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TheWitchBoi
Derrek @TheWitchBoi

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Is Animation School Worth It? My story.

Posted by TheWitchBoi - June 29th, 2017


 

Hey there everyone, gonna post a lengthy topic here, and its a question we all ask ourselves when we wanna pursue animation as a career: is it worth going to an animation / art school? In short; no. But allow me to explain my history with them, and experience.

So first of all, lets talk about pros and cons, starting with pros.

PROS: CONNECTIONS-

Connections are everything in the animation industry, if you got some, great! You have a better shot in than most people! Growing your connections is important because the more people that know your name and work the more likely you are to score that next job

HANDS ON WITH INDSUTRY EQUIPMENT-

Most of these places have cintiqs, if not simple tablets to draw on. And all the programs you might be working with are there for you too.

Now on to cons..

CONS: COST

Animation school will leave a BIG dent in your wallet, at least 50k for most places, and can even go to 100k. Be careful when considering school, especially if you dont have the money for it, and have to rely on loans. If you do go, do your very best, because its you who is going to pay for all this one day.

BORING FIRST STARTS-

A lot of people i know were quitting school simply because they were taking classes that didnt apply to animation, and they felt mislead or like they weren't gaining anything out of it. It can be a bumpy start for school, but after your first year you began all the cool stuff. Keep that in mind.

IT MAY NOT MAKE YOU A BETTER ARTIST-

Everyone expects to come out of art school being a better artist. It can happen, but most times, it doesnt. Its on you to be a better artist. If you barely pass your projects with D's, are you really trying? Would disney or nickelodeon accept that work? You say it doesnt matter right now, but your art is always a symbol of what you are capable of now. If you put out low quality stuff, you represent an artist who doesnt care, or just rushes, or still has a lot to learn, take your pick. Its not a real representation of who you are.

YOUR DRIVE TO CREATE DOESNT MATCH UP

Some people really want to be artists and animators, game developers, coders, etc. But they dont have the drive for it. They burn out year 1 and drop out. Its a shame, but sometimes people just dry up easily. You have to have a real passion for this or you may not go anywhere with it. Continue to create everyday. If that seems like too much for you, this may not be your thing. Its ok to take breaks, just dont take too many.

YOU CAN LEARN ANYTHING THERE, ONLINE FOR FREE

This argument needs to be made sometimes because people dont understand you dont need college to learn these things. The internet can teach you animation, storyboarding, coding, anything. You can even learn a few things hear on newgrounds! If you look in the right places and continue to practice, you may just save $50,000 or more.

 

So theres my take on animation school. Is it worth it in my opinion? No. Should you still consider going? Its up to you. If you want to learn in a class room, get face to face critique on your work, then maybe it is. If you wanna save money and learn at home on your own time with basic equipment, then maybe it isnt. Either way, whatever path you take, its still entirely possible to work at your dream job. I hope this has helped you!


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