Help with gaming/animation career!

CaptainAwesemus · May 2010

Hey guys,

My name is Saxon and I am a long time gaming and animation enthusiast from Australia. I am a graduating student this year and the reason I am posting this here is that I have started to look ahead to my career and study options in the coming years.

I am wondering what kind of study course anyone might suggest? I am sure that people here would know stacks more than I do. Go for scholarships overseas? Courses online? What kinds of skills and experience does a professional company see valuable if thats what I want to work towards?

I know this is a difficult situation, but I am still torn between the world of gaming and film (compare: Pixar vs Bungie) and whether I want to do animation or modelling. Im an avid lover of animation in particular, and games in particular. But its a very difficult thing to distinguish for me. What do people think of courses like Animation Mentor? I would really appreciate any advice or suggestions that you might have!!

Thanks in advance everyone!

Saxon

DerDude · May 2010

i was in the same situation like you, i did alot of modeling/mapping/texturing and also animated/rigged in a small company, i could imagine being a modeller or an animator. But i really wanted to do one thing "good", not 5 things "ok".

In the end the "luck" decide which way i choose, becoming an animator. I really enjoy it, so i decided to do the next step and start animation mentor, which challenge my time-management because i work fulltime at my current company. The thing is, everything told you how awesome animation mentor is, but you have to experience it, before that that´s just words. I think AM was one of the best decisions i have done in my career. And i´m in the first term. Also there is alot of networking in the AM-world.

JacqueChoi · May 2010

I'm not an animator, and I never took Animation Mentor, but the animators I work with who underwent AM are superstars.

Vancouver Film School is also seems to be a very solid school for animation.

But as with learning anything, it's less about the school, and more you put into it.

Andreas · May 2010

Hi Cap;

I would suggest animation simply for the reason that there is so many modellers, but to be honest, I don't see many animation jobs out there these days, dunno why. That will probably be different by the time you are ready to look for work. But I think I see a little too much love for animation in that post of yours, so I say go for animation

Can't help you with picking a college however, maybe some of the aussies on here will be able to suggest somewhere. Make sure you get a degree anyway, doesn't matter if its in animation or marine microbiology or whatever, because you need one to legally work outside of oz.

Hey Der, a few questions for ya. How much is that 16K gonna get ya with animation mentor? Does it bring you from fundementals up to acting scenes, or is it split into two or three programs and it's 16K a pop? Also, put some of your work on the blog, I wanna see

CaptainAwesemus · May 2010

Guys, thanks for your awesome advice - Der, its great to hear from someone who is already undergoing Animation Mentor. Ive followed it up and talked to a bunch of relevent lectures and sent off a few emails and they all seem to agree that Animation Mentor is a good, though somewhat life consuming, study option.

ONE piece of advice I did get from them was to do a course at TAFE (Technical and Further Education; a University alternative for us here in Oz) first so I have foundation knowledge in order to get the most out of AM. As one of them put it: 'Its great getting critics from Pixar, but you really dont need it if you're just making a ball bounce' and I can see his point.

@Blenderhead, thanks mate I appreciate your advice. Animation Mentor definitely seems to be what Im leaning towards, but if its not too much to ask can you look at this course and tell me if its something worth doing? Its not a degree, its an 'advanced diploma' although it does offer the bonus option of lettin you go to Uni the year after you finish to complete the final year of a Bachelor of Creative Arts, maybe that would be worth it... But see I dont know, how much do credentials count for in this industry? Is it all demo-reel and portfolio or would a degree really help me out here?

The TAFE course link is here:
http://www.courses.tafesa.edu.au/xml/course/aw/aw_HGZ.aspx

naturon · May 2010

Wow man my mind was just blown, my name is Saxon, I'm from Australia as well ! and I've been in the games industry for 2 and a half years. I did the Cerv IV in 3D animation and modelling at Enmore Design in Sydney. I'd recommend it if your looking for a fast tracked way of learning the basics and are an effective self studier based around a school framework.
It got me my job at Team Bondi where i worked for 2 years so I guess I can't complain too much also alot of friends i made there are now working at Dr D and Animal Logic, I think it's all about how much work you put in and the people around you.
Good luck mate ...
haha weird its like talking to a younger self

Flynny · Jun 2010

Do animation Mentor, the people ive seen coming out of that school are way better for it, technically and peer wise.

But 1st you really need to decide which role you want to do.

Help with gaming/animation career!

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