In the animation industry there a lot of professionals who've been working on many projects, gaining experience and skills that could help and teach new people entering the industry. This happens in almost any industry, however in animation there are many considered "greats". Walt Disney being one of the first leading the way with new technology and his employees like the 9 old men creating what we know as today as the 12 principles of animation that are universally used in all animated film and video games. My point being that there are many people who have a lot of experience and advise that could really help beginners.
Rich Moore director of Wreck-it Ralph and The Simpsons this year gave a speech at a graduation for recent animation students giving advice from his past and talking about he started in his career.
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7QZY_bkijg
He talks about his main 3 steps to help the students get into the industry. He starts off talking about how he felt on the day of his graduation from CalArts. "What's Next" he constantly thought after graduation because nobody knows what's going to happen next. However after finally getting his first job working on the Care Bears designing props and after working on shows like The Simpsons, Futurama and finally directing Wreck-it Ralph at Walt Disney Animation. So his 3 steps he gives in his speech are what he would of wanted to hear the day of his graduation. Referring back to his first job in the industry working as a prop artist on the Care Bears, it wasn't what he had planned to do in the industry however it's all about taking your first few small steps that will help lead you to where you want to go next.
His next point is about taking risks and his final point is that it's okay to fail. Every film, every game and every task you do isn't going to be amazing. We will fail sometimes but we shouldn't dwell on these moments, but instead learn from these and hopefully improve ourselves from these moments.
What I took from this was that it was reassuring to hear this from someone like Rich Moore. The points he makes seem obvious, but expecting to succeed and be amazing straight out of education and be working at a dream studio like Pixar or EA is highly optimistic. Referring back to what Rich Moore says there's simply no shame working on projects like the Care Bears or Hello Kitty. They might no be what you were expecting but it's experience and you'll learn so much from working at a proper studio, that the skills you learn from these could help you to getting that dream project.
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