Blind Gamer Guns for Animation Career
By Kirk Bangstad
kirk.bangstad@theanimationschooldirectory.com
Animation School Directory Columnist
Brice Mellon wants to go to college and eventually embark on an animation career. He loves playing video games and wants to eventually design them. This sounds like a great goal for a 17-year old high school kid. It sounds impossible for a blind 17-year old high school kid.
A Career in Animation Potential Reality for Blind Student
What also sounds impossible is how Mellon can be a whiz at video games. Without the use of sight, he can beat almost anyone in games like Mortal Kombat and Soul Caliber 2. Video games generally require players to react to the visual action happening on the TV screen by moving a joystick/controller. Mellon has apparently memorized certain move combinations and is able to navigate through these video games by listening to sound cues. He says that he "freaks people out by playing facing backwards".
Playing Video Games often Jumpstart Animation Careers
Given his current video game feats, no one is about to tell Mellon that embarking on an animation career is a far-fetched notion. For others young video game connoisseurs, attending video game design and animation school may also look like an attractive career option. Many of those people in careers in animation found their inspiration to get into animation from playing video games and watching cartoons.
Talk to Schools and Get more Animation Career Information
If you are looking into a career in animation or computer animation, it's time to look at your educational options. There are a number of traditional animation schools and online animation degree programs that prepare students for careers in 3d animation, computer animation, and video game design. Many of these schools help their students find jobs by providing the latest computer animation career information and by holding mock interview sessions. In these sessions, counselors will critique a student's animation "reels" and their portfolio of animation work. These critiques help students improve their reels and eventually help them put their best feet forward on the job hunt.
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About the Author
Kirk Bangstad is an artist manager and singer working in Chicago, IL. His previous experience includes consulting for technology companies in the Silicon Valley and serving as a field director and publicist for a statewide political campaign. Kirk holds a B.A. in government from Harvard University.
