When it comes to inspiration for animation degree students, there is no one better than Walt Disney. Mr. Disney himself established one of the largest animation studios in the world that has lived well past his time. His legacy spans decades and his influence can still be felt today.
Over the last few years, animation degree students and alumni have produced some high quality content that has grabbed the attention of Hollywood. A few of these shorts have gone on to create full-fledged features while others have remained just as they are, a labor of love for students and professionals alike.
Any animation degree pursuing student can attest to the rise of Japanese animation’s influence on Western animation studios. Japanese animation, or anime, has been a part of American culture for years now. Popular shows like Dragon Ball Z and Pokemon raised an entire generation of children and started a trend that continues into today.
Like most industries, animation has seen an evolution brought on by technology. Animation degree students who are only beginning to step into the industry find themselves contending with the never-ending battle between two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) animation styles. While tradition sides with 2D animation, the appeal of computer graphics and the capabilities of 3D cannot be ignored.
Animation is a world of tough competition, especially for young animation degree students. Everyone wants to create the next big Pixar movie or the next great cartoon. For those few who have the talent, there is little opportunity to produce their work or to share said work when they manage to create it. Flash animation and the community behind flash animation represent a huge step forward for amateur animators. Anyone with an animation degree and knowledge of Flash can be a superstar on the internet.
Animated films haven’t been around long but they have made humongous strides towards relevance over the last fifty years. Animation degree students know these films back and forth. They serve as inspiration and as pure entertainment on top of that. For those students still yearning for that animation degree, there are a number of animated films that should be considered required viewing.
As we move ahead into the New Year, there are a few companies that any animation degree student should pay attention to. From the Japanese animation giant Studio Ghibli to Ice Age producers Blue Sky Studios, these three studios deserve your attention in 2013.
There are only a handful of mobile animation applications, and Animate 2D is one of the most exciting options available. The program’s creator is an animator who wanted a fast, capable animation studio with small file sizes and decent cross-platform capabilities. He designed Animate2D as a professional tool, and high-end features like a bezier smoothing tool and tweening (a commonly used concept in 3D animation) make this an excellent resource for Android smartphone and tablet users.
One of the first “Anime” Conventions, Comiket, was held in Tokyo in 1975, with around 700 people attending. However today, several hundred thousand people attend Comiket. Anime Conventions typically last around a few days and are held at convention centers, hotels or other large establishments. Animation conventions provide those who love animation, aspiring animators, and experienced animators with a place to show their work, learn more, get information on animation schools, and network with others.
In this official video clip from the never released documentary, A Boy Named Charlie Brown, Charles M. Schulz (November 26, 1922 – February 12, 2000) discusses the famous animated character and his inspiration in creating him. Schulz’s world-famous comic strip Peanuts debuted in 1950 and lasted until 2000. Many newspapers still publish classic Peanuts comic strips. The iconic Charlie Brown and his fellow Peanuts characters have been considered to be the most widely influential and popular animated figures of all time.
