Am I a talentless animator who should reconsider my job options?

[digitalshaman]

is it just me or is that normal?

Its your bosses job to decide what he likes and what you shuold change, he wouldnt have anything not to like if it wasnt for you.

keep making them, and changing them to how he likes, maybe he's just very perfectionist lol.

Or leave! Go find a job with a team of animators and see how you shape up. If you find yur are at a lower skill level to them, learn from them. If not then you'll be in a good team, and you will be a strong member.

what you think?

[skurge13]

Don't be depressed, my friend!! Just remember that you were good enought to be hired in the first place, that means you beat out a lot of other people. I personally feel that the analytical eye is the hardest thing to develop. I remember when I finished my first animation, I was so proud I got it done and I thought it was great. I stored it on the hard drive and didn't look at it again for about a month. When I saw it I was shocked...it sucked! What was worse was that I didn't really know how to fix it. I mean, something in my brain told me it was wrong, but I couldn't put my finger on what it was. Ya, it was depressing.

You're not a talentless hack. Look up "talentless hack" on Google and you'll find Andy Pressman, not you. I think it's entirely possible there is nothing wrong with your work, just that your boss is expecting something different. You need to approach him, let him know of this, and ask him what he would like changed, what he wants to see. He says there are problems with it, well then, make him prove it. Make him point out these "problems". I think it's more a case of him seeing something very specific in his head that doesn't match what you've done, that's all. Remember, you have a job in animation, which is something I can only dream about right now. Don't get down on yourself, bro, and don't give up.

[JBarrett]

Very nice comments, skurge13! :D

Something else to remember is that "the eye" is something that takes time to develop. Some develop it faster than others, for various reasons. Through experience, you'll notice more and more things that could be improved. But don't ever think that you'll reach a point where you know "everything." It's a constant process, not a destination. There's always more to learn, even for seasoned professionals. Be patient, but also be persistent and dedicated, continually seeking to learn more and trying to improve your eye for animation.

Keep at it!

[Shogun]

Yeah don't forget that even the guys at pixar get crits on their dailies.
Have a read through the interview I did with Carlos Baena (who must qualify as one of the nicest guys ever btw - http://www.3dtotal.com/team/interviews/carlos_baena/3d_total_article_cbaena.asp) - he mentions that every time he starts a shot, it's like starting over from scratch. That makes me feel better, I duno about you.

[hypersushi]

Thanks for all your words of encouragement guys. I certainly feel better now and I try to see the positive side to my predicament. For one thing, it will certainly force me to be a better animator and to try harder than ever before.

[baenca00]

Originally posted by hypersushi
Do I lack talent and should I just consider going into another field? I'm feeling really depressed.

Hypersushi,

This is Carlos. I barely ever post because of lack of time, but reading your post, I just had to. Let's see, right off the bat, you should NOT feel depressed man. Get that out of your head right away, because we have ALL been there man. You look at your animation after spending a great deal of time in it, and a few things can happen:

First, you can become attached with the shot, so it's hard to see things wrong and have to fix them. Practice and experience will help you let go of your ego, and be more open to suggestions. This is an art in itself, trust me. But you already seem open enough, so that's a great quality that you should keep because it will only help you in your future learning. The older one gets and the more people you meet, you start to learn that there are people out there willing to help instead of to compete. Second, it also can happen that you look at your shot so many times, that you start losing an eye for what's working in the shot and what's not working...so anything that you are told you may not see it as clear as other people with a fresh eye. Third, and don't forget this third...Sometimes there are ups and downs in an animation career. Today my shot may not be as good as the shot I animated three months ago...but maybe the shot that I'll animate a year from now could be the best shot I could animate (or not). The important thing is, you are trying...and that's already a great thing man. Don't ever ever lose that. We are all learning here...whether you work in this or that studio. The moment people feel like they don't have to learn anymore, that becomes a problem.

So you can start trying some more things. Start frame by framing movies. Both animation films and live-action films. Both are great educational tools for us animators. Start studying people and why things are moving. What we do with our hands, our arms...how we move our heads....how we walk. Make this a habit, and what starts with a habit, will become an obsession...and eventually, your best learning tool as an animator. You can also play with separate parts in your character. Do animation tests of just an arm?...maybe a head nod??...try different possibilities. I worked at a company where they had stop-motion puppets. So at night-time I was lucky enough to practice animation with puppets...so I would grab an arm, and start practicing "overlap". See how many frames this would do...mmmh...let's try that now. Also, PLAN your shot as much as you can. Thumbnails, video-reference, feedback, little notes....you name it. By the time you are done with all this preparation...your shot will be 90% there, trust me. But most important...work on the basics. Those will be the foundation for any animation you will EVER do. Without basics, any animator will have a hard time pulling a shot (action, physical or acting, doesn't matter).

So, bottom of the line is...You should not consider another field. Why? Because you like this field. Simple as that. You do what you love. It may take a little bit more time to get some things right...but hey, we have plenty of time to try. It's not the first time I've bounced my head against the wall because a shot just wasn't working. More than normal...so don't feel depressed, because it's not worth it. Instead, just think about how cool of a job we have, and how many possibilities of learning there are out there.

I hope that helps man.

Carlos.


ps: Shogun...thanks.

[f3rry]

Oh My God...


Thank you very much, Carlos... God Bless you...

I opened this sub forum to post about similar thing and I gopt the answer right in front my eyes....

I am doing a short and some of the shot looked really bad, i felt so down then I start reading more books and watch more good films, get motivated and do it again, but the series of shots doen't work together, no life nor dynamic... I dont know what went wrong.... Then I kept reading notes from masters and found couple tricks I am still doing it now.... will it ever be a great animation? I don't know. But I kept walking to that direction.

It's so easy to get discouraged. Chin up, look ahead and don't give up.

[colintheys]

There’s been some great inspirational writing in this thread so far, but I figured it can’t hurt to add some more. Absolutely don’t give up! You seem to have hit the common thread that connects all good creative professionals, a slight lack of self-confidence and the desire to fix your mistakes. Would you really be happier if you were totally self-confident? Then you would never be motivated to improve! Many of the best artists in the world have gone to the grave never appreciating their own work, a sad but true fact. A hack is someone who is satisfied with their current abilities and sees no need for self-improvement (see Goosebumps.) They’re perfectly happy to produce the same work again and again. The self-critic is the real artist. So take confidence in the fact that you have the drive. Where there’s a will there’s a way.
I think most artists have felt the pain of having their work not live up to their highest expectations. I recently almost gave up animation for good after releasing my short film. After two years of work I released it, thinking it was really impressive for a first character, but it utterly bombed, receiving only one cgtalk reply that wasn’t from someone I knew, despite almost 800 downloads. Seeing as 3d is a hobby I can’t afford anyway, I uninstalled my software and decided to look for a new hobby. It took a little while, but I realized that I would never be happy with my decision to quit because I knew that I wanted to animate, despite what other people said. So, I’m already thinking about what to do next. I animate in my spare time, as I’m a first-year college student, but you’ve got it really good! You can take your time to improve your technique and get PAID for it! So don’t quit by any means. Keep doing what you enjoy, especially seeing as it’s a hard job to get and you need talent to be hired it in the first place. So don’t fret and don’t feel unduly depressed. Just keep working and enjoy it. :) If later you do determine that we were wrong, you can’ always look for a more normal profession, but for now, you’ve got something special.

Happy rendering,
-Colin Theys

[eek]

Hi Hypersushi,

Ok let me get this straight off, YOU ARE NOT A TALENTLESS HACK. And with you job situation, its the exactly the same at my job, Im 1 of only 2 animators in the company(im the only one in my office!) and do find it hard to bounce ideas off people. But you gotta not give up, ive been at the pit of depression with my animation, but you musnt worry, the point of animation to me is that its a life long journey, im constantly learning it everyday! and as you say "not finding the mistakes" -well this just takes time.

Ive been doing this for about 2 years nows, and still find it a struggle at times but when you get something working and the character feels alive and jumps out of the screen, thats what i live for, and even if those moments are rare, there the moments that keep me doing it. Thats the hook.

Constantly see, watch masses of tv, study people walking, act out shots, video people animals, use reference. Always look at your surroundings. I find refence a huge help.

As Carlos(your work rocks man!) says try not to get too attached to the shot, we have a saying well in 2d animation "killing your babies", i still get attached though hehe, but try open up to suggestion.

The funny thing that gets me when im stressed is that its ANIMATION! you giving life to something! and that brings me the joy of doing it, well im a workaholic anyway!

Timing and spacing is a thing your learn after years, it takes time. Its weird this job, its a craft and you get for paid for it, i know the feeling of when you work in the field, you can lose a bit of self confidence, because its work and after a while i didnt find it fun, but then i tried to add my own twist on the work i gave it my touch so i had my heart in it, and this lifted my spririt. You can make the work your own and still keep it a job, learn the rules then break them. If your stuck , step back and get a stranger to look completely impartial, take a break. Act out the shot, take thumbnail sketches. And when you get critisism dont just let them say "its wrong" ask them why.

Anyway i better get back to work, hyper really dont worry, when i started, i was scared sh*tless! haha it wears off and then you can only progress! Ive learnt through shear dam will!, i say to my self "never give up" each day. Because what doesnt kill you, makes you stronger.

keep on playing,

eek

[nomad_girl]

i just wanted to tell you guys that i really enjoyed this thread--everything that has been written here is extremely constructive and inspirational.

hyper-- don't you dare quit! i can tell by your post that you are very thoughtful and are working extremely hard-- doing research and studying. you have said yourself that you have been pleased with some of your work and feel you are progressing. stay with it... you are not alone in the way you are feeling!!!

please know that you are not alone in your attempts and your efforts....

last summer i finished my first character animated film and i kept getting the same feedback over & over.... the look is good, but the animation needs tremendous work... and i felt really bummed because my focus was supposed to be the animation. i felt really awkward too because i kept trying to "see the weight shifting" and "see" the parts that needed work, but i had the hardest time and others would point out the obvious to me that i kept seeming to miss and i really got frustrated.

after i had finished the film i got several commissions for aftereffects/video and illustration work so i thought that after all those comments it would be good to take a break from character animation & and come back with a fresh eye. well--i finished my other projects & some time has gone by now so i am now trying again-- striving to get up the confidence to develop that awareness and critical eye toward my animations. i just participated in the cgtalk anim. challenge.. and was not pleased at all with my work--- but i have to keep telling myself that the answer is just to keep working at it and trying hard-- because i really want to create believable characters.

you must do the same!! very best of luck to you! :thumbsup:

ps. and hey you must be doing well... you have kept the job for a year.... perhaps your boss is just trying to push you very hard and thinks the strong criticism is means to that end....?

[Bingo Little]

Hyper,

You must realise one very important thing. CG Animation requires not only talent, but also UNDERSTANDING. I'd go as far as saying that understanding is even more important. It involves the mental capability to observe and reproduce actions (minor and major) in detail. As such, it requires consciencious effort to understand the way characters behave and react. This mental capacity has much more to do with intellect rather than innate talant as we see it in the 2D Board. I am not underestimating the role of the talent, what I'm saying is that instead of trying to conjure up some mystical forces that will enhance your talent, sit down and use your brain. Each motion must be logically defined -- not only on its own, but rather as an integral part of the sequence. Any (as minor as it may well be) movement of any part of the character must be there for a purpose -- a purpose you must clearly understand and be able to describe with words, and to defend your choice of it because of the logic behind it. This is not a talent, this is work, concentration, and planning.

Once you have this part absolutely clear in your mind, THEN the talent will show up. Why? Because on this solid base you will already have you will be able to start improvising and adding character to the character via specific motions (which are however rigidly bound by the process described above). Once you have this rigid mental process in place for each minor or major, primary or secondary motion, THEN you will be able to act via the character -- which many may tend to describe as a talent for animation.

All the best, and don't give up! Good luck!
Bingo Little

[ivo D]

ow men dont feel down, you can do it.

i just started doing another walkcycle again..
i got really really down.., than i get the movement doen, look back and it sucks.. than when it is oke, i get lost in the curve editor..

but heej, ill keep trying, dont have time today anymore.. but than tomorrow, or some other day.. i will start to try..

i just decided today ,to get a large board above my desk in my room with all the basic animation as reference layd out.. walks, runs, jumps, etc .. it's an option.. well just like modelling use reference.. thats so helpfull..

and you just keep moving forward ,dont look back, it can only get better.

analyze what you have animated after a few weeks,, than you might see your flaws. it will come to you in time , and you have the job, so that proves you have the skill ,, now fine tune it, and have funn creating life:D

be proud of what you have now.. lots of people dream of being an animator.. lol mee :p

keep on going my friend.. lots of luck to you!!!!!!!!

[Geese Howard]

wow!

HyperSush: keep up the tremendous efforts, u should also feel lucky to be an animator in Malaysia, i haven't heard of many CG jobs over there, so try your hardest to hold that position!

everybody else: it's great how everybody comes together to support a fellow animator! it's very inspriring, makes me wanna skip all this rigging/texturing boredom and get to the action on my demoreel! Thanks for the posts, everybody! :applause:

[andy_maxman]

i find it hard to keep the same zeal and momentum going on in a shot........cos sometimes it looks good and sometimes it doesnt......but the only thing which keeps me going is the life which we try and give to the character.......

it doenst hurt whether ur good or bad....be honest in whatever you do...things will unfold itself....
good luck!!!
cheers !
:)andy
:beer:

[Remi]

What a great motivational thread.....I think every animator goes through this type of thing...no? It's just good to hear that other's go through it as well.....KEEP ANIMATING!!!!!!:buttrock:

[mimo8]

it realy is a great motivating... also just got totally lost in the graph editor

you start out with a walkcircle ... looks good and well organized, then there is some delay in the legs or something ... you move the keys arround and suddenly the whole order is nothnig but a big mess

then the question ... should I start from scratch aggain ... keep on tuning ... is it something major missing or would a little detail bring the whole system in balance aggain

as said before ... animation is no easy job
so lets keep on motivating
:thumbsup:

[mimo8]

one more thing I gotta ad

animation takes a calm and peacfull mind
when you allready feel the deadline in coming closer, your boss knocking n the door every 5 minutes, how do you want to see the little things that make it work or not

this is differnet with modelling or character design.
I mean finding a form takes time, but working it out can also be done under stress.

animating and stress go much harder together

:cool:

so try to stay leaned back ... dont get crazy about the pressure cause this will cost you the eye for the necessary

[ivo D]

yea i to have the curve editor problem, will get the hang of it someday..

dont have time to practice at the moment but i will :)

no stress.. woooh?!??!.. WHAT! .. thats hard:surprised

think ill need some beer in my room to calm myself down hehe:beer:

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