Animators may be called motion cartoonists because
their drawings are photographed in sequence to make a film and when
the film is processed at high speed the cartoon images appear to
be moving. Although animators would be drawing individual pictures,
they must draw many more for a moving cartoon. Each picture varies
only a little from the ones before and after it in the series. Computers
also help animators to create special effects. Animators mainly
work in the motion picture and television industries but are valuable
for the advertising industry too.
Cartoons are usually associated with newspaper comics or with children'
entertainment, but are equally, if not better more, effective in
publications as well as in advertising.
Animators and cartoonists are basically illustrators who draw pictures
and cartoons to amuse, educate and persuade people
Creating a comic strip is like producing a little play where the
cartoonist takes on the role of the casting director, the set designer
and the author of the dialogue. There should be uniqueness that
reflects the cartoonist's individual slant on the world and humour.
A cartoonist's attention should be to events that other people can
relate to. .
For an animator, extra curricular activities in school such as acting,
choreography, and principles of music would be useful. Some background
in history, geography, the life sciences, would help an animator
to be more knowledgeable and flexible. Animators may be 2-D or 3-D
animators for gaming, instructional programmes, CD-ROM or web, kiosk,
and video. Animators may or may not be great artists. Their talent
may lie in 3-D modelling and following a designer's sketch. Those
with strong drawing skills could be hired as storyboard artists
who can visualize a sequence of events from frame to frame.
The skill set
Natural talent will come out at a young age. First-class training
is essential, the starting point of which is drawing skill. A great
deal of work is digitally produced so computer skills are also important.
Animators and cartoonists take notice of people around them. They
usually observe how they walk, how they sit, how they stand and
take note of how their clothes hang from their bodies.
Cartoonists and animators need to draw faces really well. Many start
using a mirror to copy their own facial expressions. Magazines and
posters provide references of dark moody shots and a variety of
facial expressions.
For someone planning to become a comic strip creator a variety of
talents becomes important. A little art ability is needed, but a
talent for writing is more important. The cartoonist aims to bring
out an event in as few words as possible but still communicate the
idea in a way that is understood by millions of people of many nationalities
around the world. The cartoonist must be able to observe human nature
and happenings and put them in a humorous light so readers can see
themselves in those situations and be amused. Strong self-motivated
work habits are essential to meet daily deadlines. Good art is important
to attract readers to a comic strip. Also important is the ability
to sustain a high level of quality material.
The single best way of improving one’s chances of success
is to practice. Only by drawing and writing cartoons can one get
better at it. Those who draw cartoons regularly are the ones who
can hope for success, so persistence is an important attribute.
Animators and cartoonists must possess the ability to work hard,
visualising abilities, imagination, creativity, logical understanding
of the concept of design, perseverance and the ability to cope with
deadlines. Innovation and rejuvenation are the ingredients for sustained
success. To survive, one needs perseverance, determination and a
very thick skin.
To comment insightfully a cartoonist should be in touch with contemporary
life and be quite clear about political, social, historical and
economic connotations. For an animator, imagination and imaging
are crucial. Computer animators need a combination of art and technical
computer skills.
Training Programmes
A young person, brimming with talent, also needs structured training
to make cartooning and/or animation as a career. A diploma in commercial
art after secondary or higher secondary could be the starting point
or one could pursue an undergraduate programme in graphic design,
applied art, fine art, visual communication design or animation
design after plus two or equivalent. Ideally, completing plus two
would be helpful before branching out as a mature mind is required
to come up with the right ideas and appropriate imagery. Multimedia
courses help to educate an animator on the technicalities to enable
the handling of relevant software packages. Master's degree in visual
communication design may be pursued after graduation in engineering,
architecture, fine art graduates, or design.
Since there aren't really any formal cartooning training programmes,
most cartoonists are self taught. Established cartoonists find that
one way to learn is by copying one's favourite cartoonist. After
studying his/her technique of composition, lettering and figure
drawing, one could set out on one's own and develop an individual
style. Before one learns to draw comic books, one must first learn
how to be an artist. Aspiring cartoonists should pick up a pencil
and start drawing everything they see around them. Drawing trees,
birds, buses and cars and taking note of every minor detail is useful.
It is most important to draw people.
Prominent Institutions
- National Institute of Design, Paldi, Ahmedabad- 380007 (www.nid.edu)
- IIT-Guwahati, Pan Bazar, Guwahati -781001 [www.iitg.ernet.in]
- Apeejay Institute of Design,(affiliated to Guru Nanak Dev
University,Amritsar),54 Institutional Area, Tughlakabad, (Near
Batra Hospital), New Delhi-110062
- Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700032 (www.jadavpur.edu/)
- Industrial Design Centre, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai-400076
(www.idc.iitb.ac.in)
- C-DAC's National Multimedia Resource Centre, Agriculture College
Campus, Near District Industries Centre, Shivaji Nagar, Pune
-411005 (www.cdacindia.com)
- Toonz Webel Academy, Block BP, Plot 5, Sector V, Bidhannagar,
Salt Lake, Kolkata-700091 () (www.toonzwebelacadmy.com)
- ZICA(www.zica.org)
- Image College of Arts, Animation and Technology (Administrative
office: 32 TTK Road, Alwarpet,Chennai-600018;Campus at 153 Santhome
High Road, Chennai-600004 (www.icat.ac.in)
- AAFT University of Media Arts, Asian Academy of Film & Television,
Marwah Studios Complex, FC-14/15, Film City, Sec-16 A, NOIDA-201301(www.aaft.com
)
- Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics (www.mayaent.com)
- Arena Multimedia ( www.arena-multimedia.com)(www.aptechuniversity.ac.in)
- Pentamedia Graphics Limited (www.penta-media.com)
[Listing is indicative, not exhaustive]
Prospects
Innumerable young people are attracted to this work for the associated
glamour, flexibility, and excitement. Job hunters would need a portfolio
with its collection of hand-made, computer-generated, or printed
(published) samples to provide evidence of appropriate talent and
skill to a prospective employer. Assembling a successful portfolio
requires skills generally developed in a formal training while internship
gives excellent opportunities for artists to develop and enhance
their portfolios. Publishers, magazines, newspapers, corporate publications
and advertising agencies are usual employing organizations. Animators
find openings in CD-ROM design, web design, game design, film effects,
characters and props and the same in television.
Although there is keen competition for salaried regular employment
or freelance work, the animation India currently employing around
5000 to 6000 animators is projected to grow to 30000 by 2005.Low
cost, high quality animation production has made India an ideal
destination for outsourcing.
