Become an Animator and Enjoy the Career of a Lifetime

By Debbie Wilson
Debbie.Wilson@computeranimationsschoolreview.com
Computer Animation School Review Columnist

Life couldn't be sweeter for today's top-notch animators. Not only do they have the opportunity to find laughter in their own daily work, but they also get the unique challenge of bringing their dreams and creations into the hearts and minds of people world-wide, and you can, too!

Animators' Turn Fantasy into Reality

If you're like most cartoonists, you enjoy creating unique characters, funny comics, or animated reproductions. But in order to succeed as an animator, you must learn how to turn an animated fantasy into reality. That means you have to give your characters emotions, personalities, and a sense of realism, all without losing the fun-loving feel that makes a cartoon so entertaining. Take for instance Chris Bailey, animator for such masterpieces as Garfield, Inspector Gadget, Rescuers, Lion King, and much more. In many of these blockbuster movies, Chris Bailey acted as animation supervisor, overseeing an entire team of magnificent animators. In his most recent movie, Garfield, Chris helps adapt a comic strip and television cartoon into a full-length feature film. Through his animation talents, he is successful in transforming a classic comic into a movie that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

Enjoy a Career in Animation

If you're like Chris Bailey and truly enjoy adapting and creating animated characters, there's a great career just waiting for you. Becoming an animator will require dedication, perseverance, strong technical skills, computer experience, and of course, a little luck to get your foot in the door. Once you develop your niche as an animator, something that a university, college, or technical school can help you with, there are unlimited opportunities to develop a fabulous career in animation. Whether you choose to work for a large production company, magazine, art studio, comic strip, advertisement studio, or any one of more than a hundred other related careers, you can only be limited by your own barriers.

About the Author
Debbie Wilson currently operates a lakeside resort. Her previous experience includes profitability consulting for a national health-care company. Debbie holds a B.A. in Business Management with a minor in Physical Education.

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