Mistake # 1. Study on your own
It will take you a lot of time to master 3D animation from books and tutorials. In specialized schools, training takes from 3 months to 1.5 years and includes both a theoretical base and a practical part. All assignments are analyzed in detail and commented on by experienced mentors, which allows students to see and correct their mistakes.
Mistake # 2. Hone the Artist’s Skills
A 3D animator must be able to quickly sketch – sketches, as well as have an artistic vision. To do this, it is not at all necessary to finish art universities and know the basics of academic drawing. Try 3–4 months of active practice, creating 10 sketches every day, and you will see for yourself how the level of your animated videos for business will increase.
Mistake # 3. Give preference to theory
You can read 20 books on how to snowboard but never conquer a single slope. Animation is also a skill that is developed as a result of repeated repetition. Watch cartoons from popular animation studios, analyze how it’s done, and copy to master the best techniques.
Mistake # 4. Trying to embrace the immensity
3D animation is a sphere adjacent to such “3D” directions as modeling, rigging, skinning, and SFX. However, this does not mean that you have to be an expert in every area. Indeed, in the profession, you will also need knowledge of the basics of directing, choreography, editing, screenwriting, and acting. You also need to understand anatomy to understand how muscles work in motion. Impressive list? Imagine how long it will take if you delve into each of the areas.
Mistake # 5. Getting hung up on toolkits
The debate about the software on which it is better to animate is a discussion about whether it is better to draw: with a pencil or a pen. The software you use does not affect your hiring decision: an optional 3D package can be mastered in 3 weeks. If the studios love your portfolio, then they are really willing to wait. Still, talented 3D animators are much less common than specialists in Maya and 3ds Max.
Mistake # 6. Include everything in your portfolio
“How to build a portfolio if I haven’t worked anywhere?” – a frequent question for beginners. Don’t worry, it’s not the quantity that matters, but the quality. A studio producer or supervisor sometimes only needs to see one shot to understand how good an animator is. You can even submit one job, maybe creating animated ads, but it is unique and impressive, and your skills are sure to be appreciated. It will be a plus if you make it specifically for the studio to which you are sending your resume.
Mistake # 7. Working without perspectives
Not every company offers room for growth. Performing the same routine tasks for 2-3 years, you run the risk of remaining at the same professional level. Therefore, before happily putting your signature on the employment contract, ask what your responsibilities will be, whether there is an opportunity to move up the career ladder, whether there are seminars and training courses within the company.
Mistake # 8. Being afraid to make a mistake
Coming to animation with a certain amount of knowledge, beginners hope that they will immediately achieve impressive results, so they often perceive any mistake as a defeat. Do not be afraid: mistakes at the beginning of your path are just an excuse to work on yourself and improve yourself professionally faster. During the trial period, your mentor and colleagues will always tell you how to do better and share their own experiences.
Mistake # 9. Being an individualist
The company needs not only professionals in their field but also people who know how to work in a team. How a newcomer fits into the team, copes with common tasks, interacts with colleagues are important criteria for assessment. Even if you’re an introvert, learn to connect with those around you.
Mistake # 10. To romanticize the profession
Do not assume that animation is pure creativity, when, for example, you spend hours thinking over the gait of the main character. In fact, as in any field, the routine cannot be avoided: you will have to do the same type of animation cycles, “animate” icons, and perform purely technical tasks. However, in a successful company, there will always be enough creative work: from character animation to cinematic creation.