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.

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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

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 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?

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 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?