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#621

…Here’s the thing, though: I have a friend who works as a professional animator, and he says “Creativity and perceived talent can come latter, perseverance and a willingness to listen and learn is best.” I’ve heard similar things from just about everyone here at CGTalk, and any time I get to listen to any other animators.

Mooncalf,… I like what you said here and I’m totally with you. Getting into the game late is also one of my fears. I’m 38. I’ve been doing Graphic Design in some form or another for awhile now, but not animation. Funny, since that’s the reason I got into art in the first place. My career has somehow steered me away from my original goal. Now that I want to re-focus myself into animation, I’m afraid I might be out of the loop, …too late buster, …youth will prevail.

The things on my side are that I have had some art training, …I have been working in art-related jobs, …and while my drawing skills could be better, they’re not bad.

I love animation in all forms,… and I want to be an animator. Hopefully us “old dogs” still have a few tricks up our sleeves.

-Stych.

#622

It’s refreshing to see others in the same situation. Loneliness is never any good in any form. One thing I will say about being a little older and focusing on animation… It took me my mid-twenties to realize that I really did love animation, and that that was what I wanted to focus on. And my current career has really matured me to the level of having infinite patience in learning. Sometimes when we’re young we want to do a million different things… like me, out of high school I wanted to draw and animate… I made a left turn here and there, and boom, I ended up as a cop. lol. Very helpful career, btw… I’ve really learned to read people and read body language out of a need to survive.
So thanks Mooncalf, for the upbeat words. :slight_smile: In fact, I’m printing that post out and putting it on my motivational corkboard. Right next to a picture my wife took of me in front of Pixar. Inspiration comes from everywhere.

#623

I love that optimism, but carrying this out at any age over 30 largely depends upon your health. It’s much easier to abuse your body during crunch time and not cause permanent damage when you’re 23 than when you’re 59. Not unless you counter such things like the natural spinal disc atrophy with healthly doses of exercise.

Plus, studios are likely to prefer these younger talents simply because they’re less of a liability risk, and are so jazzed that they’re on a real project, they will forgoe many things to make the project happen - things that older bodies are less likely to forgive.

The trick is to get into the industry young enough so that by the time your body would have worn out, you’re an art director or producer before 35. If not, time to get out that yoga book.:slight_smile:

peace
d=^)

#624

Most animators careers peak after 40.

Don’t be worry about age :).

#625

Have you ever checked out the nine old man. I believe ken harris was still working at 70 or so. They were old too. They started young though. But it isn’t about age I think. But, I’m still in a school where I learn all the CG-stuff. After that one I plan to go to the higher level of schools, that doens’t really matter. What matters is that I prolly have more time then you. If you want to become real good, you’ll have to practise, that’ll take time. But I’d defenitally would learn to draw!!! I saw one post above mentioning he couldn’t draw. you should learn it and learn some traditional animation too, if you’re serious!

#626

-I love that optimism, but carrying this out at any age over 30 largely depends upon your health. It’s much easier to abuse your body during crunch time and not cause permanent damage when you’re 23 than when you’re 59. -

Hmmm,… I’m going to assume you had your tongue firmly in cheek when you wrote this post,… so,… Ha, ha! :rolleyes:

I realize that any studio taking a chance hiring a 38 year old fart like me will have to make allowances for a few things, … what with my advanced age and all. You know that after you hit 30, everything is downhill. We do have to be careful not to get too “jazzed,”… that can really screw up the ol’ pacemaker. :smiley:

Actually,… I wouldn’t mind hearing Bobby’s opinion on all this age stuff,… seeing that he’s been our main contact for Animation Mentor. Hey, Bobby, do you think people in their mid-30’s trying to get into animation still have a chance?

#627

I’m absolutely certain they have. As long as their health’s okay, so they can work overtime and get deadlines. This has actually already been answered in this thread: When I asked about a degree, bobby and the others told us it’s not about a piece of paper. In the end it’s all about your reel. Why wouldn’t Pixar (or another studio, for that matter) hire a 45 year old animator who’s got great skill, an amazing reel and perfect health? There’s no reason not to.

  • Bentagon
#628

Why do you guys think all animators in the industry are 20 years old?

I’d say that average age is a little bit over 30, maybe even not only a little bit (talking about cg animation only). Of course I don’t know all animators in the world so I can be pretty wrong:).

Age has nothing to do with it. Of course when you just start at 3x you will have it a little harder but at the same time you will have more patience, concentration and maturity and these things are very important.
I personally started doing cg (there was little or no cg character animation back then) when I was 20 something, but I know people who started at 25 or 27.

Young people right now are competing with animators from Disney for example who have years of production experience under their belts. I don’t think they started at age of 5 :), so they cannot be 20 right now.

Until you can hold your pencil you can animate. That is all.

#629

I think there is no reason for this age discussion, if u are good enought and have the right attitude, why aren´t they going to hire u???

I have 21, started with cg some time ago and the only advantage that i see is that i´ll have more time to learn but in rest i didn´t see why 30, 40 years old guys can´t compete in equal.

#630

The average age is around 30- 25. I think that because all the animators go to school first. You’ll have to finish that before you can do a “real” job. The people back in the Netherlands who are completely finished with school and have a good degree of education are normally around the 25 sooo…

About the health. I think if you just take care of yourself it will be alright. Be sure you take good RSI prevention, use tools like a wacom or something. Be sure you’ll be healthy. I assume you can use these tools at work too, you can always bring them with you. Wacoms fits in a bag so…

I agree that it’s the skill, not the age :thumbsup:

#631

If 25-30 is the average age of animators, where do they all go after 30? What do they do? Do they all stampede off a cliff?

I’m a 35 year old illustrator and not an animator, however, I’m sure it’s just like any other artistic craft where one continues to grow through time. I’m a better artist all around, then when I was 25. I plan to continue what I do until I die.

Unlike other professions, my clients don’t really care what I look like or how old I am. I could be 150, I don’t think they’d care. Just as long as I can still communicate effectively and deliver on time.

With that said, I’m still puzzled by the average age of animators (25-30)? Is it because:

  1. It’s hard to have a solo career as an animator, because you need more people to create a product. Therefore, you have to find work in a large company?

  2. Most animation is digital and the traditional animators (30+) never made the transition?

  3. Companies would rather hire youth with the perception of less baggage and lower pay?

I’m just curious. Feel free to comment.

Thanks.

#632

Hey, folks. I’m just making sure I’m on the right discussion. It seems to have turned into an age debate. Hee hee.

  • CLOCKWERKZ, ABOUT AGE: Personally I feel it’s never too l late to start anything in life. Might just be my personal take? However here’s a fun story. I got to meet Miyazaki (Director of Many great Japanese animation films, I’m sure you know) and he told a story about how he was an animator and at the age of 40 he was asked if he wanted to be a direcotr. He didn’t ever think of himself as a director but he decided to try it out. I can only tell you that that guy with no experience and a BIG heart has made some of the most sincere animated films of all time (again just my opinion). So as fare as Age I really feel it’s never too late to start. The average age of animators at pixar is about 35. We have some ninjas that have been animating for decades and that is amazing. Don’t fret. Just follow your calling. If you believe in yourself you can do it. And yes, good attitude is a MUST.

  • SIGGRAPH GOODIES: Someone asked if AnimationMentor will have brochures and the like at Siggraph. Yes, we will have this stuff and some other goodies for folks. :thumbsup:

  • SIGGRAPH VOLUNTEERS: if you are a siggraph volunteer, Carlos Baena and Myself will be giving a talk with Pixar Recruiters and looking at portfolios for all volunteers interested. If you are a volunteer you know the date and time already. We hope to see some people there and we’ll be excited to critique your work.

  • AGREENSTER: So you will be at siggraph. We’ll have to hang out my man. Thanks for all your positive energy on this thread. “just keep swimming.”:slight_smile:

  • NEW EMAILS AND THE AM NEWSLETTER: IF you are going to be switching emails just resend your new email when you get it and if you want there is a “remove me” from the newsletter on the bottom. Or you can send mail to the newsletter and we’ll remove you. I hope that clears that up?

  • ARE THESE THE MENTORS?: No, these are some very big ninjas in the industry. Some of them may be mentors if they choose. But we interviewed people we respected very much and know their time is very precious. Getting this variety of input in our classes is going to be huge for our students. Trust me I know, I’ve seen EVERY CLASS. Our mentors will be listed in part on our next newsletter. We are not limiting the amount of mentors we have. And No, Carlos, Shawn and I are not the only mentors. Hee hee.

Word up to the peeps. I’ll see some of you at Siggraph. in the mean time, keep up the good energy and do some awesome animation!

-BOOOM

#633

like a fell wind “the boom” swoops through and clears up the rumormill… hehe thanks buddy… again… wish i was going to siggraph… would be kickass to meet (and maybe have a beverage or two with you all)… cool that the mentorlist is more than 3 and less than 40.

thats pretty interesting that the average age of the animators is around 35 at pixar although also pretty logical… it usually takes a while to become one of the best in the business :slight_smile:

i guess that means i have 12 years to practice :smiley: and then the rest of my life to perfect

#634

i think we dont have to worry about our age… unless we stop watching cartoon network and feeling like a boy inside :bounce:

#635

Hear hear! Thanks for the info again, Bobby… I’ll be there Wednesday at 3:00 for the big unveiling.

Super excited! :slight_smile:

  • M
#636

http://www.igda.org/committees/qol.php

#637

For sure! :smiley: I’ll track you down one way or the other. This will be my first Siggraph and I couldnt be more excited. Nervous, but excited.

Why? Because my animations are still rendering… :argh: I’m going to be burning DVD’s on the plane!

#638

Lol Agreenster. I hope to se e you there too at the Animation Mentor annoucement :slight_smile: You’re quite an inspiration for pushign so hard to be in animation :wink:

#639

That’s true!

I’ve just got my degree this year and I’m 24. There was a guy in my class who was 35 so there is no age to be put on becoming an animator.

Go for it!

#640

The siggraph “unveiling” is really just gonna be some small announcements with some pretty cool goodies including a presentation reel of what some of the classes look and feel like, to give a better idea to people. Mostly it’s just gonna be fun to put some faces with the names.

See you there, I hope. :thumbsup:

-BOOOM