There are now more avenues to make 3D animated content than ever before. Between the movie industry, marketing, education, construction, and many others, there are many opportunities to make a career of 3D animation.
Whether you’re looking to switch careers or are just starting on your career path, you will want to bring as much knowledge as possible when you are being interviewed by a prospective employer or pitching your services to a potential client. Here are some tips on how to break into the 3D animation industry.
Study
While it can be beneficial to have a degree in a related field for animation, it’s not a necessity. There are many online resources, tutorials, and videos available that make it easier to teach yourself if you’re willing to put in the work. Make sure you keep your proficiency up to date with the latest 3D software, such as Blender, Autodesk Maya, or Adobe After Effects, and gauge your work against professionals in the industry to see where you can improve.
Build a Portfolio
Practice makes perfect, as they say, and you should be spending as much time as possible working on your 3D animations. If you are beginning your journey, offer your services to friends and family or work on your own designs and projects. Adding more diverse projects to your portfolio will help you become a more attractive candidate for a broader range of jobs. It would be best if you got to a point where you can seamlessly work with an assorted mix of software without any trouble.
Watch 3D Animations
You should know what the animation industry is producing now and what they are working on for the future. Watch as many 3D animated movies, commercials, marketing ads, and other content as you possibly can. It is essential to stay current on trends in the animation industry and be aware of emerging technologies and techniques.
Network
The more people you get to know, the better. Once you feel comfortable with your skills, you should be putting yourself out there as much as possible. Try attending film festivals, Q&As, volunteering your time with different animation guilds—anything that can give you the chance to talk with professionals in the industry. These contacts can put you in touch with hiring studios, lead you to open job postings, or put in a good word for you for future openings down the line.
These are some of the tips on how to break into the 3D animation industry that you can apply to your own career. It can be challenging trying to break into almost any creative industry. The key is to have perseverance and not to let rejection get the best of you. Keep learning the craft and applying to jobs and, eventually, you will get your big break.
