What’s It Really Like Being A 3D Animator?
AUSTRALIA’S LEADING DESIGN SCHOOL SINCE 1987
Animation is a quickly growing sector of the entertainment industry and leads to a huge range of possible careers. Animators and 3D artists are hired to bring drawings and concept art to life, craft environments for movies and games, and create special effects for Hollywood movies and even ad campaigns.
It’s a great career choice if you want to make cool things in a job that’s seriously future-proofed. But how do you get into the industry, and what’s the job actually like day-to-day?
We spoke to Aleksandra Korinnaja, a 3D generalist who studied a Bachelor of 3D Design & Animation at Billy Blue College of Design at Torrens University Australia, to find out what the job’s really like.
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What does a 3D animator do?
Your day-to-day will depend on your area of specialisation. 3D animators turn concept art into three-dimensional models and animate them to create movies, television, or games. Environmental designers craft rich and immersive atmospheres for characters to live in. Visual effects artists create eye-catching special effects that look real.
3D generalists like Aleksandra are kind of like an all-round digital genius. They might be responsible for animating and modelling 3D characters, sculpting environments in game engines, and even dabbling in motion capture, and a lot of students do this job when they first graduate.
Image courtesy of Aleksandra Korinnaja and Billy Blue
“It depends on what part of the pipeline you’re tackling but working as a technical artist will always come with hours of troubleshooting and a caffeine addiction,” says Aleksandra. “I have daily review meetings with my department leads in the morning and chip away at my workload through the rest of the day.”
There are a lot of opportunities in the industry for you to work on all kinds of projects, so you can really chase any kind of career.
What’s the best part of the job?
Ask animators this question and most of them will tell you the same thing: the chance to create fantastical characters and worlds.
“My favourite project I’ve ever worked on is my ongoing monster/hybrid character design series,” says Aleksandra. “My dream project is to work either as a concept artist or splash artist for Riot Games or Blizzard.”
Image courtesy of Aleksandra Korinnaja and Billy Blue
Animators literally create stories out of nothing. It’s an ideal job for artists and storytellers – and one that’s only going to become more valuable over time as games and CGI get more advanced.
What’s the hardest part of the job?
Because animators are a crucial part of the entertainment industry, it’s common for them to work under tight deadlines – something Alekandra says Billy Blue really prepares you for.
“The most important thing I learned at Billy Blue was time and project management,” she says. “This is a crucial skill to have if you want to work in the entertainment industry.”
Image courtesy of Aleksandra Korinnaja and Billy Blue
“No matter what area you specialise in, it’s very time consuming,” says Aleksandra. “This inevitably clashes with short deadlines that the industry is known for, which leads to crunch time.”
That’s slowly changing in the industry, but you should still be prepared to manage your own time and workload if you want a career in animation.
How do you get into 3D animation?
Billy Blue’s Bachelor of 3D Design and Animation gives you skills and experience in animation techniques like modelling, rigging, animating, texturing, lighting, and compositing. The course also includes an internship, so you’ll get to experience the industry first-hand. When you graduate, you’ll be set up for a career in film, television, games, post-production, and advertising, and have real industry experience to help you get hired.
Besides picking a great course, it can also help you get hired if you have a broad skill set.
Image courtesy of Aleksandra Korinnaja and Billy Blue
“I decided to become a 3D generalist in order to increase my chances of getting into the media and entertainment industry,” says Aleksandra. “Skills like sculpting and building environments in game engines are quickly becoming a staple of the concept art process.”
Animation is a competitive field, but institutions like Billy Blue can help you succeed. When you’re weighing your options, look for a course that gives you hands-on experience and understands the value of graduating with a portfolio of work. You’ll be much better placed to land a job you love and start a rewarding career.
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Abandon the analogue and adventure into 3D Design and Animation with Australia’s leading design school for 30+ years.
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(Lead image: Ion Şipilov / Unsplash)