Demo Reel - Is it fair to include traced animation?

#1

Hi everyone!

With regards to submitting 3D animation demo reel to prospective clients or applying for a job, do you think it’s fair to submit animations which are borderline “traced” from live action movies, tv shows, anime, etc?

Or do you guys think it’s better to have a demo reel containing 100% original characters and scenes?

I hope my question makes sense and thanks in advance.

#2

What skills are you trying to show in the portfolio? If it’s matchmoving, motion capture, then it makes sense. If animation skills, then what’s the point?

#3

If you are a recent grad or new to the industry, you certainly won’t be creating your very own 100% original characters and scenes for your employer. Odds are, you will be taking someone else’s work and recreating it or building off of it following rigid style guides. So, basically, doing exactly what you are thinking of including in your demo reel. Being able to mimic an existing style is a skillset so just make sure to include proper references/sources/credits to make it clear you are not intending to misrepresent your work and follow IP/fair use/copyright regs.

#4

Well not exactly that. It really depends on what/where they want to work. For any kind of character animation ‘explicit tracing’ likely isn’t enough if going head-to-head with other character animators.

-For VFX there is ‘digital double’ work. Make an A list actor who is pretending the ‘jump off a building’ -which looks totally cheesy against a green screen- look good. As in you need to make the ‘jump off the building’ part look believable -you are doing the ‘digital stunt man’ work and it has to both look real and do what the director wants (which is why it wasn’t just all ‘practical’ in the first place).

-For Feature Animation - you want your animations to target Pixar. So complete movement and gesture from scratch. Not a ‘trace’ of something or other.

Basically to be most attractive to hire you need to look like you can most likely do the job requested with the least amount of trouble for anyone else you are working with.
You are correct-most juniors right out of school don’t have the portfolio to get a job. Thats why they need quality time to build up a reel. If you try for jobs before your reel is ready then you won’t get the jobs.

#5

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the advise, I really appreciate it. I now understand a little bit better on how much effort and time I should put on my portfolio. I’m currently not enrolled in any class as I’m still learning all the basics by myself thru online tutorials (YouTube etc) and also read a couple of animation books. It might be a long shot but my personal goal is to finish a decent or ok enough animation reel within the next 6 months so I can break into the animation industry. Although sometimes I doubt if I can do it since I only able to study after my day job which I’m so eager to quit.

If you have other advises I’d really appreciate it.

Cheers!

#6

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