Hello! I'll try to keep this brief;
I'm a lifelong enthusiast for 2D animation, in my 23rd year of life, and, I'm at a complete loss;
Where do I go to learn?
I've been self-teaching myself off and on for the last 2 years or so, with only one short animation complete, the rest being practice and sketches.
http://puu.sh/kDeRM/3659424f86.gif
(It's rather large; I put in way too high of a resolution. It's done entirely on crummy tracing paper, I've gotten real cell paper now, hah.)
I work off of a homemade lightbox, very slim skill with a tablet-
I ramble.
In essence; I want to know where to go to learn. I have no interest in college; being forced to learn fields I have no interest in for thousands of dollars is just- it's silly to me.
No vocational programs exist in the area; I'm in Columbus OH, where CCAD is. They have the market cornered, and, getting out without a 100k debt is rare at best.
Where do I go? What do I do? I want to learn, but, it's going very slowly on my own. I need someone who knows what they're doing to guide me.
I don't want a degree; I just want the skills. I don't want to work at some studio; I want to tell my stories, happily for free.
Do any of you fine people have any advice or direction?
Just A Hopeful Bohemian With Stories To Tell
Get a book on animation, like "the Animator's Survival Kit" and go through the lessons. You don't want to work in a studio, so you don't need to work to any professional standard. You can be as self-indulgent as you please, so it doesn't matter what it looks like as long as it pleases your aesthetics and your ego.
There's no point taking any college training in this if you are doing this just for yourself. a couple of animation books will cover the exact same material.
Why spend $30K+ for a hobby??
"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)
My advice to you, is just keep animating! Just continue to practice as you are, in all of your spare time. Watch all the free tutorials on youtube. Scour the internet for a free schooling. (Here's something cool:https://www.udemy.com/photoshop-animations/ ) And start making your own projects or helping others on theirs. At first they won't be that great because you are new at this, but then they'll get better and better. You're building a special skill! If you can afford it, buy a subscription to Lynda.com or similar and do all of their animation tutorials. It's very worth it in my experience.
Hi
Best place to learn is lynda.com and http://cgi.tutsplus.com/
Go there first!
miles
www.produsive.com
Everyday draw comics (how mach and fast as you can) and lern Adobe Flash, Adobe Fotoshop and any videoeditor (Edius 4exempl or Sony Vegas) and will be happy! P.S. (Very very very mach comics and lerning Flash, FIRST OF ALL)
shoot me an email at jonstarrhall94@gmail.com
i think leanring by doing is always best and id like to take you on for a project.
I believe you would find the answers you are looking for by reading the letters on The Animator Letters Project website. Professional animators have shared their stories about how they broke into the industry, how they overcame roadblocks, and their encouragement and advice for others looking to pursue their dream of becoming an animator. So much wisdom and inspiration is found in the letters. Please let me know what you think. :-) www.theanimatorlettersproject.com
Willie Downs, Creator and Editor, The Animator Letters Project, williedowns.co