3D Animation Jobs - The Storyboard Animator Career Path - By: Art Saborio

3D animation jobs and career paths for the storyboard animator are a jumping point that can lead to other many new, exciting and rewarding areas within the animation industry. Storyboards are lifeblood of an animation project. It can live and die through the storyboard. It is the step-by-step walk- through that defines the beginning, middle and end of the project. The steps can include design, layouts, backgrounds, types of animation and any post production work. Although there are a few software programs that will aid in making a storyboard, the most effect method is still hand drawing.

Animation Storyboard

Storyboards are a great tool to help those calling the shots if the project is worthy of moving forward. Many projects die at this stage. Project rarely start with an unfinished storyboard. The interaction between the objects and characters are examined in detail at this stage.

Scene are broken down to look at the relationships. Things that examined are the size relationships between characters and props, and indicates the acting by hitting strong poses on each story point. The storyboard animator is the most important part of a project's planning. Rough outlines and background locations, characters, and props are all communicated in the storyboard. There is a fine balance between strong drawing skills, understanding of anatomy, acting, directing, staging, and the ability to think creatively while still meeting tight deadlines. Many storyboard animators are also the project's animation director as the skills to write a storyboard cross over into directing.

Long time storyboard artist and co-creator of Frederator/Nickelodeon's Call Me Bessie!, Diane Kredensor, talks about the daily efforts of a storyboard artist, "First, you go through the script and thumbnail out your shots. Then you pitch your thumbnails to the storyboard supervisor or animation director for notes and changes. From there, you flesh it out, adding the acting, into a full rough storyboard. Some productions already have the voices recorded and the board artist will board to track. Otherwise, you create (draw) the acting and the voice actor match your board. Once your rough board is approved by the director, you make it pretty, putting everything on model, and then you're done."

The Proper Animation Training

Now that you have finished reading through the background and use of a storyboard you may be thinking to yourself, what kind of training and skills does a good storyboard artist need to create and develop a project from start to finish? Another good question is what does it take to advance within this career path? According to Diane Kredensor, "You want to be a good draftsman, able to draw the human figure in a variety of poses. Other skills should include strong storytelling, cinematography, staging and composition. Storyboards should clearly communicate ideas to the entire production team, so strong communication skills are an important asset."

There is one thing that every animator agrees upon and that is the need to learn on the job. Whether it is through working for free, as an internet or some other role, getting that life experience is necessary to progress. The best training you will get is working on a real live project. The more experience you have with working on storyboards, the better you become. Animation is one of those skills which become better with each person you interact with. There are many students who work for two years or more as an intern just to get the chance to work with veteran animators. Storyboard creation is definitely one of those positions where a new animator will want to work very closely with a season veteran. The skills you will learn from these people are priceless.

About the Author

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