Choosing an Animation School

by Debbie Wilson
debbie.wilson@theanimationschooldirectory.com
Animation School Directory Columnist

You may have heard of the "infamous" animator who started out with just a whim of an idea and built an animation empire. Truth is, however, most animators are not born with all the skills they need to build a successful animation career. The right animation school can not only provide you with a solid background in all areas of animation, but it can also help you develop demo reels, which will be critical in allowing potential employers to assess your talents.

A good demo reel takes more than a couple of days to put together. Many take years. So, when researching your animation school, look for one that offers animation training through a qualified animation program.


Types of Animation Training Animation can be conceptualized and produced in many different ways. The following represents some of the more common types of animation training.

1. Clay Animation. Figures created of plasticine, clay, or other malleable materials.
2. CGI Animation. Animation of computer generated images in which the animation is created or manipulated by computer software.
3. Drawn Animation. Animation consisting of images drawn on a cell, paper, or other medium.
4. Cut-out Animation. Animation in which the animated figures are paper puppets with hinges.
5. Direct-on-film Animation. Animation made by painting, etching, or other altered raw film stock.
6. Pixilation. The process of animating live objects (mainly people) using photographs one frame at a time.
7. Silhouette Animation. Animated figures created from cutout silhouettes of the actual figure.

If you are a creative individual who enjoys drawing, sketching, and computers, you could be part of a great career in animation. All it takes is finding the animation school that fits your talents and is geared towards your animation goals. With the proper animation training, you will prosper from excellent employment opportunities and get a great head start on your competition. Your animation career will be limited only by your imagination.

About the Author

Debbie Wilson owns and operates a lakeside resort, managing all aspects of operations, including marketing and promotion. Her previous experience includes management and profitability consulting for a national healthcare company. In this capacity, she oversaw a five-state operation, utilizing her extensive knowledge of healthcare billing, A/R management, and human resources. Debbie holds a B.A. in Business Management with a minor in Physical Education.