I'm a strong believer in learning. One of the things I love most about blogging is all the research I do for my posts. The VFX and animation industry is forever changing and blossoming so it's only natural that we as artists and employees need to change and blossom with it. And that means staying educated.
There are so many ways to stay up to date with industry trends and technology and you don't have to go to a fancy school in order to gain the knowledge.
There are so many ways to educate yourself in this industry. It's a creative profession so you can often find your own way of interpreting what you learn.
DIY education tips -
- Online tutorials. They are free and you can watch as many times as you like.
- Books. They are so many animation books around that are written by legends of the industry. They are filled with tips and are also great to gain a different perspective. Tip - It's cheaper to buy them online.
- Set your own challenge. Pick a song or film dialogue and work on your own animation. Download a free rig and see what you can accomplish.
- Peer learning. What do your colleagues know? If your'e sitting next to an Animation Supervisor from Dreamworks then perhaps invite him to lunch or ask him a couple of industry questions.
- Local classes. A lot of local schools, agencies, software companies and studios run short courses or classes. They are often very affordable.
- Professionally run online classes. They are great because they target specific areas of animation and VFX. The tutorials are often after work hours and the knowledge and connections you gain are priceless. From $500- $2000 depending on what you want to do.
AFTRS (Sydney, Australia)
Animation Mentor (California)
AnimSchool (California)
Ianimate (California)
VFX Learning (London, UK)
