How to Become an Animator Without College
Whether you’re a self-starter looking to cut out thousands of dollars in college tuition or you’re a creative who can’t stand the thought of sitting in a classroom, rest assured that you CAN become an animator without a college degree.
According to statistics reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for special effects artists and animators was $78,790 in May 2021. The drive and dedication to learn on your own can help you to communicate your knowledge to potential employers.
Tips for Becoming an Animator Without College
There are a few things to keep in mind as you pursue a career in animating without the traditional route.
- Develop Your Technical Knowledge: Whether it’s through online tutorials, self-learning, or apprenticeships, you’ll need to become familiar with the tools of the trade, such as Adobe After Effects, Autodesk 3ds Max, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Animate, and other software programs that are used to create animation.
- Increase Your Understanding of Animation Types: There are many types of animations that require differing levels of skill and aesthetic. Learn about the language of animation media and its history while exploring the various types of animation traditional, 3D, computer, motion graphics, claymation, and more.
- Gain Work Experience: Once you’ve built a basic understanding of the world of animation, one quality resource for starting out is by taking on an unpaid internship or entry-level position. While unpaid, you’ll get valuable experience and can demonstrate to potential employers that you know how it all works.
- Grow Your Network: Most animators find work via referrals and word-of-mouth contacts. Start meeting and networking with other professionals in the area you’d like to work whether it’s video game, animation, or architectural by exploring events, attending conferences, joining a Meetup group, or even looking to connect with professionals on sites like LinkedIn.
- Develop Your Portfolio: You’ll need a strong portfolio of your own projects to show potential employers. This doesn’t have to be flashy or complicated – just a few visually appealing and technically-impressive pieces that show off what you can do.
The Future of Animation and AI
As artificial intelligence (AI) technology continues to develop and become increasingly advanced, animators must focus less on their own technical abilities and more on their creative skills. AI can and will compete with human animators for jobs while eliminating mundane tasks that animators would normally do.
AI has often been used for facial animation, facial recognition, and lip-syncing. In the near future, AI will point towards more complex tasks where animators will be in charge of overseeing each step of the animation process. Animators must continue to stay creative and work diligently to stay relevant in an ever-evolving industry.
Conclusion
Becoming an animator without college can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. Invest in learning the technical skills you need, plus the art of animation, so you can prove your worth as a self-taught animator. Also, take the time to build your network of professionals and potential employers. This could play a huge role in helping you get your foot in the door.
AI is rapidly changing the way things are run in the animation industry, so animators must stay creative and updated on the latest trends. If you have the talent and dedication, you can find opportunities without relying solely on the traditional route.