How hard is it really?

The Pixar Studio & People
#21

Looks like everyone’s summed it up already but I’ve throw in my bit.

You’re definitely on the right track if you stay true to your dreams.

Keys:
Do your research- Get as familiar as possible with what it takes to be a storyboard artist, inside and out.

Networking- When it comes to standing out, a familiar face/name will carry you farther than you would on your own two feet. Make sure your rep is in good standing as well. It’s almost like having a backstage pass when you’ve got valuable/multiple connections.

Stay focused -Don’t let depressions, or the craziness of the high school/ college crossover break you down, but instead open your eyes to other options, which includes a back up plan.

I made up my mind that I wanted to be a character animator when I was around 14-15 and I’ve been on an optimistic road since then. Like you, I too have a dream school i couldn’t afford right outta high school, but I settled for what was given to me, because it was better than nothing. The school I’m at has an animation program, but unfortunately the program sucks, instead I’m taking drawing classes that’ll help me fine tune fundamentals I missed out in high school.

For instance, I’m taking life drawing for the first time this semester, because as a character animator you need to know how the body works, how body parts relate to one another when positioned a certain way, which then carries over to movement/gestures/timing, etc.

I’m also taking an acting class, because when you think about it character animators are actors. I may not need to know everything i’m being taught in that class, but I know I will have a better sense of conveying emotion through once again…movement.

I’m not gonna sit here and tell my whole life story but I also have a backup plan, I have an equal passion for music and play a few instruments and even DJ’ed a little, so if animation didn’t work out I would probably be a music producer. There’s more to that back up plan but I’m just giving you an idea.

To sum this all up, I’m making something out of whatever’s given to me.

:mrgreen:

#22

I was told by a professor at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh that working for Pixar is like the NBA of animation. And that stuck with me. Ill do whatever it takes to get that job placement that the 1,000 people are dying for, ill do what i have to to set myself apart from them to get that job. Its not a matter of if il get the pixar job, its a matter of when. I WILL work for pixar and ill do whatever it takes to do so.

Im not big headed or anything, i just have the ambition to get that “dream” job ive been longing for, for years. Im excited.

#23

Amen :smiley:

Oh yeah! I should also take some classes on that too. TY for mentioning that!

#24

Amen to your amen. There’s definitely no chance that I will work for Pixar if I give up now because it’s too competitive. It’s all or nothing.

For me, I would love to become a story artist. I enjoy drawing, but I honestly don’t think I’m cut out to be a professional animator (although I would love to do some of my own independent animation). I’m in the early stages of applying to Cal Arts’ character animation program, either for 2010 or 2011. I’m practicing my drawing, my character designs, and spending a ton of time on stories. I guess something else I could work on is collaborating with others and acting/public speaking.

P.S. Life drawing is EXTREMELY important if you want to become a skilled animator, story artist, and even just a general draftsman. I highly recommend you find a figure drawing course at your school, at a local art center/community college, or draw strangers (clothed, obviously).

#25

Yeah, I tried drawing people at school or on the street, but then like every two seconds they move.
So I draw from these.

youtube.com/watch?v=vHX8jezNBTk
youtube.com/watch?v=xYfmBLH894A

Lol. But luckily, I’m going on a trip in March, and we go by plane, so there will be lots of things for me to draw, especially sleeping people, XD XD.

HAHAHA

#26

Is taking a Life Drawing class the same as simply drawing other people? I’ve looked into taking a life drawing class, but all the ones I’ve found have the nude models, and to be frank there are things I really don’t feel like staring at for and hour or so. So, will a class really benfit me all that much more?

#27

DocKenobi: Yes, drawing nude people may not be at the top of your list of things to do. Sure wasn’t on mine! But it IS beneficial. I took a figure drawing class last semester. You can better see and understand the underlying structure of the human figure — from skeletal to muscle, fat, and skin. And those things you don’t want to be staring at for hours, you really don’t stare at them. Focus is else where.

#28

Yeah, i was told that when i attent the Art Institute of Pittsburgh i will be drawing nude people… Old nude people.

Yea, it may be gross, but with the definition in skin and wrinkles and whatnot, its def. going to help me grasp change.

#29

OH MY GOD… :open_mouth:

Yeeaah… I think I’ll major in Illustration where you don’t have to see that kind of stuff…

I understand how it helps you, with what you said, skin, muscle, fat, but it reminds me of the time where I got stuck at art class until 6 because my mom was in traffic, and it was Tuesday. They draw, quote “old nude people.”
My art teacher asked me if I wanted to try, so I was all like… um ok??..
:shake:
People who are able to draw them with their minds somewhere else never cease to amaze me. Maybe I got like gymnophobia or something…

But the “closest” thing to figure drawing, to me, was drawing my classmates and other random people. I even drew a picture of the teacher sleeping while we were watching a movie. XD XD XD XD XD So that actually really helped :laughing:

But on the first topic… lol

Yes, it is very competitive, even for just trying to get an internship. But unlike colleges or stuff like that, isn’t it that you can just try and try and try again to get a job there? Because it’s not like you have only however many chances, and then afterwards, they will just ignore you?
At least they’re not like Google, where they get like billions of tons of applications every day :open_mouth: . If Pixar were as bad, or should I say good, as that, then it’d be almost impossible to land a job there.
But well yeah, obviously, if ANY one of us gives up, then there really is no chance for us.
But to me, it’s kind of like an Olympics race or something, you’ve come this far, are you going to give up now and try again four years later, or are you gonna win this time and “get it over with.”

#30

Depending on what requirements a college has for the major, you may very well have to take a figure drawing class. They do at mine.

It isn’t too hard. It does take awhile to get used to the fact that you are drawing nude people, but after that, it’s easy to just focus on other parts of the body that you are drawing, like head and arms, and forget about anything else.

Exactly. If you give, it guarantees that you won’t get into Pixar. But if you keep trying, there is still a chance!

#31

Getting a job at Pixar can be hard, but if you have the right skills and mind set, it shouldn’t be a challenge because they’ll recognize you, although connections wouldn’t hurt either…
Although there’s a lot of knowlegde on the internet from Pixarians, industry insiders and fans alike, I would rather not list the immense amount of resources you can find because threads like these pop up so frequently I’d rather not type it up over and over. With that said, I think contributing this video might help prospective Pixarians like you and I very much on their endeavors. It’s great advice straight from the Dean of the in-house Pixar University, Randy S. Nelson:
edutopia.org/randy-nelson-sc … reer-video
Enjoy and I hope you get much out of this even if Pixar isn’t your goal! :smiley:

#32

Thanks martini833, that is a very good video. I would definitely suggest everyone watching it. It’s only just under 10 minutes long, and provides a good understanding of ‘the PIXAR way’.

  • C-3PO
#33

Wow! That was a very helpful video.

Great find martini833!

#34

Hey Roflcoptinator i am in the same situation as you except i am 12 and if i am not excepted into pixar then i would try disney or blue sky but i am really hoping pixar lets me in. Like Dory always says " just keep drawing, just keep drawing"

#35

Hahaha! Thats gonna stick with me!

Yeah, same here, except I’ll only try Disney, and then transfer to Pixar later, XD

UH OH… I just realized something

What will I do for the time after I’m out of college and Pixar doesn’t accept me right away?

From their website:

Also,

Oh…dear

#36

Well, I would take that time as an opportunity to build an even stronger resumé/portfolio of work. The more time you have, the better. Then once you do get to PIXAR, you will be an even better artist than if you had been accepted right away.

Maybe you could take some extra art classes just to make sure that you have as many skills as possible for when you get there. While you’re waiting, you could even try to familiarize yourself with some of the other jobs at PIXAR, like take a basic course on computer animation, or production design, etc… It wouldn’t hurt, and would make communicating with your future employees all that much easier!

  • C-3PO
#37

Looks like ill have to have one heck of a resume!

Do you have to include a demo reel with your resume’s?

#38

^ It depends on what you’re doing. Definitely yes if you’re going to be an animator.

It doesn’t matter. If Pixar doesn’t accept you right after graduation (or you don’t get an internship there), find a job somewhere else and keep applying to Pixar in the meantime! This isn’t college; they want to find the best filmmakers for their studio. =)

#39

Thanks, thats what i figured, id take any job with them i could get, even janitor. :stuck_out_tongue:

#40

Roflcoptinator i feel just the same way I’m 17 and all I wanted to do since I first saw The Incredibles when I was 13 is to draw and to work at Pixar! I mean there aren’t even words for how much I would want to work there!

Just wanted to say that you still have lots of things that are positive! Just try looking at those more then the negative stuff because then everything seems impossible! I mean I live in Sweden, and I’m guessing you live in USA. That’s one good thing, that I don’t have working for me ;D

Just keep doing what you love and eventually the Pixar people will see that too!