queen_of_painting: Yeah, finding a balance can be hard. I usually find myself working late late nights and I end up forgetting to eat… heh Sometimes I think I’ve found a balance and then it all gets out of whack again! haha
My school has a decent animation program. It’s nothing fancy, but I’m learning a lot of the basics. It does get to be a bit technical, especially at first when learning a computer animation program. So many buttons to press! I use Maya at school. You can get a free 13 month student license from the Autodesk website. I know a couple people who use Blender, which is a free program that I believe is compatible with Macs.
Haha, and I’m gonna come in and totally break your conversation. Sorry.
If I were ever to get a job at Pixar (or any other animation studio…), I would definitely want to work alongside the music composers. Just… thinking about writing music and watching it unfold in a giant recording studio sends chills right up my spine. I have cried while listening to some of these composer’s scores (not just Pixar composers, mind you), and that is what confirmed it for me.
Now, I have really been considering Cal Arts for college, but from what I have read, the audition for their music program is intense. It kind of intimidates me, actually.
But I know that I can touch people with a job like that. It has touched me in so many ways, and I want to be able to do the same for everyone else. That’s why I want to become a composer… even though I have heard it is just as stressful as animating at times.
DaughterofEve, that’s really cool! I love hearing about people having a passion for their art/knowledge to the point that it can have that strong of an effect on them.
I can see the technical aspects for both computer and hand-drawn animation, and it frightens me because I’ve never been a technical person. I don’t like to draw with rulers and all that. That’s really why I’m more interested in being a story artist. I like to draw, I like developing characters… it makes sense to me. I’m not giving up on animation itself but it’ll be a hurdle for me, that’s for sure. Even though I took that animation course around 5 years ago, I still remember and miss that feeling of being absorbed in something of my own creation. One of my favorite types of animation was charcoal, which is totally up my alley.
I’m going to guess that you attend MCAD, and you don’t have to answer that if you want to keep that private, but I just wanted to mention that one of my friends goes there! Thanks for the info, by the way. I’m kind of bored during winter break, so I’ve been cooking a lot, but that leaves me constantly cleaning the kitchen and having a very full stomach. I want something better to do with my time besides that and watching movies, haha. Like animation!
Sorry I’m talking so much. It’s just very rare that I meet other people face-to-face who are interested in animation on this level.
Daughter of Eve: Haha. Totally fine! Wow, that’s really great how passionate you are! Never underestimate passion. It will take you far. The music program may be intense, but look it as a challenge; something to get you closer to your dream! Never give up on it!
queen_of_painting: I can understand how the technical aspects can be frightening. I get intimidated by them at times. Overcoming that is really rewarding though. I hope you’ll be able to jump over that hurdle too! And you’re welcome! No need to apologize! I quite enjoy talking animation!
I am actually an animator, and have been for as long as I can remember. I’ve applied to Pixar already, but got rejected. I’m still trying to get in though. You’ll never see me give up!
i’m actually more interested in score and music composition as well as sound design.
but i wouldn’t mind animating or modeling either (i already do that stuff anyways [even though i don’t do it professionally]).
I would love to be an animator or modeller
(but probably more an animator)
The school I go to offers only two animation classes (alternating spring/fall semesters); one for flash animation, and one for maya.
Our maya professor really knows her stuff, and as I’m one of only 2 computer animation majors on the entire campus, I have to resit the same maya class repeatedly, to continue to be coached by the awesome professor, and work on our long-term animation projects
Hm, I would not mind being a sculptor either, I have done a lot of work with clays, waxes, resins and metal… as well as some costume making… it’s tough trying to concentrate on specifically animation when your school has a very broad artistic program.
Sorry.
