Animator's work hours

[Sparky15]

Hello

I am considering going to school to become an animator, but would like to have an idea of an animator's typical work hours per week. Is it a 40 hour work week? Do animator's get weekends off? I am considering the animation work field but I do not want the work to control my life. Also, would an animator who worked at Pixar, EA, Disney, or something like that, would their hours differ much from a smaller or less known company?

THanks

[Mirana]

Are you taking 2D or 3D animation? Not that it much matters to work hours (which I am certain well exceed a 40hr work week), but if 2D is your passion you'll probably have to move or work only with TV animation.

[Storyboard Dave]

Y'know...I never really look at how many hours I work. I enjoy this profession enough where sometimes when I call it a job is almost a sin.

it should be a passionate thing you jump into here. Don't fear the work. The opposite of it would be like "I'd better stop having fun because it's beyond my alloted hours for it".

I don't mean to candy coat it. It is hard at times; clients can get demanding as well as the higher ups, but it's still a profession that I hope you get into because you enjoy it so much.

[pmiles]

I have been physically locked out of the workplace occasionally just to keep me away from my work. Animators are a strange bunch, they love what they do so much that they will do it for free, work 24-7, and actually beg security to let them in the building after everyone has been kicked out. I have worked some pretty strange hours, sometimes I've worked from 6PM to 6AM, sometimes I never go home, it's not about the hours you clock but rather getting the project out the door. You do whatever you have to do to get the project done. People sometimes liken it to slave labor, but if you really love what you do, you won't even have a clue as to what time of day it is or what day it is. You do not want to find yourself staring at the clock counting the hours away.

[ScatteredLogical]

I've read in other forums (primarily AWN) that the longer you work, the more stable your hours get.

[Pixeldragoon]

Gah.. I can't wait to get in to college... then out and into a career o_o!