What is the Education Needed to Be a Animator?
Live action film has some stiff competition from animation. Technology has brought animation to the forefront of filmmaking and animated films are now strong contenders for Oscars. The skills needed to become an animator are multi-disciplinary. The education of an animator happens in a variety of ways.
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Identification
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Animation involves several tools. The hand is the ultimate tool that draws sketches of preliminary designs. Computer literacy is also required to be a strong animator. As a result of these two skill sets, animators come in many flavors. Graphic design, video imaging, computer programming and computer graphics are all degree plans that make a successful animator.
Time Frame
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Animators have a mix of education and actual experience that shape their careers. It is not uncommon for an animator to have an Associate's Degree in Applied Sciences or a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts. Some animators combine 2-year programs with animation workshops that keep them up to date on the latest trends. Still, other animators may invest in a Master's of Fine Arts to get a solid education background before entering the professional world.
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Benefits
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Animators can work in a variety of media, including film and television. They have access to voice actors that now include famous film stars. Some animators are lucky enough to work simultaneously in two media, such as television and print. Aaron McGruder started his education at the University of Maryland and his comic strip, The Boondocks, has been featured in many newspapers. It is also a successful television show. The strip has a legion of die-hard fans.
Warning
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All artistic endeavors start with raw talent. An artist may believe that she has all the talent needed to become successful without any formal education. While there are success stories of artists who start out with a dream and make it with no education, a formal education allows an artist's raw talent to elevate to the next level. Artists who feel stifled in one program should continue to search for a program that suits their needs.
Significance
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The formal education of animators will always enhance an existing skill set. Artists, for example, who learn how to recreate their drawings in digitized environment and program them to act with human emotions learn not only how to be better animators, but to express ideas in ways never before conceived.
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