Animation or Concept Art?

[Ninue]

I am really interested in concept art but after doing research I have found that it is hard to get a stable concept artist job or even a job at all unless you are well rounded (also knowing texturing and modeling). However, I'm also interested in animation and I think that it might be easier to get hired as an animator. Do you think that it is possible that I can major in animation and do concept art on the side? Would it help to know concept art if I had an animation job? Would I be more hireable or would it not matter? As an animator I would like to do games animations rather than movie animation although I would be happy with either.

+ What kind of drawings do you need if you are making a portfolio to get into animation for college?

Thanks~

[Zazerzs]

Animation and concept art are pretty different crafts. With animation its all about the movement of an object so alot of study goes into that. Studying motion, doing quick jesture drawings, learning timing, weight ect. Alot of 3d animators I know cant draw, used to be able to draw, or just draw enough to get by.
2D animators can still draw but so much time is spent doing the animations that their illustration skills usually take a hit, and would be tough to compete against people who are concepting full time.

Sure there are people talented enough to do both and have the time and effort to achieve high levels in each craft, but it is alot of work.

Good thing for an 2D animation portfolio are Figure drawings that have a sense of motion, animal drawings, and enough other material to show that you can draw. for 3D.,i have no idea.

[rossipoo]

I am really interested in concept art but after doing research I have found that it is hard to get a stable concept artist job or even a job at all unless you are well rounded (also knowing texturing and modeling).
If you're really interested in concept art, why not take the extra step and be well rounded? why not learn texturing and modeling? It will only benefit you while looking for a job as a concept artist! Draw everything :D!




+ What kind of drawings do you need if you are making a portfolio to get into animation for college?

Thanks~

What school are you interested in? There should be portfolio requirements on the site.. But i've seen lots and lots of figure drawing,

[Amazing Action Ape]

Im going to just chime in and state that it is just as hard to get an animation job as it is a concept art job. It all depends on what you want to do. There are tons of different types of concept art jobs, just as there are tons of different types of animation jobs, each sector with varying difficulty to break in to.

Quite frankly, its hard to get a job in any industry, as it all comes down to what YOU have to offer, not whats available. If a company believes you would be a huge asset, they will find a way to hire you. This is true for any company in any industry. Of course if you pigeonhole yourself into one specific role, or you only want to work for one specific company, things will be much much harder for you than if you were well-rounded or open to different companies.

[Black Kakapo]

Hi guys, I am experiencing the same problem as Ninue.

I was thinking to go to an animation program in order to learn more anatomy and principles of movements that can apply to concept art eventually. But so far as I see from the disucssion, animation is almost a different path in comparison of concept art. Do anyone still see this idea of valid, or I should reconsider my education path?

[SArch]

I'm only a second year student, but I do know that my 2-d animation has actually improved my drawing skills. I can get everything down much faster now onto the paper and everything feels so much more simplified to me, even after only one semester of animation. I have even felt brave enough to start doing more environments now, something I knew I could do but never really practiced.

That said, as others have mentioned, if you don't keep up your drawing skills while animating your drawing skills WILL take a hit. I know my rendering skills were pushed to the side while doing my final last semester, which is a no-no. I don't know the course requirements at other schools, but at the Art Institute of Boston (that's my school), they require animators to take drawing electives and Principles of Illustration and they have the option of adding a concentration in Illustration (which I am planning to do). So to the OP, if you're stuck as to which to major you want to take, I suggest taking foundational drawing classes your first year, if not just to build your art skills before picking a path. If you still can't decide after that, then depending on your school I'd say do animation with an illustration minor since animation takes so much more work than illustrating IMHO.

[rion205]

There's been a lot of good information here, but I'm going to be blunt and say pursue the one that you know you will be more successful at. Concept art and animation are completely different. Also being a "jack of all trades" is a nice idea, but it is better to be a master of one rather than a master of none (especially in film).

With that being said, it really depends on what industry you plan to enter. If you plan to enter the film industry, I think it is important for you to know that studios will have more animators than concept artists, therefore there will be fewer job opportunities in the latter. Concept artists also are generally a part of Pre-Production and has more creative flexibility, while animation is a part of Production where you will be animating other people's characters/stories.

If you plan to be a concept artist, know that you'll have to have extremely strong artistic skills, a good understanding of design and color theory, as well as a master understanding of perspective. What will make or break your career here, though, will be how fast you can work while still making it look good.

Animation is divided into 3D and 2D. As said, 3D doesn't require as much drawing skill as 2D. However, both require you to have a really strong grasp of timing and movement.

Do some more research and see which fits you best. They're completely different in all aspects!