Illustration For Animation?

[dzb30]

Hello, I am currently a student at RISD and I am am hoping to go into animation in the future. However, I am wondering if it would actually be better to major in illustration and take some animation classes. Is getting a good foundation in fine arts better than just majoring in animation, and just learn the animation concepts later?

[Meloncov]

Animation has more differences from animation than it has things in common. Being a strong draftsman is certainty important to being an animator, especially a 2D animator, but ultimately it's less important than acting and timing.

Plus, a good animation program at a four year school will give you the fine art foundations you need to be a strong animator. Spending four years on fine art before starting in on animation will certainty give you a substantial advantage over people starting in on animation cold, but it means it'll be longer before you're a hirable animator.

[[email protected]]

Animation has more differences from animation than it has things in common.

Getting philosophical, here...

[Aozora-Hime]

Hello, I am currently a student at RISD and I am am hoping to go into animation in the future. However, I am wondering if it would actually be better to major in illustration and take some animation classes. Is getting a good foundation in fine arts better than just majoring in animation, and just learn the animation concepts later?

You just asked the question of my LIFE! My university only has fine arts (studio art) available and Im more or less interested in animation/character design/concept art. Working for a studio or WD Imagineering would be dreams fulfilled for me. idk where I could go for animation specifically in state (combo of no money + California colleges suffering badly from budget problems and therefore closing to transfer students), but this also makes me feel better!:

Spending four years on fine art before starting in on animation will certainty give you a substantial advantage over people starting in on animation cold...

[Meloncov]

You just asked the question of my LIFE! My university only has fine arts (studio art) available and Im more or less interested in animation/character design/concept art. Working for a studio or WD Imagineering would be dreams fulfilled for me. idk where I could go for animation specifically in state (combo of no money + California colleges suffering badly from budget problems and therefore closing to transfer students), but this also makes me feel better!:

I'm not sure what their current policy on transfer students is, but if you could get into SJSU, you'd be in a very good place.

[Aozora-Hime]

I'm not sure what their current policy on transfer students is, but if you could get into SJSU, you'd be in a very good place.

As cool as that college sounds, they have indeed locked out transfer students. Damn you, California public colleges!!!

[Lizzybeth]

Visual development for animation and animation are two different things. If you want to do animation then you should seek out an animation specific program. However if you want to ultimately go into vis dev the illustration/fine arts track may be best, but taking some animation classes on the side would certainly help with getting a feeling for the medium as well as design conventions, restraints, needs, and opportunities.

[Aozora-Hime]

Visual development for animation and animation are two different things. If you want to do animation then you should seek out an animation specific program. However if you want to ultimately go into vis dev the illustration/fine arts track may be best, but taking some animation classes on the side would certainly help with getting a feeling for the medium as well as design conventions, restraints, needs, and opportunities.

I wish there was an illustration program nearby (one that I could get a BFA in) but there's only an associates degree program, and I really want something bigger than that. I appreciate animation and have taken classes on it (I like 2D waaaaaaay more than 3D) but I thought doing animation specifically would be a better idea, since most animation programs have you study character design/story development/concept art as part of the program, while illustration doesnt always require animation courses. Im also the type of person who wants to do a bit of everything! <X3

[dzb30]

Thank you for the responses, I think I am ultimatly going to go into an animation major since thats what I want to do, but then It sounds like I should atleast take illustration classes where I can to improve my drawing ability to try and give myself as much of an edge as I can.