Monday, May 29, 2006

I came across a very interesting article this morning that I want to talk about today. This article says that for most companies doing computer animation or 3D images generally prefer to hire artists with traditional animation training versus those with only training in computer animation. This is because traditional artists supposedly are able to draw, model, and learn programs while those animators who are hired knowing the computer programs cannot work in the other mediums which can hinder the project to some extent. I found this extremely interesting. Most of the computer animation companies I have researched have asked for prospective employees to submit a computer animation reel. If this skill is not the most important, then why not ask for what is? I am sure that knowing how to animate both on paper and on computer is the most beneficial, but I still find the article a little strange. According to the article, Pixar receives about 2000 video reels a year and they find only about eighty percent of those remotely interesting. Surely there must be a more complete portfolio that would allow inquiring artists to submit their best work in all mediums. I suppose with 2000 applicants annually the paper work for all of the art by hand is a lot more difficult to sort through then watching someone's two minutes of video on a DVD. It is a shame though that someone extremely talented with traditional animation could loose the chance at a job in computer animation if they submit a sub par computer animation reel.

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