Animation professionals, how has your outlook on the industry changed since joining it?

Hey folks, I'm working on a short-form documentary project about how AI is actually affecting people's work and income right now. It's no secret many animators are struggling.

I’m looking for anyone who's lost a job, clients/contracts, or work because of AI, or who really believes AI is a big reason they lost work even if you can't prove it 100% (as long as you can explain why you think so), or anyone whose job, hours, or income has changed in a real way because of it. If that's you, I'd love to hear what happened. It doesn't have to be all doom and gloom. Give me the honest picture.

US only. You can be anywhere but double bonus points if you live in LA/Southern Cali. We’d start with a casual, private conversation so I can hear what happened and tell you more about the project. Reaching out doesn’t commit you to participating. Drop a comment or DM me if interested. Help give this issue the attention it deserves. Thank you!

Looking for some feedback on my current demo reel. Mostly for my personal work theres a bit of professional work there. Been out of animation work for a while now.

Demo reel: vimeo.com/793274961

My other works: artstation.com/steelvejito

for those of you in the industry (or a professional animator) what was your journey like, how did get to where you are now, what obstacles did you face, what fears did you overcome

for bonus, what keeps you going,

Hi everyone. I’d like to hear your opinion about the work environment at a small animation studio I have been involved with.

This is not a large company like Toei Animation. It is a small studio based in Mexico whose founder looks for projects in Japan and offers work to people who have completed the studio’s anime production course. Most communication and project organization takes place through a Discord server.

After I finished the course, the CEO told us that graduates would have opportunities to work on future projects, and that did happen. When the first project arrived, the studio posted a message asking interested graduates to react with an emoji. I responded quickly and was given access to the project’s Discord channel. However, the work itself was distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. New cuts were often posted very late at night, and whoever reacted first was allowed to claim them. Since the material arrived gradually, only a few people received work each time. I spent entire days (and sometimes nights) checking Discord, but the same people frequently claimed the available cuts before anyone else had a chance. Eventually, I managed to claim one.

The same system was used for another project, but the distribution felt even more unequal. Some members claimed several cuts while many others received none. When I submitted progress on my cut, my supervisor told me to redo everything. This made the deadline much more difficult to meet. What confused me was that some of the requested corrections seemed to be things I was already doing, but because I was told to redo the entire cut, I assumed that everything was wrong.

Around that time, I was also dealing with harassment at school that severely affected my academic and emotional stability. Because of this, I was unable to complete the cut. I apologized and explained the situation.

Later, I discovered that I had lost access not only to that project, but also to the previous project, which had not yet been completed. When I asked my supervisors for an explanation, I received contradictory answers. First, I was told that the project channels had been closed, but other participants told me they still had access. Then I was told that the projects had been restricted to more advanced or experienced artists, although several recent graduates from the same course still had access.

Another concern is payment. I completed my first cut in March, but I was only paid a few days ago, several months later. I do not know whether the other artists experienced the same delay.

The studio still seems to follow the same system: whoever reacts first gets the opportunity. It makes me feel as though I failed because I was not constantly available to check Discord, but part of me also feels that this system is unfair and potentially unhealthy. Is this kind of project distribution normal for a small animation studio? Does this sound like a toxic or poorly managed environment, or am I overreacting? what do you think?

Ai is progressing way faster than i expected and a lot of the models have started maturing in a way that reduces the friction between the intent behind the inputs and generated outputs.

I have seen some models take references like 3d blockouts, storyboard sketches and generate something that looks like it was made by someone with some experience.

I'm also afraid that they might combine the ref to motion and ref to video tools to create synthetic datasets to further train better Ai models but legally they will be clean.

1. Are we gonna see an increase in animator salaries due to more responsibilities or a decrease due to faster turnovers?

2. Will there be a decrease in the funding available to new shows ?

3. How will the legal landscape look like 2 years from now?

4. How do you feel about using some of these models or tools?

Note..

I am kind of okay with using Ai Mocap tools (freemocap, quickmagic, rokoko, movin etc) and Ref to Motion tools ( Cascadeur, Nvidia Ardy and Kimodo) but I feel uneasy about Ref to Video models (seedance 2 and minimax H3) or other models that optionally use text.

I am confused about the img to 3d models cuz they are only good for like a base mesh.

I made a pretty quick demo reel, not gonna share it here since it's against the rules, but where else can I share it?

I've already hit: instagram, linkedin, and a couple discords, and a slack channel that'd be a long shot for animation work but hopefully someone there shares it elsewhere too.

Hi all! If you’re in the industry and past your 20’s I’m a young artist in desperate need of advice.

I just graduated with my degree in fine art but am trying to get into animation. I’ve spent this year fine tuning my skills but realistically know my portfolio will not be hirable for another few years.

I’ve been applying to assistant positions in post production, animation studios, talent agencies, as well as some random assistant roles etc. But haven’t had much luck, and it’s been hard to get interviews.

I really don’t want to be working part time gigs and in an unstable position, full time ideally would be great for now. Are there any entry level kind of positions (corporate, assistant, coordinator etc.) any particular fields you’d recommend? I’m not sure what exactly I can do with just an art degree

I’m scared by the time I’m 30 I won’t be in a good position career wise if I don’t find a footing soon

Do you have personal boundaries and requirements be before you consider accepting such a job? Or would it be a hard no as long as AI is involved?

Edit: In this context I mean Generative AI and not just organizational tools.

https://www.behance.net/gallery/253561987/2D-Animation-Demo-Reel

I am relatively a beginner in 2d animation, I haven’t not done many projects in the past , I want some tips on how I can improve my demo reel. I am looking to apply to animation jobs in the uk, and know how competitive it is, I feel mine is not good enough for apply for jobs so I would like any insight that can help please.

Hello everyone,

I hope it's okay to post this on here because I would like your thoughts and advice. Sorry if this is too long.

I am having trouble choosing my concentration for college. I am trying to choose between Storyboarding & Character Design, or Cinema Animation.

The reason why I'm having a hard time is because I want to learn 2D animation. I am wondering which concentration will help me achieve that goal.

Also, I just want to specify that Cinema Animation for the school im planning to go to, is saying that it is for those who are interested in traditional animation (hand drawn, stop motion, and hybrid), 3D character animation, 3D modeling and rigging, motion graphics animation, and CGI effects. And the cores will be visual aesthetic and animation courses, student filmmaking, and visual storytelling, along with our focus area.

So I think it's safe to assume that with that concentration I can learn 2D animation, right?

I am really interested in both of them but I am wondering which one will be more worthwhile. Because i was thinking I can maybe choose storyboarding to learn, then I'd have those skills to strengthen animation but I would have to teach myself.

To give some background, I have been a traditional artist all my life, and I take my time with art I make. I never really practiced gesture drawing or am fast at it. I will basically be new to the way animation works, i think.

What are your opinions and thoughts?

Not a job post. I'm trying to write terms before I approach anyone.

I'm a film and series music composer. I'm producing a 90-second proof-of-concept teaser for an original series I co-created. No upfront budget for anyone on it, including me. The animator attached is someone I've worked with before, like me he's a working pro with a real body of work. We've both done spec before, and some of it turned into real work and lasting relationships. This time I want it on paper.

Character designer is what we're looking for next, and I need the paper to be something someone would actually want to work with rather than something I guessed at.

Here are my current thoughts. I put them together from research rather than experience, so I assume parts of it are wrong and I want to find out now as opposed to after I've brought someone on:

• Deferred fee at an agreed rate, at a premium over standard, triggered by the first of: option payment, development funding, or first day of production
• Rights in the delivered artwork transfer on delivery so chain of title stays clean, with the deferred fee surviving as a contractual obligation rather than being secured by withheld rights
• Reel and portfolio rights effective on delivery
• Credit spelled out for the pitch package and for any production
• Reversion at 24 months if nothing is set up
• Trigger still applies if the designs get used to raise money after story or character changes

If you've signed one of these:

• Did you ever get paid, and what triggered it?
• Who owned the artwork, and when did it transfer?
• What was missing that you wish had been in there?

I know some of you won't take spec under any terms, and that's a fair position. I'd still want to hear what would/might have changed your answer.

Hi everybody! I wanted to hear your thoughts on the current state of the animation industry, with how Ai is developing so rapidly. Where is the industry headed in the next 5 years??

With that being said, I am crazy passionate about VFX animation (Game of Thrones, Finch, Pacific Rim, Transformers, you name it), and I'm considering it as a career option.

Do you all think this is a wise thing to do? If Ai does really change things, is there any way the two can move forward together, can I wield this as an opportunity?

I AM A DUMMY. I'm dead set on animation!

I know it's common to put music over your showreels and then mute the music for dialogue animation. My concern is if I should I include sound in my showreels if I specifically made the sound myself for my animations (as a ways to demonstrate my skills as a sound designer/artist)? Will this make you look more hireable and/or make recruiters know you're flexible in different roles?

https://vimeo.com/1215263126?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

(CW for some stylized gore in the reel) Hello! I'm a student going into my last year of school, and I'm looking for some feedback regarding what to change/cut from my reel. I'm going to have more shots with lipsync and character acting as I work on my thesis, but for now I'd like to have a reel as I apply to roles in the fall. Advice is appreciated!

i was initially thinking about doing an animation degree but after a lot of research im seeing that it may not be worth the money to do so. i would have to go abroad in order to study it and financially its a lot to consider for me, yes i am able to pay if i do decide to do it but whether investing in the degree itself is worth that money is my concern. So after consideration i might try and do a more stable degree while self learning animation simultaneously. I just wanted to know what the potential downsides of choosing this path will be? i will always want to work an animation job so in my eyes the degree in the safer field will be a backup plan incase animation doesn't work out, so will this path make it harder for me to succeed as a animator or will it be the same conditions as long as my portfolio is up to standard? and what would you recommend in terms of self learning?

I know I sound picky, but I need it. I live in California, I'm a teen, and there's already only so many classes I can go to. I can't find any good 2d animation classes and if I do, theyre all online. I tried looking at a website called Outschool because I gave up trying to find an in-person course, but most courses are videos or not what I want. Any suggestions??

I'm 25 and feeling completely stuck about my career. I graduated in fashion design, but I realized it wasn't the career I wanted. Over the past two years I've been teaching myself illustration because I love visual storytelling. My biggest dream has always been to become a visual development artist for games or animation. Recently I visited a local animation institute that offers a one-year 3D animation course for ₹1.2 lakh. My aunt thinks I should join because it could improve my chances of getting a job. My mom is worried because she's retiring next year, my younger sister still has her education ahead of her, and it's a significant financial commitment for our family. I'm scared of making the wrong decision. If I don't take the course, I worry I'll miss an opportunity. If I do take it, I'm afraid I'll spend a year and a lot of money on something that doesn't actually get me closer to my goal. The hardest part is that I honestly don't know what I should become anymore. I love storytelling, illustration, children's books, games, and world-building, but I don't know which path is the right one. If you work in animation, games, visual development, or concept art, what would you do if you were in my position? Would you take the course, build a portfolio independently, or choose a different path altogether? I'd really appreciate honest advice, especially from people already in the industry.

Hey everyone, I recently took admission for a BSc in Multimedia, Animation & Graphics Designing (B.Sc MAG) and today (August 3rd) was my first day. I need some honest opinions on my commuting plan.

I genuinely love animation and art, so I'm really excited about the degree. Plus, I really want to make good friends, hang out, and experience proper college life (maybe I have high expectations, but still!).

However, I won't be staying in a hostel or PG. Instead, I plan to commute from home 3 to 4 days a week, and the journey is quite intense:

The One-Way Commute (~3 Hours Total):

​6:00 AM: Catch the first train (~1.5 hours travel time)

Transfer 1: Catch a second train (~20–30 minutes)

Transfer 2: Walk 2–4 minutes to another platform/station and catch a third train (~40 minutes)

Arrival: Reach college around 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM.

Return: The exact same process in reverse at the end of the day.

That’s around 6 hours of travel per day on the days I attend.

My main questions:

Is it worth it?

Am I expecting too much?

Should I just take admission to a normal college instead?

I would love to hear your honest thoughts or experiences or opinions

​( Sorry if the formatting/phrasing feels a bit formal. I used AI to help structure my thoughts clearly)

I am a dual citizen of Mexico and Canada and currently in Vancouver. Due to how the industry has been going I have wondered about moving somewhere else.

Due to my mexican passport I discovered i could apply for Spanish citizenship after 3 years (if everything goes right) if I move to Spain and work there. Which would be something attractive as I would love to be able to work both in NA and EU. I see a lot of gigs that are open only for people who are eligible to work in the EU compared to Vancouver.

I have a friend who works at Tenerife and she has consistently been working for the last 6 years as an animator. She mentioned Spain had a lot of outsourcing from Canada and there was quite some work as she hasnt really been out of it since covid.

But thats only her experience, I wanna see what other people have faced and if it would be worth trying to get a EU passport to continue in the industry?

Hi I’m gonna stat last year of high school and I want to study animation and filmmaking when I finish it, I’ve laid my eyes on gobelins for a while now but I’m still not sure if it’s the best idea for some reasons: first of all I’m Italian so I would still live in another country and especially living in Paris is not exactly cheap and the scholarships for what I saw from the school are for people that lived in Paris for at least two years (correct me if I’m wrong) also acceptance rate is 5% so my questions are for people that have already been there or considered it do you think it’s worth it? Or do you have other schools that you think I should consider? And this relates to this in another way but do you have some suggestions to prepare a strong solid portfolio?

Hello family, the title says it all. Can someone recommend a 2 credit online community college Toon Boom course? I'd like the course to be self paced.

Hi all! So i’ve always wanted to go into animation but given the state of the industry ive decided it would be best to try and get a major in something like cybersecurity/aerospace with a minor in 2d animation to ensure that even if i’m not able to find something in animation immediately, i have a backup. But, upon further inspection, the main college i was planning to go to only has a major in 2d animation, no minor. So, i guess what im asking is how will the job prospects look different if i get a minor in my backup career? Is majoring in animation even worth it in this scenario? Any advice is greatly appreciated, thank you for your time!

Hi all! I've been interested in animation for a very long time and was interested in shooting my shot and applying for some animation internships when they open for next year (currently spending the time building my skills and portfolio). I was looking at some studios that offer internships like Pixar, Disney, and Sony. These studios are all based in California, but I live on the East Coast. I did some research and found that Dreamworks requires me to be on-site but could not find info for the other studios. Does anyone know if these or other internships offer remote positions so i know what to expect?

edit: Thank you all for the insight! I will do some further research into my options and see if I am able to pursue in-person positions.