I think that the internet and cheap hardware and software allowed anyone who put in the time to be “Top tier”, and when everyone is, no one is. The competition increased and so did the ability of the people that stood a chance of making it. All of those being multidisciplinarians/CG generalists. I think some of the people you mentioned got too comfortable and never expanded their skill-set. YouTube illustrates the work of the people exposed to CG at a much younger age and they are doing everything themselves and doing it well. Working on films might be prestigious, but you also spend a lot of time unemployed by the looks of some of their CVs. If you can do everything well you can go into advertising and earn mega-bucks/ have a much more stable career.
Irrelevant
Yes, of course Centennials have an amazing advantage. Firstly, they have it from their birth, and secondly, they know who they want to become earlier, and cater their education accordingly. Thirdly, they have a wealth of videocourses, which are close to being taught by a personal teacher. In my 20’s, it was mainly a couple of books, a very basic symbiosis or artistic and technical insights, but none of it thoroughly.
I’ve got my first computer by 22, and I knew I want to work in 3d by 20. By that age, many people already have the skillset I don’t.
But I, personally, don’t think it is due to cheap hardware. I don’t know the reason why the amount of IT specialists increased solely in Ukraine five-fold in 10 years. But I guess, because it seems like a new holy grail. Prior to that, it was websites, management, judiciary disciplines. But it all lead to oversaturation. I guess we are close to it in 3d field as well. At the same time, 3d is so painfully difficult and time-consuming to keep up. I understand, that stability is myth in our global economy in any field today.
Those, who were cosy on 2d-positions, already have problems employing, as 3d is often mandatory additional skill.
I remember, when people were saying that with technical progress people will spend more time on a creative part. So it happened.
It’s much easier to render with current CPU’s and GPU’s.
Some tools became much more user-friendly.
Materials are both faster to create, but also a bit more demanding to know the drill.
With time, affordable and AI-driven mocap will bring animation to a new level.
But now I read that no-one is great, as you say, as everyone is. Do you mean that there are so many great artists, that it’s hard to pick up who deserves an award?
Does it devalue the industry? Or is it beneficial to the industry and to the end user?