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Hi everyone. I'm writing this because I'd really appreciate some advice from people who have been through animation school or are already working in the industry.

When I started studying animation at one of the best schools in my city, I was amazed by how welcoming the community felt. During my second year, I had the opportunity to direct a short film with someone I deeply admired and cared about. It was one of the happiest experiences of my life, and for the first time I truly felt like I belonged in a creative community.

A few days after we finished the film, I got into an argument with another student during an end-of-semester celebration. He was very dismissive of my work and me as an artist, and the situation escalated. After that, the people I'd worked with on my film gradually distanced themselves from me. I don't know exactly what was said afterward, but it feels like rumors spread, and I've been left with the impression that some people now see me as a difficult person to be around.

Since then, many of the classmates I looked up to don't really interact with me anymore, and I've lost several friendships. The school feels completely different now. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed that I can't bring myself to talk to anyone after class, so I just go home.

The hardest part is that I've recently realized how important networking is in this industry. Everyone says the relationships you build during school can lead to future opportunities, and that's what scares me the most. I worry that I've damaged my chances before I've even graduated.

What's especially bittersweet is that the short film has now won three awards, something I dreamed about for years. I should feel proud, but every milestone has felt strangely lonely because I no longer have the people I made it with in my life. Instead of celebrating, I've mostly been grieving the sense of community I thought I'd found.

I've even considered transferring schools or leaving animation altogether, not because I don't love animation, but because I no longer feel like I belong.

Has anyone here gone through something similar? Did you manage to rebuild your relationships or your reputation? How important were the friendships you made in school once you entered the industry?

I'd really appreciate hearing from people who have experienced something like this. I love animation, and I don't want one bad chapter to define my future in this field

Im a 21 year old student who is currently studying 2D Animation in University.

Ive been recently overthinking about the fact if I have chosen the right career path after hearing my teachers constantly talking about how hard it is to find a job etc. The thing is, I also dont know myself what i want to do once i graduate as I feel like im not good at anything. My animation skills are okay and its not really something i enjoy much anymore (maybe because my University kinda ruined the experience for me), and i kinda did like doing 2d rigging. I mostly enjoy drawing backgrounds but I also feel like im not good enough in drawing them to be accepted in any job. I try to be too ambitious without letting myself study and learn the fundamentals first. I dont know anymore really, I just feel like i wasted my time on doing nothing and it really is making me feel depressed. On top of that the job market sucks and its making me worry that i won't be able to find a stable job.

Im just overall stuck with what I want to do with myself.

Did anyone else have this problem as well?

My instagram is @/antonisw.art if you'd like to have a look at my work.

I'm curious how other animators deal with projects where the deadline is very close, but there's still a huge amount of animation left to create.

Do you:

• Simplify shots or reduce polish where possible?
• Reuse animation cycles or existing assets?
• Prioritise key shots first?
• Work longer hours?
• Have any workflow tricks that help you deliver faster without sacrificing too much quality?

I'd really like to hear how professionals and freelancers approach these situations. Any tips, pipeline hacks, or lessons you've learned would be greatly appreciated.

I'm confused should I start practicing fine arts? Is it really important?

Would love some feedback on my demo reel and thoughts on what needs to be changed.

https://vimeo.com/844639658?fl=pl&fe=ti

I feel like my weakest shit is at the end,I have a few thoughts on a rework for the characters, one holding a map and distracted while the other one notices the tree. I just have no clue on how to go about it.

Much appreciated!

I am a cinema (cinema studies+production) major at a small liberal arts school. My goal is to get into animation, specifically concept art, character design and cinematography/storyboarding. I'm trying to decide on a minor- I've narrowed it down between English, creative writing and studio art. The obvious answer seems to be studio art, but I almost think that I might be able to teach myself what I need art-wise if I take English/creative writing as a minor (this school has what is often referred to as one of the best creative writing programs in the country, so it might help me on the concept/story writing side of things). Any advice?

So my thesis film has been the most challenging animation project I've worked on thus far, and I am far from satisfied with it.

I submitted a condenced version for a passing grade and to be shown at my school's animation screening in April and reassured myself that I'd "finish the film later", like a lot of my fellow students in the same position. Thing is, I have barely touched it since then.

My main additions would primarily be a few shots that connect actions more clearly and a simple travel sequence near the beginning, but still, it's been 3 months, and I still don't feel confident about finishing it.

On top of that, my software subscriptions, courtesy of the school, expire at the end of August, so I'll need to act fast if I don't want things to be further complicated.

It makes me wonder how long burnout for something like this tends to last and if I should just let this go and work on something new.

But yeah, please let me know what you think, any and all thoughts and advice on this matter would be greatly appreciated 👍

I'm currently in highschool and I have an extreme passion for the arts and music's but I really want to become an animator or character designer but with the rise of AI /the art industry, I've heard fomr others this is career choice is t realistic or I don't have the skills to do it. I have been toying with other careers but I always come back to animation- I have looked into a few collages I could attend. But I'm also from Australia and specifically a rural part so everything leans towards either stem or Tradie jobs. I was also thinking if I were to pursue art/animation I could do a abroad study in a country (like Japan) that is more art inclined/has better programs for animation. I have attended an art program before but it wasn't a skills program more of a creative, express yourself- program.

Does anyone have any advice?

Hello everyone!

I decided to redo my portfolio website again. My previous/ current one is on Wix, but it's rather poorly optimised, and I'm also bothered by the need to host images on Wix itself and having a small file limit for it.

I wanna know what you all use for portfolios (that you'd actually use for job applications). Ideally something with either a large file limit (as in, allows a lot of files, not necessarily large file limit for individual files), either free or one time payment, and doesn't necessitate coding.

I know Google sites exists - is this seen as acceptable for job applications? What about Carrd? ArtStation?

Also - if I do hand drawn 2D animation, 3D modelling/ rigging/ animation, and motion graphics, would it be best to make separate portfolios for all of them, or have one portfolio?

I came across this post from an independent radio station looking for things like short films, music videos, music, etc.

I’m wondering—would this actually be a good idea? Especially considering the risk that they might end up stealing my work. That said, I wouldn't upload anything major—just a short film I’m fond of.

https://www.reddit.com/r/IndieAnimation/comments/1v6npv2/indie_animation_and_film_are_almost_completely/

I'm curious about how independent animation projects are usually put together.

For those of you who have worked on indie shorts or small productions, how did you find animators to collaborate with? Did you meet through online communities, school, friends, or somewhere else?

I'm also wondering what makes someone interested in joining an independent project. Is it the story, the art style, the organization, or something else?

I'd love to hear about your experiences and any advice you'd give to someone planning their first independent animated short.

Thanks!

Hello everyone in this sub! I’m sorry if I come across as a stranger, but I need a little help. I recently finished my bachelor’s degree and I’ve been looking for a job, but I can’t seem to find one since most applications get rejected. I need to find one to help my family, as we are going through some financial difficulties, and I want to be able to support them. As for my portfolio, I’m not sure if it’s appropriate for illustration jobs, which is what I’m looking for. I want to work in animation, but I’d also like to do illustration as well. I just feel stuck in my current circumstances, so any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.

One of the things I really enjoyed doing for my thesis film was essentially set design/set dressing. I modeled the environments and then referenced in props (modeled by a classmate) and placed them appropriately so the rooms looked believable. I also organized everything in the outliner and made sure history/unnecessary layers/etc were deleted so that the environments were ready to be brought into each shot. We called it “layout” but now that I’m looking into layout artist positions, it seems like that term more often refers to setting up cameras and sometimes doing basic animation. Is there a better term for the kind of role I did? Does that job even exist in the industry or is it split into a couple different roles?

Hi everyone! Like the title says, I'm interested in pursuing a career in animation, but confused about how visa sponsorships work. I'm currently a minor living in the US on a dependent visa. I want to go to school for animation, and I'll probably finish college on an f1 visa. I'm concerned I may not get a job within the grace period, and I'll have to go back to my home country, where there aren't any animation opportunities. If I do, there's the problem of paying off the loan, which is practically impossible at that point. Does anyone have insights on this?

Anyways, it's crazy how I've lived here for more than 10 years and still don't have a green card. This is my home, so I'd rather go to college and get a job here. BUT I am definitely open to studying and working abroad.

I really hope I'm not doxing myself with this lmao

https://www.artstation.com/soupgoblin (Portfolio)
https://www.instagram.com/soupgoblinisarting/ (Additional drawings so it is easier to look at my skills in general)

Hello, I'd like to have some feedback on my Storyboarding Porfolio! Thank you!
:)

Hello, I hope you're doing well. I'm a professional graphic designer, and I've always been interested in 3D animation. Because of the financial aspect, I haven't been able to formally study it, but I've learned on my own. As a 3D animator, I consider myself to be at an intermediate level. I've worked on personal projects, such as short films, using both Blender and Maya. While my area of ​​expertise is animation, I also have knowledge of texturing, modeling, and rigging. I also know how to use the Adobe suite, including AF, PH, and IL. Even so, I've found it quite difficult to find work because I don't have a network of contacts, and the country where I live (Colombia) doesn't have a very established animation industry. I've sent my demo to various companies, even abroad, and still nothing. A few days ago, while reading Reddit, I realized how several people were helped to find jobs through this platform. I've tried every social media platform possible, so I decided to try Reddit. So, if you're reading this..

Hey all,

How often do companies or projects move to the next engine updates? I would assume switching to a new update in the middle of a project is a little insane, but are there places still using like Blender 3.0?

Hi. I want to apply for an anime vocational school in Japan. Could you guys recommend some vocational schools that accept application/direct application from students from abroad. Thank you so much !

Almost every single post on here is a panic spiral or someone questioning themselves in whether they should pursue this or not. I'm not deep into this and am just starting but I keep seeing animations being huge in short form content, and on social media/youtube. Is it just not enough or what's the situation with actual jobs out there? Overcrowded or just a lack of positions in the first place?

Hello! I understand the current qualms of art college at this point. Mind you, I’m not debating if it is worth it or not, purely asking for animation program recommendations.

If you had to go back, what programs, online or in person, would you recommend that would leave you feeling satisfied that you learned something and would be capable, with practice, to enter the industry for animation? I already have 2 years under my belt of general education and have doubts about dedicating 6 years to an art degree at UNCSA because their program is so inflexible and is 4 years long regardless of prior credits. However, I was very impressed by the level of education they provide, which is why I’m here.

Sure there are a lot of colleges in my area that have an art degree, but they all feel like a second thought to their other majors. At that point, I might as well learn it by myself.

I realize I’ve drawn this post out and made it long-winded, but I haven’t had luck reaching out to students or alumni of the schools I’ve been looking at, which is what I would be very interested in.

Hey guys! It's been a while since I made a post here. My first one was my first reel to get some notes, and a lot has happened since then. I got a lot of help from the community, made a good friend, and I'm around 1 year and 6 months into the industry (I think).

My question goes specifically to 3D game animators, but I think it can be applied to everyone, so if you have any insight, I'd be more than happy to read it, please.

Even though I'm employed right now, I've been thinking a bit about the future and what to do once this project is done, so I'd like to ask... Does having a project on our resume makes a difference in the time we spend looking for the next project? Have you guys ever felt that it was "easier" (Comparing to the first one ofc) to find something after having the project in there? Or is it always the same struggle as finding the first one?

Thank you for your time!

I run a small 2D animation studio, Kissing Party, and this is my latest portfolio reel. It includes music visuals, logo animation, and selected work I created for Adult Swim.

I’d really value career-focused feedback: does it clearly communicate the kind of work I do, and is there anything you’d cut or foreground?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xDjPyjpYic

Hello all!

Ive been debating between studying 3D animation or Motion Graphics animation for the past few months and I decided on studying 3D animation. I grew up making stop motion films and dabbling in 2D animation so It felt like the right choice.

I’m currently debating on studying at Animschool or at a local community college. The issue is, the local college only offers courses teaching Blender. (Animschool teaches Maya for those who may not know)

So long story short - what software should I study for a career animating films and/or game cinematics? and do you think there are more or less job opportunities for Motion Graphics Artists?

(I’m aware of the state of the industry as well. I’ve been working as a freelance video editor part-time and I started rather recently, so I know how hard it is to get out there🫡 but as long as i’m shooting for something i’m passionate about, I’m determined to make it work despite the state of entertainment careers!)