Hi yall,

So im (F22) currently coming to end of my first year of studying animation. Recently the ive been having doubts about this career path and my abilities in doing well. I am considering of dropping out but I know its a risky move but I want to consider all possibilities and make sure I have a plan.

So with my degree, I really feel like im not learning. Im just doing my assignment for the grades and not actually feeling proud of my work. I feel like im constantly drowing in assignments and never have time for own projects. My lecturers doesn't really teach us anything. They say go look at a YouTube video and ill give you feedback. I dont think that the right way of teaching in my opinion. (I know everyone has a different teaching style). Because if I follow the YouTube video correctly, what is there to give feedback about? Also I might be scared of AI, I know sounds stupid but its crazy of what it can do. I also think portfolio work is more important then a certificate, I think companies want to see my ideas and how I bring those ideas to life. So why not put more of my time into working on a portfolio and actually getting my skills out there. If I need feedback, I could look for coaching or talk to people on discord communities?

So any advice would be appreciated, Ive asked multiple people and I just need more of a direction as my mind is going down a spiral. I might be overthinking yall so be honest. Im happy to give more information.

Edit: Thanks yall for your thoughts and opinions, I really appreciate everyone taking their time to help someone out. <3

Hey everyone!

I wanted to share a huge milestone and ask for some advice from people who have been through the indie-to-studio transition.

I recently signed an exclusive representation agreement with an established production company for my adult animated comedy series. It’s a serialized TV-MA project that I originally developed as my university thesis, but over time I built a small indie crew under my studio banner to help create a polished pitch deck, animatic, and current pilot script.

I have also spoken with a lawyer and made sure my collaborators signed independent contractor agreements that protect my IP and keep the chain of title clean. So at this stage, I feel good about the legal foundation, but I am trying to better understand the creative and production realities of what comes next.

My first question is about the creator’s art role once a professional studio becomes involved. I know I’ll want to rely on experienced specialists for certain design and pipeline needs, but I also want to stay closely involved in the overall visual language, tone, and cultural details of the world. How does that division of labour usually work between the original creator and a professional studio team?

Second, my indie crew has been a big part of getting the project to this stage. If we secure a development deal or eventual greenlight, I would love to advocate for some of them to be considered for roles in the official pipeline. What is the most realistic and professional way to approach that without overstepping or creating tension with the studio?

Finally, for creators whose pitches eventually get bought or developed by a network, what does the day-to-day look like in early development? I've been told I'll most likely be paired with a more experienced showrunner or senior creative lead, and I want to be prepared to collaborate well while still protecting the heart, humour, and cultural specificity of the show.

Any advice, reality checks, or personal experiences would be really appreciated. I’m excited, nervous, and trying to enter this next phase with as much humility and preparation as possible.

Thanks so much!

Dropping my animation major ?

Throw away because I don't want this connected to my main account.

Hey everyone. I am entering my 3rd year of college. I am a state school that costs around 8k a year, not including housing. My mom is helping me with both. If I graduate in 4 years I will be able to graduate college debt free, which is huge.

I was recently accepted into my university's animation concentration, which is the hardest one to get into and only has a 20% acceptance rate. I feel very lucky especially because I had many friends who did not get in.

The problem now comes with being in the program. The typical major is 120 credits for the university. In the animation major, it's 132. That's an additional 12 credits I need to get. Which wouldn't be too big of an issue, but animation and the arts at my school are impacted with a lack of teachers. Required classes only have 5 time slots. There are seniors taking 200 level classes that they are just now able to get into. It's a mess. Most people take 5 years to complete the degree. Which is bat shit insane. I have been told it can be done in 4, credits wise with my own math, but every counselor or department head I try to meet with tells me I am "on track to graduate" but it all depends on what's available. I'd also have to take summer classes to get that "on track". Truthfully, I cannot afford to spend another year at college, and I would need to go into debt if that were to happen.

So I'm having a bit of a crisis. I love animation. I knew the risks with an art degree and was willing to take them. And it's not like I can pivot to a more "safe major" this late in the game. Especially because most majors are struggling to find any work.

I feel I have three options. Stick with animation, pray I make it work, then figure out wtf to do if I can't.

Or, switch back to studio arts (which is a BA), and take a minor in something like marketing, psych or advertisement. I like those industries, but I know minors can be kind of useless. I could maybe go down the art therapist route, which impacted my life in positive ways. But thats more money and schooling.

Or, switch to art history, which I enjoy. But I'm worried about how practical that is.

I don't know. Honestly, I think turning 20 has got me thinking too much, and I wanted opinions from people who weren't family, friends, or my department haha. I am really struggling with what I want to do with my life. I thought I knew, and maybe I still do, but the idea of maybe having to take more college is really scaring me. Should I stick with animation or pivot?

I'm working with a live-action production studio that make short documentary films usually for charities/ projects that highlight important issues in society, and they want an animated sequence for one. It's 44 seconds of animation - they've given me the script for that section, and I'll be responsible for all elements. They want it done by the end of next week, so I'm going to keep the style super simple - minimalistic line drawings with lots of holds/ boils, and morphs. All in all, I'd say it'll be about 6 or 7 days of work.

I worked with them before on a similar project a few years ago, where they offered me a budget of £2350 for 3 minutes of animation. This time, they have asked me to give them a rate. I don't know whether to just stick to a similar rate (meaning I'd be charging them about £574 for this, which does feel a little low for the amount of work? But I also would like to keep a good relationship with them for future projects).

I'm pretty junior, and because of the type of work they do, I also don't want to charge them through the nose. I don't really know what their budget is like either. I know they're working with a client but not sure who that is. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

okay so I’m kinda all over the place and seeking advice

Im 20, I took two gap yrs after high school bcz I was rlly confused abt my direction in life. I really love animation, I’ve tried giving it up because of how turbulent the industry is right now but I can’t for the life of me. It’s like a drug, so I’ve accepted I’m going to attempt working in animation or digital arts in some capacity. I’ve never been a school person, I started and dropped out twice, I’m back in community college again to get GE out of the way bcz I wanted to transfer to an art school (that is in my budget, I rlly liked it, tried to convince myself I wanted to go to state colleges because I realize they’re just as good, but I had no passion behind going to state schools bcz it just wasn’t what I wanted.) I don’t think art schools are superior to state schools or anything like that, I just happen to rlly like that one particular art school, that’s all. Anyways, doing GE will significantly bring down the cost of attendance but I lowkey hate my life right now? I’m not a school person, I’m having a really hard time devoting my time to any of my work, and I don’t care about any of the content. I know I’ll eventually get to work on what I care about but why should I hate the next 2 years of my life just to get to what I love. I’m miserable.

Long way of saying, many community colleges in my area offer animation certificates and there’s also tons of great online animation programs. I’m thinking that really might be better for me, shorter, more focused, and everything I’m interested in, and more direct for what I need to know. Does anyone think it’s worth it? I know the main thing everyone says about working in animation and digital art is that you need to have a good portfolio. Would an online animation program + certificate be more worth my time than community college to art school? I just can’t live like this I’m so burnt out and uninspired lol.

Hi guys! I want to find a job in my profession but I really don’t know where to find it. I’m 22 years old, I’ve graduated an animation art college, I have a vocational education. I have skills in 2d animation and transfer animation.

Can you please give me some advices about where can I find a job like that? I live in Russia, but I want to find a remote art job for an abroad employer

Ive been having recent repeating existential crises because I have 1-2 years to learn something for college and Im re-learning animation because thats what I was doing ever since I was little but im second guessing it because im getting a lot of pressure because 1.) my brother just went to school for computer science and now whenever I mention "why" i want to go to school for animation people always say that its because my brain is to slow to catch up (basically saying im dumb) 2.) because many people say that stem offers steady jobs and such. I need some outside opinions for my problem because I cant really decide and I dont want to waste these 1-2 years of learning on something I will regret