Animation

What is animation?

Animation is the art of creating the illusion of movement with a barrage of images that inform, entertain or tell a story.

What should I look for in an online animation school?

The best online animation schools should possess either regional or national accreditation from an accrediting body that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

In addition, you can often recognize top online animation schools based on:

• The school's name and status
• The school's history
• Teacher credentials
• Alumni network

In choosing the best online animation school for you, you should consider the following factors:

• Admission requirements
• Residency requirements
• Class and teaching style
• Testing methods used
• Course content and presentation
• Program length
• Class size
• Student-teacher interaction
• Technology use
• Tuition and financial aid
• Transferability of credits
• Availability of a dedicated administration team and resources

What levels of online animation programs are available?

The following levels of animation degree online programs are available:

• Online Animation Certificate Programs
• Online Associates in Animation
• Online Bachelor in Animation
• Online Masters in Animation
• Online PhD in Animation

How long does it take to get an online animation degree?

The amount of time it takes a student to earn an accredited online animation degree depends on the level of animation degree being pursued and the pace of the student.

Typically, the breakdown is as follows:

• Online Animation Certification Programs - 6 months to 1 year
• Online Animation Associates Degree - 2 years
• Online Animation Bachelor Degree - 4 years
• Online Animation Masters - 2 years
• Online Animation PhD - 2 to 5 years

What are some examples of online animation courses?

The coursework for an online animation degree is based heavily on the use of computers and the development of personal artistic skills, styles, and creativity.

• Basic Computer Animation
  Computer animation is the now the gold standard in the animation industry. This course teaches students the methods and techniques behind basic computer animation so that they can function in a professional capacity.
• Storyboard Creation and Workshop
  Without an interesting story a production will fall flat. This course covers the methodology of storyboard creation as well as hands on development.
• Drawing and Design
  This course is fundamental to helping students develop their hands on artistic skills and creative musings.
• Visual Effects
  Visual effects can make or break a movie or television production. What most people don't realize is that the majority of these effects are added by computer animators.
• Video Game Animation
  Every video game in the market features animated cut scenes whether they are pre-rendered or real time. This course familiarizes students with basic video game animation through the use of specific examples which are dissected.

What areas of animation specialization are available?

Choosing the appropriate specialization for your animation degree can compliment your career artistic ability and potential. Some areas of specialization include:

• Digital Design
• Web Video Production
• Video Game Modeling
• 2D/3D Illustration
• Motion Picture Effects

What can I do with an animation degree?

Animation is wildly popular among all age groups, gender and races; an animation degree will offer you many exciting career opportunities in the field of visual artistry. Some possibilities include:

• Storyboard Artist
• Concept Artist
• Character Designer
• 2D and 3D Animator
• 3D Modeler
• Visual Effects Artist
• Compositor

What is a concept artist?

A concept artist is an individual that produces visualizations that are meant to give others and idea about what things should look like or an overall sense of what a project or its characters consist of.

What does a concept artist do?

Concept artists work with movie, television, video game or other types of production teams. They generally produce color sketches of characters, objects or locations based descriptions provided by the creators, or entirely from their own creative musings.

How much does a concept artist earn?

Most concept artists will earn around $70,000 per year on average. The demand for concept artists is low when compared to other career fields. However, those with much talent will always have work. The intense competition in this field is largely responsible for the poor job outlook.

How do I become a concept artist?

Becoming a concept artist requires talent, hard work/study, social networking and maybe a little bit of luck. Look for a schools/universities that have a specialized art and design program geared toward the film/video game industries. Most of these types of schools have excellent job placement rates among their graduates.