FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS

>>18085299
My sister told me that I'm very young, and that I should take advantage of my youth for the chance to fuck-up and fail.

I believe her.

Tomorrow, I intend to tell my father what I want to do with my life. He showed me so much of the world via laboring with him. I now know there's no other way for me to roll.

I keep getting told to go to computer science/business administration, but I know these fields are just as devoid of meaning as construction.

I believe, to an extent, that no one knows better than myself. People can't feel what I feel, so their words are partially superficial.

Is there anyone here that can think of a good reason to dissuade me from following through?

I've come to realize it's all just a skill. I'll be happy animating commercials as long as I'm animating.

>>18085299

animation jobs do not exist in the USA anymore, assuming you mean traditional 2D.

2D pre production is done here so at best you can get a job as a storyboard artist.

here's what you do, make a list of currently on air animated shows, and multiply that by ten.

THAT is the number of animation jobs that exist in america today. so your friends are right, it is not stable, hell its hardly sustainable, you are actually more likely to get drafted in the NFL, statistically.

i love animation, its beautiful and fun. but its not something thats really done by americans anymore, and the reason its not done by americans is because its way cheaper to do it overseas so even if you go live overseas you'd be over worked and underpaid.

>all my money goes to art supplies or my bank

the problem here isn't that its an argument of more money vs less money. its an argument of money vs no money.

they arent saying 'oh you'll never afford a nice car, or a big house'. they are saying oyu will literally become homeless because unless you're legit lucky there is no job for you.

you're competing for whats gotta be less than 30 jobs.

my advice? animate some shorts. go for it. if you can do that on your own then you'll know whether or not its worth doing as a career.

spoiler alert: if you can't finish animated shorts on your own than you are not going to have the willpower for a career in animation.

>>18085318
If you don't get into CalArts you're fucked. It's essentially the only college that companies hire from. Hope you have a good portfolio

PS you can do a regular job and pursue animation on the side

>>18085335
Do you have any statistical data that backs this up though?

I mean there aren't a lot of studios that do 2D animation for television, but that's not the only place to find work doing this stuff if you're more than an in-betweener.

>>18085368

no, just years and years of experience with animation, animators, and the industry.

>but thats not the only place to find wokr doing this stuff if you're more than an inbetweener

well then you're not really animating at that point you're just doing design and stuff, which is valid, but it still limits the number of jobs in this country to less than 10 thousand easily, while the rest is outsourced overseas. even the more important jobs are beginning to be outsourced as to make communication with the actual animators easier.

my recommendation remains the same. make a few shorts. find out if you actually care or if you just fantasize about animation.

then find out if its something you want to pursue for aj ob or if you'd be happy to throw on some TRS animation and do your own thing.

>>18085395
Isn't the average animator that I have to be better than sub-standard though?

I essentially mean they're not even on the same tier of a good internet animator like this:

https://www.youtube.com/user/HarryPartridge

I feel like if I work for it, I can easily surpass the masses that doubt themselves/don't work hard enough.

>>18085395
I've already attained a good deal of mileage in drawing, but I now feel that I'm ready to start what I really want to do.

>>18085417

>isn't the average animator that i have to be better than sub-standard though?

no. and you dont have to be a better animator, because like ive been saying, actual animation is done overseas. the talent isn't how you can draw, how fast you can draw, or how consistently you can draw it. people who can create wonderous pieces of animation never get work cuz we dont animate like that anymore.

also, every ass hat assumes they're the special one and somehow only retards got hired. you'd be wrong.

>>18085421

then go ahead and animate a few shorts. figure out if you actually want to do this before you devote your whole existence to it.

its as easy as downloading paint tool sai and an editing program.

>>18085432
I suppose you're right.
I've created cartoons back in high-school, but that was a while back prior to me actually knowing how to draw.

It certainly wasn't an unpleasant experience, but I need to know how I feel about it when I introduce necessary, technical aspects.

I didn't mean that "retards get hired", but I meant the average person that animates is nothing special and can be easily over taken by someone willing to work more.

I still don't see how I can't simply create my own jobs as a freelance animator though, but I suppose that's essentially on-par with signing up to move to Korea. I've a good mind to net millions of views, easily, but I know it takes a lot of effort and time to get there. To live like that is to pour your entire being into creating cartoons.

I need to do more than 2 shorts. You're absolutely right.

I suppose I'll start pursuing a conventional education, and train my true pursuit on the side to one day understand if I should do it or not.

>>18085432
>>18085453

There's a lot I don't know about as I'm only 20 years old.
I believe I might be able to find fulfillment doing jobs to help other human beings. For me, that was the only good part about installing doors.

I feel like there's a divide between betting everything immediately while you can, and trying everything to find what works for you.

>>18085432
I'm currently unemployed and living with my parents, so I believe I should use the next month to ping-pong between my basics at community college and animation.

I might find work doing social services that I can enjoy.

I'm likely an INFP/INFJ after all.

This is my philosophy:

Money is a means to an end.

I need money to live comfortably, therefore I muat work and do well enough that I can support myself comfortable.

However, while working, I will be seeking ways to reduce stress so that I have the want, urge, and time to pursure opportunities that will bring me closer to what I would like to do.

I underatand that I may not be able to make a living doing what I like, but I refuse to give up doing what I like in order to work. If this balance begins to get threatened, I take steps back to rebalance myself.

Perhaps one day I can make money doing what I like, but if not, then at least I will still be doing it AND living comfortably.

>>18085481


good luck man. animation is amazing and i wish i could work with it more and more and more.

create a few simple shorts, just conversations that focus on beautiful art first.

then move on to more motiony stuff. good luck

>>18085488
OP here

That's very alluring to me, but I know I'll never be able to achieve what I want to unless I invest everything about what I am into it. It's the only difference between mastery and mediocrity. Job and no job.

If it's relegated to a hobby, I fear it'll never be anything more, but maybe that's not bad.

I also fear that if my hobby becomes work, I'll grow to hate it. There are so many ways for things to develop and branch.

I might be able to strike personal satisfaction by hitting a good middle ground. There's a reason most internet animators only release cartoons once or twice a year.

Other anon is right about the industry. If you love animation, you'd most likely have already done some. Have you done any kind of animation, even short gifs ? Try taking a class or two to begin with if you can. It might help you decide if it's really what you want. I wanted to be an animator and eventually found out I was more suited to illustration after taking classes.

I don't know how right it is, but I personally believe in following your dreams, with a backup plan. You'd presumably be able to go back to construction if it didn't work out, so that's something. You'll have an easier time finding a job if you go into 3D animation instead of 2D, although those are totally different things and 3D might not align with what you enjoy. Look at current job listings to see what the situation is. Compare how many jobs there are in 2D vs. 3D and compare to something else you're interested in. Some jobs show you how many people apply, and I've seen upwards of 1800 people or applying to ONE animation job (not Disney either, it was animating for casino slot machines). It's dog eat dog and requires connections as much as or more than skill, so make some friends while you're learning.

It can be disheartening to spend years perfecting a skill and having people think it's worth nothing. Not to be doom and gloom but hopefully give some insight. Obviously some change is needed in your life for you to feel happy, so I hope it goes well. Good luck with your endeavors!

>>18085504
Shoot I'm too slow at typing and missed a bunch of comments, please ignore whatever doesn't apply

>>18085488
I know chluaid (Adam Phillips) worked as an assembly line worker for years before he was accepted as a VFX artist at Pixar.

Maybe time will tell, but I should start right now.

>>18085503
>There's a reason most internet animators only release cartoons once or twice a year.
Yes, because Youtube fucked them over hard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi6FcI2wFrw