How to break into the animation industry 

lol I just spammed my Resume everywhere, everyday for like six months while freelancing and eventually landed an animation internship, from there I just worked my way up and after a year I was interviewed for the head of the animation department position. I turned it down though and just settled for a lower animation position because head of the animation department would be way too stressful 😆 Love the videos, keep up the work and stay awesome 😁✌

I'm graduating in less than a month so this is extremely well timed!! My plan is to make a big batch of personal work, post on social media at least once a week, and take what I have to Lightbox this year. I want to go as ham as I can in talking to people and getting feedback on my work... I feel like I have a ways to go until I'm ready to break in, but I'm going to keep trying until I do.

I've been a 2D animator for over a decade now and I've had to cobble my hand-drawn animation knowledge together online mostly. I went to college for animation for a couple of years but I know that I learned most of what I now know from self-study afterwards. Videos like yours (thank you!!!!) and whatever other blogs or resources I could scratch together, or friends who are more advanced whose brains I could pick. I feel like there is not a good 2D school online like there is for 3D. As someone who is more advanced now, I yearn to learn more highly specialized skills, or even get with a mentor. When people want to learn 2D from the start, I send them on to your fantastic gumroad course, or aaron blaise's. But there isn't something for advanced animators looking to hone their craft. I got excited when you talked about some non-traditional-school courses....only to find it's mostly concept art/painting and 3D animation. No one out there seems to be TEACHING 2D in the way they teach 3D. Your courses are invaluable for those wanting to jump in. I just wish there were an online school like animationmentor.....but for 2D folks.

I’ve been at it for over five years now. I gave up trying to get into the industry, but I still do work on my portfolio just because I love making my ideas come to life. My school wasn’t the greatest, I got great grades but graduated with a portfolio that just was not to industry standards for a internship or “entry” level gig (those usually require 3 to 5 yrs experience from the jump). The one place I got an internship at, paid me, but it wasn’t an internship. I was just a bus boy, running food & laundry errands for the studio artists. Plus I was literally told before I graduated, that because of my racial & ethnic background, I might want to think about making my own company. It’s funny to, because in 2017 when I graduated, a paper came out expressing that certain youth of a particular group, were having a hard time getting jobs in certain fields because of a lack of “connections” & recruiters not being able to “relate” to such applicants. At least my teachers were honest.

I like when Toniko Pantoja start talking the "do not do this" ( around 11:52 ) the character looks complaining

you do that big arcing head-swivel motion when your characters change emotions or are about to act. It's like a very specific movement you do with almost all your character's heads and it's like a tell for your work.

I might still have two years of studying ahead of me but I need to prepare a portfolio for an internship in the fourth semester and these advises are really helpful. You hear from people landing a job easily through networking and others having to write thousands of applications. Thank you a lot for sharing your experiences and tips with us. I feel like in the end it is most important to get a foot in the door and from then on learn as much as possible from actually working in the animation pipeline and I find this is what most universities do not prepare us for enough. So I am most grateful for channels like yours giving constructive input and sharing experiences and knowledge. This input helped me a lot focusing on what to improve and what to work on to be best prepared for the industry. You are as much a teacher as my professors are!

Wait, so using a crowbar isn't how you break into the animation industry? That explains the police and terrified screaming.

I went to my first convention (CTN) in November of 2021. Met so many cool people and now Im going back to see them again and hopefully make some more connections!

1. Get good. 2. Punch walls of studios with bare hands until someone notice you and help you to get actually good

Hey Toniko, just wanted to say thanks again for your input and guidance in learning how to animate and working in the animation industry. I haven't been able to watch all the videos you posted this year thanks to school, but I'm extremely grateful for it and the work you've done on your channel and in the industry, as it gives hope and better direction for those of us aspiring to this field. Thanks again, and keep up the videos and care for yourself.

You're giving all this great advice, meanwhile I'm just enjoying the dragon animation going on. Love to see it.

Just the video I needed. In the phase of looking for internships

I am working on learning animation now, started with the basics of the basics, the bouncing ball animation. I am having fun learning and am not yet thinking too much about breaking into the industry as i am so new to animation and have little skill to show. But it's fun for me and i am hoping to eventually, one day, make an animated movie (s) featuring one (or more) of the stories i have written myself. I am overall interested in several creative fields, so i am self learning a few other things as well ☺️ good luck with your projects and dreams/goals, everyone!

nice, came here right as it uploaded! Always good to see your work :)

Like this inspiration, I started making animation but eventually derailed to animating mechanicals references, engineering construction animations, and I’m also trying to dig into cosmetic surgery animations

Honestly just graduated with my associates in animation and its been difficult looking for internships

This is actually useful. Thanks.

Thank you Toniko!!!!

Awesome!

Tanks tonico

Its good how you talk right about everyone's most relatable view

Hey Toniko, I've recently graduated from college with an animation degree but I didn't have the time to enter internships and I fear my portfolio is lacking. Do you have any advice on where I should look to gain experience. Maybe even directions on how to find collaborative projects?

Hi Toniko. First off I'm a huge fan of you and I learned so much from you. I was thinking about the whole builidng connections. Unfortantly I don't do well in a tradtional school setting. I am somebody who is a hands on learner and can benifit from a mentorship. The whole workshop thing sounds very appealing to me to build up a good portfolio. Any good workshop classes to help me out tht you can reccomend?

I'm soon going to immigrate in America and dream of working as an animator, this video help me have broader view

What was the Eurpean animation event mentioned?

I'm going to apply for the best film (and animation) school in my country. Reply to this comment in 3 ish years to see if I did it or not!

Can you tell me where I can watch the full version of your animation or studio project

Side note, could you please make a video on how you create your style of videos, and how do you store so much video footage of your work and some tips on remembering to record it or something lol

What classes did you take at Cal arts ?

Does anyone know how to find out about Reanimated collabs? I always hear about them after the artists have all been chosen. Is there a certain website/account that usually advertises these things?

.... So, 'Rock & Rule Reanimated' project when? 👀

I always dream of becoming an animator for Disney. Can anyone tell me pls what will be the best step to start🤲🏻

If people have done work that's under NDA, doesn't it mean that they've already broken into the industry? 🤨🤔

Would you say it’s worth taking a class / technically being a student to get access to internships? All of the ones I see need you to be in school, but I’m going more of a workshop / self-taught route

does anyone have any tips for the UK?

I wonder if I have potential? I'd LOVE to work in animation.

what animating applications could you recommend for a 16 year old wanting to try animate again after a few years? i dont want to "break into the industry" but instead i want a start before i consider entering an animation or art college.. thanks!

Good vid, it's all about connections and ass kissing

Hey I know jobs are in the bigger states like New York or California but to you know a way for me to look up events in my area I live in TN right now

im conflicted about the art degree discussion. I went to collage… but never used anything I learned in my real art job. I basically had to start from scratch after getting the job… so, I don’t know if just making a youtube/portfolio page and going at it is more useful than getting into massive debt for something u might end up regretting later

Dapat sinunod ko na lang yung sinabi ng tropa ko na gawin na lang ang "animation as a hobby". ang trabahong ito ay hindi pang may pamilya.

RIP to all the people that graduated art school during the pandemic so no connections were made :_(

Still hiring??😲

XD "Bullsheto"

You truly understand that this guy doesn’t give a damn about his subscribers when you hear “anyways that’s all bye” all of a sudden and an ad starts playing

That's the "bloody sacrifice" choice all artists face. Fullmetal Alchemist kind of choice. Join a huge soulless group of people who can give you power but will demand a lot in return. Most likely all your life. Or stay safe but never match the masters because the knowledge is kept in secret and no one would share it to prevent rivals among the non-leashed artists. Animation is the kind of slavery that created pyramids back then in Egypt. Become a part of the machine that builds something all the world will notice or go build a sand-castle at the beach that won't survive 1 tidal wave, no matter how beautiful it is. I tell you, it's a very difficult choice, not obvious at all. Of course I'm the sand-castle type. I know I wouldn't be able to blindly jump into that cruel system of giant cogs that never stop but destroy all elements that don't work in sync with the rest. I'd sacrifice a lot for the top skill but not anything. Not everything else. But I definitely can't say it's the wrong way. Seeing the masterpieces of Disney, Dreamworks, Don Bluth, Miyazaki, Sinkai etc I know it was worth it. Even if it destroyed many lives... it was worth it. Lives pass anyway. Masterpieces stay forever.

Flipaclip is easier, and slower