subject: Multimedia Artists and Character Animators: How To Be A Cartoon Animator [print this page] Multimedia Artists and Character Animators: How To Be A Cartoon Animator
If you like creating shorts, web animation or you just so happen to be a feature filmmaker, you will find that everyone of these fields involves creating a cartoon character of some sort. All animation needs characters to drive the story. If you are planning to go for a career as a cartoon character animator you have to start with the skills that you possess and strengthen those skills to make you the best you can possibly be.
As you know, both multimedia artists and character animators juggle a lot of hats. As a cartoon animator you will need to master the human and animal anatomy. You will find that you will have to draw many sketches to stay on top of this. You will live, eat and breathe these sketches and studies until you have mastered the anatomy. If you don't happen to have a live model present, draw from books, or get a mirror and draw yourself. You want to sketch your models in the midst of action.
After all that's what animation is...the illusion of movement. Maybe you are in a store and you are quick sketching a crowd as they engage in different activity. A baby throwing a fit, a guy running before the elevator door closes, a woman jumping for joy and the list goes on. The main thing is to keep your hand moving. If you choose to draw animals you can also do this exercise and follow their action as they constantly move in the wilderness or at your local zoo. A giraffe leaning to grab some lunch from a nearby tree, or a peacock jutting it's neck out each time it takes a step. The great thing about animation is it makes you pay attention to the intricacies of life. Hone this wonderful part of the artform and solidify your skill with it. Once you your skills of the anatomy in action down. You are ready to apply it to a real exercise. Give yourself animation exercises each day, even if it is just an hour. It takes lots of work to get into this field, so you have to be ready for it. Good luck. Hope to see your animations soon! For more fun and animation news visit our blog. Now it's back to the drawing board!
