Im a senior in college majoring in animation so this is really helpful to hear, Im terrified of graduating and having to find a job. Right now I feel like I don't have any specialty since I have been mainly making things start to finish, that is the part that freaks me out, Im terrified of having to pick something and be really good at it versus being decent at everything but not GREAT at any one thing
I know your struggle, I'm living it right now ! xD I just graduated, i'm in an internship that ends in december and then I'll have to find a job, this is so stressful !
oh I'm terrified of that too. I do a bunch of everything and I'm always trying to be better in one area at a time. luckily everything in art can usually help you in other areas (if you storyboard, it'll help you with composition for backgrounds, etc.)! Glad you enjoyed, thanks for watching!
Same, I wasn't sure what I wanted my career to be but I started getting into art since high school (I've been drawing as a kid and made my own stuff, but I decided to take it more seriously around that time) so my first years where a mixture of general education and various art mediums at a community college. I narrowed down just recently to pursuing animation/illustration and transfer to a 4-year state university but that fear is real.
You're lucky to have the chance of study animation. I am finishing highschool and live in Peru, all my life i wanted to dedicate my life to animation and creating series. Now i don't know what to do
Same thing actually, only that i'm double majoring in Computer Science and Digital art. I tend to find being a generalist is great until someone pays you to be a specialist lol, but I guess the only way to be a specialist at something, is if you were a generalist doing it in the beginning no?
Im 15years old and my dream is to get a job in pixar animation studio. However, since there's so many jobs, it was difficult to figure out what kind of jobs in there exactly. Could you please make a video about jobs in animation studios? Thanks and love you❤️❤️ I think your video will help a lot of people to pursue their beautiful dreams❤️❤️❤️
That location thing was like the FIRST tip in the video and my mind is already blow. I'm located in VA and I always wondered if maybe that was hurting me and I think you answered that for me LOL I'm in love with your channel! I've been a long time follower in instagram but I stumbled here looking for advice and was not disappointed! thank you for all the awesome information
You have no idea how mutch of a help you r I just finished highschool and I really love art and it is thanks to you that I have the courage to decide to go to art School
Really love your tips and I thank you for them! It's so nice to hear someone say to do what you love without the need to push too much about what a portfolio should be for the art industry. Even if these requirements are needed, you put it in the best way. I live in a country where a job opportunity is difficult and even scarce. In here you have to be really skilled and make content you don't feel passionate about because that's literally what they have to offer. The only job offers I get is customer service whilst getting rejected at every company that is related or even closely related to Animation or Art in general lol. Financial situation on the sides, stuff can be a bummer. But as you say. Never give up :)
SO MANY GREAT TIPS!! Thank you so much for this video! Also, I'm from Virginia as well! It's really nice to know someone else from my area went all the way out west for the job!!! It's not every day you meet an animator from VA. This video has really inspired me to action; thank you again!
Thank you so much for putting videos like this on the internet for artists to find. Lots of us feel intimidated by trying to find places to apply, or being told that the animation industry doesn’t hire “just anybody.” These videos are not only helpful, they prove if we really want it we have just as much of a chance as everyone else does. I started school at the Art institutes, only to find out all the hopes and dreams they promised us and tempted us with were far from real. They were taking students tuition money and throwing it out the door, fellow students couldn’t afford to stay leaving without graduating and huge debts. I myself left because I couldn’t afford it anymore, figured it was best to do so before I had a pile of debt I could never pay off. That being said I felt like I missed out on ever getting into the industry. I want to work in animation, I also really want to work for Disney as a Imagineer. I want it bad enough that I still draw and I still design every day. Or at least try too. So thank you again for sharing your knowledge and experience with us. It means a lot!!!!
so glad it was helpful! I've heard a lot of bad stuff about the Art Institutes, sorry you had to go through that. I do know a couple people who went there and still managed to get a job in animation though! best of luck in becoming an Imagineer!!
I’m 12 idk y I’m watching this besides the fact that I’m determined to become a Disney animator too! U r so inspiring 😁👏 (This isn’t my normal RU-vid account so don’t judge my username 😂)
13, going to a college in a few months to ask about dual credits, and take animation classes. I’ve been learning about animation for 2 years, but can never teach myself how to use an animation software. Animation is something I truly want to do, and work towards.
I really needed to hear tip #4 today. Got some unfortunate news that I didn't get into an animation studio apprenticeship I really pined for today, and that can be demoralizing when you're trying to break into the industry. Still, giving up won't erase the pain of rejection. When in doubt, I'll keep drawing. Thanks, Laura.
Thanks for the video! I'm on the job hunt right now so while I was doing some of these, some are things I need to improve (eg. social media and portfolio) and some are things I need to start doing.
I would like to thank you for this video. My company hires ever now and again freelance artists like animators and modelers. Many people email us not knowing what to show and I send them this link. Thanks for the great video that has helped my tiny studio screen and help people. I hate rejecting people in harsh ways because they just don't know the protocol and your video is great to share with them. Thanks
Thank you for the tips. I got lost and began to not like drawing anymore because I was asked by my school to draw everything for a portfolio. The protfilo is horrible because I have one image of each kind of drawing from characters, objects and landscapes, ect. One if each. There is no order or focus. I don't even remember the last time I drew anything. My niece loves to draw too. She is 7 and she is drawing all day and night. I will help her keep that passion. Over the years I lost it because I was trying to do what im told not what my heart is saying. I wish to be like my niece again and draw what I enjoy.
OMG in my course we were not "forced" but we were scolded to buy our own URL & business cards (cries in broke student voice)... i wish i found your channel sooner 😭😭😭
I’m an 18 year old student from the UK and I’m about to go into university to do graphic design. It is also my dream to work at Pixar 🥰. Pixar films have been a huge inspiration to me through my life and my creative work. However, I don’t know what jobs exactly that I can search for in the area of graphic design after graduating, which I’m very passionate about. I know they do have editorial jobs but I’m not sure if it relates to design or animation, because I have huge interesting both areas 🤔.
So much good information. Especially the bit about job posts online even though they have already been filled. That was something I was really surprised to learn when I moved to L.A. but really helped change my perspective when it came to applying. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you, i really enjoyed this video. Im new to your channel and only just going into college. Anyway thanks for the video it’s really helpful and especially inspiring.
Hey Laura, thank you for sharing this!!! I’m actually looking for a job ans as you say, it’s super frustrating, especially since we dont have that much industry per se in Europe. We do have, yes, but it’s really hard to get in, especially for art development. Someone I knew a few weeks ago told me that normally people don’t usually post art jobs because they’d rather hire someone via recomendation so I would also add to your video that going to animation encounters and festivals makes you know people irl and that helps a lot when it comes to gaining contacts and for people to actually see your portfolio!!! I’ll be waiting for the portfolio video! :D
I loved this, especially the tip about changing your location on your resume. This is sort of off topic but I know you do quite a bit of fan art and I was wondering if you're allowed to do your own Disney fanart on your personal socials while working on a Disney show or if it's frowned upon because you are part of the company..?
yes! thank you! I can actually put up anything I want online, I've even put up Tangled fanart since working at Disney. I'm not under any contract and my social media isn't associated with Disney so I can do what I want! A lot of people working at Disney still do fanart including Disney fanart (I've seen a lot of duck tales fanart from disney artists haha).
That's so awesome to hear! I've been freelancing with Disney for a few years and got in a pickle with my website displaying Disney work so I'm always a little extra cautious (paranoid) about that sort of thing.
Im in highline now im going to be at disney too im working on my portfolio but wont start on my resume until next year my last year im only going to be in highline for 2 years im also staring on my internship job for animation
Wow this is amazing! Me and my brothers sometimes watch the show and we really enjoy the voices and definitely the animation! May i say you do have good skills!
Currently trying to transition into a new animation studio job and it's really putting a lot of stress on not only me but my family... I just hope I can get something soon! Also, just followed you on Twitter! :D Just discovered your videos and it's really helping me a lot! :)
I follow you and Mabel on Insta and now finally started following you here. I'm not looking for work in an animation studio but still great advice for what I do. Thank you.
I'm in my final year studying vfx and want to be a 3D modeler or texture artist in an animation studio come May. Super excited, but also super stressed
Thanks so much for this advice Laura!! I've been seriously considering working at an animation studio. Just one question. Do I HAVE to go to a university to work at a popular animation studio? Or are there other faster or cheaper options that won't take many years and put me into debt? I'm 19 and quite new to this industry
You do not need a degree to be considered for the job. Although, there are a lot of (still expensive but much cheaper than art schools/institutions or uni) online schools (e.g. CG Spectrum) that you can apply to which I personally think is much more of a better investment and much more flexible. At the end of the day, it's whether your portfolio reflects on your potential and whether you are suited for the job. It's also important to make sure you are easy to work with as it is said that they really look for personalities that are good to work with. Although, if you are planning to work overseas, having a degree really helps secure a visa. Although, uni will really help you with your work ethic and meeting deadlines and is a great way to network. You must consider wisely on what course to choose to (always always check the course outline and see whether it will help you towards your goals and visions).
What sort of attire would you recommend for an animation job interview? I hear the flow is completely different in creative positions in the animation and game development field.
Hi, I'm sorry if I'm asking too many questions, but I really want to pursue an art-related career; it's just that I haven't had a chance to think about it until recently. I've also never learned art from a school, academy, professor, etc; I'm self-taught. First, do you need an art degree to apply for those jobs? If so, how many? Does the 'the more the merrier' rule apply here as well? Would my academic scores matter, and would I need to go to an expensive school? Also, can I put fanart on my portfolio? I've been drawing for a long time, but 99% of my work is fanart and it kind of makes me worried. (Oh and is traditional art okay as well?) I have DeviantArt and Tumblr, and joining Twitter and Instagram as well could help me get more recognition, but I'm afraid it will make me spend too much time online; my mom already tells me I draw too much. Lastly, I recently turned seventeen; do you think it's too late or too early for me to think about a career? I'm not a legal adult and my mom tells me I have lots of time, but I can't shake off the anxiety that I have to achieve something soon. Thanks in advance. That was really long; it's okay if you don't want to answer. Have a good day!
Hi! I'm also self-taught, you don't need an art degree. Academic scores don't matter in the animation industry, you'll only need to submit a portfolio and resume with your job experience. But it's a difficult industry. I got a well-rounded college education first then applied to animation. It depends where your priorities are (I was a very academic kid). For your portfolio question I talk about this in my portfolio advice video here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-zMnnMs5BVTY.html if your mom tells you that you draw too much my advice is to ignore it. most 17 year olds just wanna play video games and party and stare at facebook. you're spending your time CREATING something! and that's awesome. if you find yourself spending too much time on social media, delete the apps from your phone and ONLY get online to post your new artwork. don't spend your time looking at other people's posts. you're only seventeen, which is WAY earlier than most people realize they want to work in animation. some people don't start til after age 30. you have all the time in the world! if it's your passion then just keep working on your artwork! even if you're in college or have a job, work on your artwork on the side all the time. that's what I did. and good luck!! thanks for watching!
Hello ! Thanks for this video, i'm still a first year student in 2D animation but i'm already wondering about how to apply for jobs etc... so it really helped me ! I just had a little question. I'm actually french but i don't want to work in France (for many reasons that i won't list because it would take too long) so i was wondering if even though i'm not a native english speaker, i could find a job in Canada or in the US. I wanted to know if employers reject people based on their nationality, even though i can speak fluently english ? Thank you for the help !
one of the character designers on my show is from France (and has a strong French accent)! he's awesome and lives here on a work visa with Disney. so definitely you can find work here from another country!
Alberto Mielgo has a word of wisdom about this , where says is a shame to lock an artist on just one art field. This i agree with him , it is sad to tell people to only “passion “ about just one art field , is a shame to the word “artist “
If your 12, then just keep drawing, learning and animating. Go to an art school after high school, and start applying bad soon as you come out. Hopefully you will make it, and please dont let other dreams distract you if animation is truly your main goal
awesome! what would also be great is a video on getting internships maybe? thanks so much andeverything in this vid was helpful! i submitted my applications for spring so hopefully i get a call back :)
Im going for computer animation (im pretty sure a lot if this still applies) and everything is still confusing, stressful and overwhelming. I honestly don’t even know where to begin
You normally don't have to go to college for it but many people suggest to go mostly because the portfolio tends to be improved a lot by teachers and such.
Thanks for the video! I'm still a highschool student, I go to art school and we're studying Adobe programs like Photoshop. But obviously I don't have a resume because I still didn't do any job. Where should I start to develop my skills and experience to fill my future portfolio?
I would love if you made a video about going to college for artist's (animation and illustrators) if this is really a necessity, especially for studios
hi! I'll probably make a video talking about that! I didn't go to an art school or even study animation or illustration, so spoilers: not a necessity :)
Hey Price, umm I'm a 3D Character Rigger so I was wondering if you got ideas where I could apply remotely for a job cuz I can't really move alot right now to work on-site thanks
@@animexanimationstudios8275 It's kinda hard to get yourself out there, especially that the animation industry is a competitive field and you're just starting out so it's kinda expected that you gotta sacrifice a bit in order to gain experience, even if they might not pay you accordingly.
@@animexanimationstudios8275 Yeah but it doesn't mean we should stop to find a way to make things a bit more bearable. Loads of freelancers today are doing it online so why not studio animators too? Thanks! Will do
Hi Laura, while I was watching the video I took the time to ask you this. What careers do you recommend to get involved in the animation or cinematography industry? Because I'm just going to start college and I'm doubting which careers I should study in order to apply in a recognized company in the industry of the anination, apart because I really like everything that has to do with design.
I’m thinking of going to a state college for computer animation even though I love 2d hand drawn animation better is this still the right direction? Would be open to suggestions
No. If you love 2d, go for 2d, not 3d. Me personally, I prefer 3D animation, and that's where I'd Like to work in, so I dont want to waste time trying to get into 3d when I'm not really interested.
Laura, when you talk about having different portfolios, I was wondering if you have them online and have different url's for them or if you just have a pdf document ready for any job offering that may be open in your area of interest (i.e. storyboard)?
Hey, I have a question about changing my location on my resume. Should I just put "Relocating to LA/NYC/etc. soon" or should I put a specific month like "Relocating to LA in July/August/September/ 2018" and change it every so often?
GalaxyUnicorn a lot of people just leave their location off their resume nowadays. If its an online form you are filling out just write "relocating to xxxxx"
Hey idk if anyone's gonna read this but my dream is to work at the Walt Disney Studios. I can, think of anything else and I made that choice 3 years ago. I'm 16 yrs old and live in Germany, but I don't exactly know what type of job I'd like to have😬I'd be very happy if someone here could help me out✨😊
Hi Laura. I have just discovered all of your videos and they are keeping me company while I work on animation fixes at work :) I was wondering how common it is for companies to hire people who aren't American and sponsor them? I feel like the effort it would take makes it impossible to get studios to consider it. I get really mixed answers for this questions so I'd love to hear your opinion. Thank you for taking the time to make such lovely videos ^^
thanks so much for watching! I'm not exactly sure of the answer to this myself. I have friends from other countries working at companies such as Sony Animation and Warner Brothers animation where the company sponsors their visa. but I also have extremely talented friends in other countries who can't seem to land a job here based on their location. I think companies shy away from having to sponsor a visa because it costs them thousands of dollars. it also kind of traps the artist into staying with that company. one of my friends worked for one animation studio then took an opportunity at another studio, so her sponsored visa expired and the new studio wouldn't pay for it, so she had to go back to her home country. but one of my other friends and his wife moved here from France and had sponsored visas from Dreamworks and now he works with me at Disney and he has a new sponsored visa from Disney. So I don't quite understand what companies look for before sponsoring a visa, but definitely extremely talented, practiced artists have a higher chance! I hope this helps at all!
Wow! This is a fantastic answer. I am going to look on the positive side and just keep practising and plugging away. Hopefully a studio will think 'what this place is missing is a nerdy Welsh girl who drinks too much coffee and can't see a dog without making 'aww' noises ' and then I'll jump at my chance. Thank you again for taking the time to make these lovely videos.
Hello! Could you please tell if it is possible to have an internship on Disney or other studio for a person from another country? I am a 2D animator. I live in Russia.
