ANIM3014: PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Story Artist / Character Designer – Careers within the Animation sector.

Story Artist

Storyboard Artists draw storyboards for animated features, films, television commercials, ad campaigns, music videos and video games. Usually after a concept or a script has been written.

The Basics: Story Artist

Role Requirements:

• Be able to tell a good story• Highly film literate with a good understanding of layout, sequential drawing and

editing• Have excellent drawing skills and the ability to adapt to a wide range of styles• Be able to work either independently or as part of as a team• Be able to take direction and be prepared to make changes to your work in

response to constructive feedback• Be able to follow established guidelines and produce consistent work, drawn or

modelling• Have good computer literacy• Be able to work calmly and efficiently to tight deadlines

Primary Research: Questionnaires

‘Journey’ into a Story Artist:

• Passion for studying of storytelling

• Visualizing narrative • Dramatic writing of short films

• Job boarding – video game cut scenes• Working for feature animation studios

• Freelancing

Industry Experience and Education

Majority of Interview articles have

supported that a well – rounded education helps when you are applying for jobs; it allows you to come

across as though you can handle deadlines and work well under

pressure.

However, most respondents skipped

this question.

Many questionnaire responses have disagreed

with the industry experience needed for

these roles. In regards to ‘landing’ your first job.

Not many questionnaire

responses stated that you needed a particular program, but admitted that

program proficiency is

required, mainly with any

storyboarding software.

Challenges as a Story Artist

• Constantly keeping elements creative

• Not always relying on your standard methods

• Being innovative with your thought processes

• Keeping your work new and alive

Advice

• Dennis Sisterton: “ Absorb everything you can about your art, in all media and formats”

• Observe people and behavior by looking at everything around you – keep all of it in memory.

• Note that qualifications count for little, it’s the quality of your work and the character of it that counts.

Character Designer

The Basics: Character Designer

As a character designer, you play the role of an illustrator, graphic artist and an animator – all rolled into one. You are responsible for thinking about the personality and look of a special character in production. You carry the work through from the first draft of your character, the history and future of their lives on screen and evolve them into the production.

Role Requirements:

• Able to work in a studio or office for Animation, video game companies, motion picture or similar industries.

• Have the ability to work full-time whilst also putting in overtime hours if you are in the crunch of a project.

• Be able to deal with demanding, yet fulfilling deadlines.• Be very imaginative and creative.• Have the breadth and depth of animation knowledge to allow your creation to come to life.

• “You are responsible for a character from conception to death, so you must be well versed in all technical proficiencies that are generally split between several fields”

Primary Research: Questionnaires

Journey into becoming a ‘Character Designer’:

• Approached to be commissioned• Freelancing as an Illustrator

• Internship with the company• Early interest in writing, animation and personal study

• Video gaming jobs and freelance illustration• Freelancing

Qualifications needed for Career:

50%

20%

10%

20%

Qualifications

A-levelsDegreeMastersInternship

From the majority of questionnaires, the only qualification that came

through that was needed was A-levels with 50% of

respondents.

With Degree-level qualifications and

Internships at 20%.

And, Master degrees in relevant subjects

occupying 10% of the requirements for a role as a

Character Designer.

Industry Experience

Primary Research would indicate some disagreement with this statement – claiming that resources such as Photoshop aren’t required as a Character Designer itself. However the technical skill of drawing is a necessity within this role.

Being positive to work with is a fundamental to working in any studio from Secondary Research as nobody wants to work with somebody who isn’t imaginative or has a positive outlook on situations during the crunch of a production.

There isn’t any mention of a Qualification such as a degree/a-level or industry experience prior to this job needed. Contradicts the survey respondents answers in regards to needing a well-rounded education in order to succeed within this role.

Challenges as a Character Designer

• Finding work whilst freelancing

• Working for commissions/clients

• Keeping your work fresh

• Staying on top of technology

• Battles with art directors who prioritize the rate of finish over the concept

Advice

• Draw every day

• Work hard now and reap the benefits when you are in the industry

• Develop your own style and never give up evolving it

Conclusion

Before you learn the trade for either of these careers; make sure you’ve learnt as much as you can about the entertainment industry so you can

understand the fundamentals of filmmaking and film production.

By doing this, you will be able to broaden your scope into these careers without appealing to a niche sector of jobs – learn all of the software needed, do research and be able to hold yourself as a professional member of society.

To compare the both of the careers together, Story Artists seems as though (from secondary research) an easier career to break into as most productions

require storyboard artists to visualize the cost of the production. Whereas Character designers are not always a necessity as some productions don’t

involve the role of a character, however both roles could lead to a multitude of careers within 2D, 3D and Experimental work within the Animation

industry.