The programs I have used are Photoshop, Flash, Illustrator, After Effects and Premiere Pro.
I have also been able to better my skills (to varying degrees) in storytelling, character design, layouts and animation. These were the areas I wanted to really improve on this year as I don't feel my efforts in the previous two years were particularly good, and I feel improvement has been made although I will still continue to improve on them.
Areas of Interest of Work
My main skill set is in 2D animation and motion graphics as I enjoy creating graphic art and animating it in After Effects as well as creating characters and using cameras in 3D space to create short films. I have a passion for design and creating graphics and I have been looking into other softwares that are used for motion graphics and have decided to have a go at using Cinema4D as well as Smith Micro's popular software Anime Studio over the next few weeks. The latter software offers the user to create and animate characters with backgrounds and props within one software which is efficient and user friendly. In have also looked at Ubiart's Framework, the animation software that was used for Rayman Origins, as the style and look of the art really fascinates me as I enjoy producing slightly zany artwork myself and enjoy the puppeteering method of animation in 2D softwares.
Over the past several weeks I have been thinking about what area of the animation industry I want to be a part of. I have researched studios and found internships I am interested in and have began planning how I am to prepare myself and my portfolio for applications.
Potential Studios and Applications
Astleybakerdavies
This is the studio I am most excited about applying for. I love the style of Peppa Pig, Ben, Holly's Little Kingdom and The Big Knights as it has so much character and the animation is simple yet so readable and fun to watch. The studio doesn't offer jobs very often, however I will send them my show reel over the next month to so with a variety of design styles and animations as they may have a junior opening or runner position available.
Astleybakerdavies
This is the studio I am most excited about applying for. I love the style of Peppa Pig, Ben, Holly's Little Kingdom and The Big Knights as it has so much character and the animation is simple yet so readable and fun to watch. The studio doesn't offer jobs very often, however I will send them my show reel over the next month to so with a variety of design styles and animations as they may have a junior opening or runner position available.
Slurpy Studios
Slurpy Studios is an independent animation studio in London that produces great animation and really interesting design styles. The website says they do not have any openings at the moment but are accepting portfolios to keep on file for future openings.
Mummu
Mummu produce a wider variety of animation for clients than the above studios. They do CG as well as 2D, however their 2D work really interests me as the style is something I look up to as a well imagined form of communication in animation. An email address on the website allows people to post them their work as they look for new talent all the time. I will be sending my portfolio to Mummu in the near future when I have a good amount of work to show.
Animade
Animade produce some really fantastic puppet style animation, and a lot of their design style is quite inspirational. Animade don't have any job openings at the moment, but do run 3 month internships throughout the year which they advertise on social media, so I shall keep an eye out for these.
Seed Animation
Similar to Mummu, Seed Animation studio produce a wide variety of animation for TV and advertising in CG and 2D. Their 2D work is really great and professional, and their motion graphics are gorgeous to watch. Similar to Animade, Seed offer an email address for people to send their work and get added to their freelance database. They also offer internships throughout the year so I shall be applying to this studio in the near future.
Tiger Aspect
Tiger Aspect produce a variety of TV series, their animated series Charlie and Lola and Mr Bean The Animated Series are examples of 2D animated series I really look up to and find their styles interesting and stories fun to follow. They don't have any job openings at the moment, but do accept CVs for future work opportunities relevant to your area of interest in TV.
Sixteen South
Another children's TV series studio, Sixteen South produce a variety of animation series such as Pajanimals and Big & Small, although these aren't 2D, they are producing new series, Lily's Driftwood Bay, and Claude, both uniquely styled animated TV series. The studio doesn't have any job openings on their website, but they do have a contact address, so I shall be inquiring into their studio and perhaps show them my work soon.
Slurpy Studios is an independent animation studio in London that produces great animation and really interesting design styles. The website says they do not have any openings at the moment but are accepting portfolios to keep on file for future openings.
Mummu
Mummu produce a wider variety of animation for clients than the above studios. They do CG as well as 2D, however their 2D work really interests me as the style is something I look up to as a well imagined form of communication in animation. An email address on the website allows people to post them their work as they look for new talent all the time. I will be sending my portfolio to Mummu in the near future when I have a good amount of work to show.
Animade
Animade produce some really fantastic puppet style animation, and a lot of their design style is quite inspirational. Animade don't have any job openings at the moment, but do run 3 month internships throughout the year which they advertise on social media, so I shall keep an eye out for these.
Seed Animation
Similar to Mummu, Seed Animation studio produce a wide variety of animation for TV and advertising in CG and 2D. Their 2D work is really great and professional, and their motion graphics are gorgeous to watch. Similar to Animade, Seed offer an email address for people to send their work and get added to their freelance database. They also offer internships throughout the year so I shall be applying to this studio in the near future.
Tiger Aspect
Tiger Aspect produce a variety of TV series, their animated series Charlie and Lola and Mr Bean The Animated Series are examples of 2D animated series I really look up to and find their styles interesting and stories fun to follow. They don't have any job openings at the moment, but do accept CVs for future work opportunities relevant to your area of interest in TV.
Sixteen South
Another children's TV series studio, Sixteen South produce a variety of animation series such as Pajanimals and Big & Small, although these aren't 2D, they are producing new series, Lily's Driftwood Bay, and Claude, both uniquely styled animated TV series. The studio doesn't have any job openings on their website, but they do have a contact address, so I shall be inquiring into their studio and perhaps show them my work soon.
I also asked for letters of recommendation from several tutors which I will also send off with applications to studios.
Throughout my time at University, I have also taken part in the Lincoln Award. It awards extra effort through extra-curricular activities and workshops that have benefited me as an individual for post-university as well as job applications. This has helped me a lot, not only for job applications and interviews, but for my confidence.
As well as applying for jobs in the industry, I have also started planning more animated shorts for my own projects. I recently purchased Creating Animated Cartoons with Character by Cartoon Network's Camp Lazlo creator Joe Murray, a book telling the story of how he came about to produce his own TV shows and gives readers tips and guidance on doing the same.
I also approached the Universities' business funding team about receiving funding for setting up a small freelance business and eventually a small animation studio, however after much thought I am going to reapply next year if I do not get a job before then. This is because I don't feel 100% ready to commit to something this big, and want to get my skillet and style improved before I begin pitching for a small business.
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