. Fortunately, the latest cutting edge flash animation programs have enhanced the capabilities of animators significantly. Here’s a closer look at three of the top flash animation software programs and how they differ from one another. Happy animating!

Director Richard Linklater is the first director to use “rotoscoping” in a major film, the upcoming A Scanner Darkly. The film provides both his unique vision and the latest expression of this new technology. A hybrid of live action and animation, rotoscoping, it seems, has reached the mainstream.

When TV viewers start discussing computer animation, The Simpsons invariably come up. But as you’ll soon discover, one of the brains behind the show’s success began with almost no animation knowledge whatsoever. Here’s his story.

Retta Davidson had an interesting career. Among her many jobs in animation, she kept returning to the place where she ultimately got her first animation job—Disney.

Anyone interested in how computer animation became the new animation standard for full-length motion pictures should read up on Ed Catmull. The current president of Disney’s animation division was one of the pioneers of computer animation.

Born on November 26, 1922, Schulz began studying art after seeing an ad stating, "Do you like to draw?" He said, until his death on January 3, 1999, "Being a cartoonist was my life." But Schulz's cartoon strip Peanuts was more than just a weekly comic, and Schulz himself was more than just a cartoonist. For almost 50 years, Schulz drew Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and all their friends, basing his cartoon characters on his personal life.

Stop–motion animation isn't taught much in animation schools anymore. Instead, most animation jobs and schools require computer animation skills. That didn't stop Hollywood director Tim Burton from returning to this classic art form. His latest stop–motion feature is "The Corpse Bride", released in theaters in the fall of 2005.

At the end of the same week he announced he was switching Apple computers from using IBM chips to Intel ones, Apple CEO Steve Jobs gave a somber speech at Stanford University.

Having been around since 1908, clay animation is not exactly a new artistic technique on the scene. But it took the phenomenon of Wallace and Gromit to bring this alternative animation style to the forefront. Check out how the creators of this wildly popular cartoon revised an ancient art.

The Graphics Interchange Format, better known as GIF, exploded onto the technology scene in 1987. Today, GIF animations are still responsible for adding motion and excitement to web pages and interactive applications. With apologies to Stephen Hawking, here’s a Brief History of GIF.

Animation kings John Lasseter and Ed Catmull are doing pretty well for themselves. John is the creative spirit behind Pixar, and Ed is Pixar’s president and technological whiz. These two men were pivotal in Disney’s buyout of Pixar.

A degree in digital design will help you to develop both creative and technical skills that will enable you to pursue a career in digital design.

If you are seeking a career that allow you to combine your creativity with practical knowledge and skills, then gaining knowledge and training in computer-aided design will help put you on the right track.

The work of Star Wars creator George Lucas and his visual effects company Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) has made digital animation relatively cheap and accessible. Digital technology allows skilled, so-called amateurs to produce low-budget, mini-masterpieces of animation. For a case in point, watch Star Wars: Revelations.

The work of Star Wars creator George Lucas and his visual effects company Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) has made digital animation relatively cheap and accessible. Digital technology allows skilled, so-called amateurs to produce low-budget, mini-masterpieces of animation. For a case in point, watch Star Wars: Revelations.

Original video animation, or OVA for short, is a Japanese import art technique that features mind-blowing visual sequences and deep plot lines. In fact, OVA will beat most movie animation titles in several critical artistic categories, hands-down.

Nothing brings more life and character to a great animation feature than a celebrity voiceover. Animation voiceovers not only entertain audiences, but also sell products and services. Here’s the scoop on celebrity voice actors in the studio.

If you’re a frustrated clay animation artist who feels that there’s no real venue for displaying your work, think YouTube. This remarkable Internet environment allows you to create, post, and receive an instant critique of your project.

When you think of the Academy Awards, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Picture usually come to mind. Don’t forget about the animated short film category! Go to animation school and take your chance at becoming an Academy Award winner.

Looking for a path to the major animation houses? Here’s your chance to show your stuff. Disney is offering an open call for animation artists to show their portfolios in an unusual bid for much-coveted animation jobs.

There is no doubt that merging video and animation is a fast-growing artform. The rise of 3D animation is already a box-office force to be reckoned with, and now “photo real” animation is carving its niche in the animation world.

The entertainment industry has been scratching their heads and wondering why ticket sales for films have been in the doldrums for so long. With the success of Ice Age: The Meltdown’s opening weekend, they’re starting to realize that family oriented animated films might be the road back to profitability.

The Golden Globe Awards have been an institution for sixty-four years. In that time, Golden Globes have recognized achievement in twenty-four categories, including best picture, best actor, etc. Next year, they will follow the Academy Awards’ lead and add yet another award to their line up: Best Animated Feature Film.

Animation has become the hot medium in Hollywood lately. Pixar, the maverick in the animation industry, recently sold for a staggering 7.4 billion dollars. The Academy has taken note, adding 'Best Animated Feature' to its award categories. Think you could create the next Finding Nemo? See how an animation degree can put you on the path to the red carpet.

Animation has become the hot medium in Hollywood lately. Pixar, the maverick in the animation industry, recently sold for a staggering 7.4 billion dollars. The Academy has taken note, adding 'Best Animated Feature' to its award categories. Think you could create the next Finding Nemo? See how an animation degree can put you on the path to the red carpet.

If you've ever wanted to embark upon a career in animation as a director, taking a few tips from Steven Spielberg, director extraordinaire, just might be the inspiration you're looking for.

I was fortunate enough to be living in Britain when the original Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was first broadcast. This first version needed no animation, as it was a radio series broadcast on BBC Radio 4. It quickly gained cult status in Britain, and Douglas Adams was besieged by requests for the book.

Anyone who has followed the video gaming industry over the past twenty or thirty years has witnessed an incredible transformation. What was once a single blip and sliding bar is now a canvas of complex figures and complex story lines.

The boundaries of video animation are constantly being tested and redrawn. As cutting-edge technologies turn computers into virtual easels, artists and animators are able to produce some pretty incredible creations.

If you are a graphic design pro who feels like you haven’t found your place in the industry, listen up. As the realm of the graphic design field is wide, there are opportunities for you to ply your skills in several cool niches. The video game design industry is always looking for career minded professionals.

If you’re trying to jumpstart your video game design career, attending industry conferences like the Austin Game Conference is a good way to meet potential employers.

The video game manufacturer Rockstar has made a name for itself in the video game animation world through its “Grand Theft Auto” series. Notorious for its line-crossing computer animation, Rockstar is answering the call for better values in video-game animation.

Activist games teach people about global issues while they play. Because they are often distributed free over the Web, they can become a great avenue for exposure of emerging video game design graduates.

Microsoft is planning to enter the animation industry next year, making a successful Xbox game into a feature film. Microsoft’s feature 3D animation effort will no doubt add new elements to industry, just as the company’s presence has in every other of its markets.

At the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles in May, the annual mega-conference of the video game industry, old favorites and much-anticipated video game designs were showcased to fans and leaders of the industry.

The recent uproar over adult content in the popular video game "Grand Theft Auto" and the refusal of big retailers like Wal-Mart to stock games with adult content is creating a challenge for some video game designers.

It's a major transition period for the video game industry. All the major console producers (Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo) are launching their latest models. Video game users seem to be in a wait-and-see mode.

Although it's set in a distant country, with loud helicopters and dramatic music, Food Force isn't your average computer game. Designed for the United Nations, the game was created to get kids interested in solutions to world problems.

When you sit down to author a game or create aweb site, you have two basic software choices: Flash and Shockwave. Both provide comprehensive tools to do the job, but which one is right for your project? Here’s a side-by-side comparison of these two animation giants.

Having Flash animation training on your resume can go a long way in your career. You can apply your expertise as a Flash artist to a web design or animation studio job.

As businesses look for versatile answers to the challenge of recession, they’re throwing more money into their online presence. And with the use of hard-hitting web animation techniques, they may have found the solution. Macromedia Flash MX is opening the minds and wallets of even the most frugal buyers.

In the world of web animation, it truly is survival of the fittest. Either learn and use the most advanced animation techniques, or run the risk of becoming antiquated. Here are some of the latest techniques, as well as some basic suggestions on improving the quality of the web animations you produce.

Cell phones with video games and streaming broadcasts. Web cams with instant messaging service. These are just a couple of the exciting new places that Flash animation is headed in the coming years, and by the looks of things, this example of cutting edge technology has no plans to slow down any time soon.

For web developers, web animators, and marketing illustrators, Flash design is not only an essential skill, it’s a modus operandi for the industry. Don’t know Flash? No problem. Learn it online in a matter of months (and sometimes just weeks).

Web design is the fourth most popular industry for animators today. The world of internet animation is growing fast, offering a wealth of opportunity to a new kind of artist.

The popularity of interactive websites has led to a growing demand for skilled web designers. With training in web design, you can pursue fun, creative careers in web design that touch thousands each day.

With training in Flash technology, you will be a part of the massive movement in the web design and development industry.

During the last week I have looked at hundreds of commercial web site design firms - I'm doing some work for a PR and marketing company, who already has a web site, but it's rather pedestrian and they want to infuse some pizzazz into it. So as we often do work together, they asked me to throw some ideas for web design services into the arena.

As a graphic design artist, the impression that you give potential customers through the quality and impact of your own web site design, can mean the difference between success and obsolescence.

Because the web is evolving so quickly, a degree in web design and technology will help you to stay on top of the latest web technologies and design trends.