How can you get started in the field of computer animation? Joey Jones of Shadedbox Animation describes some steps to take along the way.

1. Develop your skills. Draw, paint, and take photographs. Take figure-drawing classes.

2. Attend a college or trade school that teaches art and animation. Some schools specialize in 3-D computer animation.




3. Complete an internship (or internships) while in school. Make connections and seek opportunities to work full-time.




4. Produce a reel, or animated portfolio, of your work. Keep the sequences simple. Don't break up scenes, and don't add a lot of music, which can be distracting. Put your best work first, and provide descriptions of what you did. (Did you model the character or light it?) Studios will be looking at how well you can make a character move.




5. Submit your reel to an employer for an entry-level job as a cleanup animator or motion graphics and title animator.




6. Advance to animator, a hands-on position in which you'll animate characters and/or backgrounds.




7. Advance to lead animator, a low-level manager who helps supervisors manage individual projects.




8. Become an animation supervisor. You'll manage a group of animators and interns, create work schedules, and help producers and directors turn concept sketches and storyboards into a finished product.




9. Become an animation director. You'll manage multiple projects, each with its own crew of animators. You'll work with other departments and producers to oversee the production of projects.

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