I go to my LinkedIn profile and there is the temptation to feel very discouraged. Lots of people out of work (which has been the case in the past), lots of new worries and information about computers and A.I. taking over our jobs (which has been the case in the past, except replace ‘A.I.’ with ‘CGI’ or ‘Motion Capture’), and so much uncertainty about whether or not students can ‘make it’ once they finish college (which here too, has been the case in the past).
Working in animation has never been easy, or for the faint of heart. If anything, there is more work now than there was 35 years ago when I started out. But there are also way more people in the industry now than there were back then, too.
But truth be told…
If I were starting out all over again, I don’t think any of this would matter to me. When I got on a plane and headed to LA, everyone I knew was pretty worried for me. And when I’m honest with myself, I know that I was pretty worried too. BUT I COULDN’T WAIT! I was going to draw until my arm fell off and see if I could make it! I was so excited to finally learn how to animate! Going to classes with professionals as teachers, studying, waking up early and animating for hours, editing my film, watching movies for homework and truly looking at this magical art, from every angle, to learn everything I could about it.
I had spent 3 years getting into CalArts and now I finally had my chance. And when I showed up to my first class, The Little Mermaid hadn’t even come out yet. The industry was just getting a reboot. I didn’t really think I would make that much money. And that wasn’t really my goal. My goal was to create! To work in the movies! I truly thought that I would be a starving artist my whole career, but at least I would be doing something I cared deeply about and had passion for. That passion transformed into dedication, and I tell students all the time, more than anything else, dedication was my most important quality. More than talent, more than timing, opportunities, the secret tips and tricks. Just a simple willingness to not give up.
And if I was starting out today, I’d do it the same way all over again. With passion and dedication to create and animate. And a simple willingness to not give up.
If I was starting out again today, that’s how I would try and get a job in animation.