I started working with my father’s computer at least four years back. I was always interested in animated games like any other kid. Seeing that I was occupying most of the time my father’s machine, he decided to get one separately for me. The prime purpose was to get me off his neck! But then, that also started off a great interest in me. I started liking the games that were on the computer; not just to play them but also to make them. I started researching the tools that are used to make these animated games and movies.
One of the major inspirations came from an interview that I saw on the internet. It was the animation artist, Mike Kane. He was talking about his experiences when he created the Avatar: Origins. He was an inspiration because he started small and was developing himself out of a hobby. He was making an impact out of it even though he was winning his daily bread elsewhere. This was part-time work for him. He made it sound as though it is pretty easy to do. I have also seen some of the works by professional animators and I found them very impressive. The games that they have created or the movies that have been made are all made to be impressive. They are not only artistic but also bring an educative twist to the tale. For young children, it is inspiring and guiding.
I have always enjoyed Disney’s Pixar productions like any other youngster. I have loved the way the work has been done by them. This love for the product made me study what is required to become an animator. An animator, I found, should have a flair for art and drawing. I have done a number of paintings during my school. I have also won accolades for these paintings that I did in different media, like water and oil. I have also done work on computer-based artworks. These have attracted the attention of my teachers and my school students; so much so that some of these have been put up on an exhibition recently organized in my school.
My interest in art and painting has also cultivated a spirit of creativity. In addition, it also made me admire art in various forms. This could be a painting, a cartoon or a story, or a poem. I have read that an understanding of the underlying story and a keen interest in storytelling is essential to build a good animation. My keen interest in stories and the storytelling methods adopted by a number of storytellers would help me understand the nuances involved.
I have always had a flair to learn a software package fast. I, of course, know how to work on most of the Microsoft Software. I have also worked on a number of graphic tools. Though of course, my intention is to learn more about the huge range of software tools available for animation. It is important if I want to master animation that I work towards mastering the tools as well as the methodologies to create an animated movie. This I have found that a number of institutes in the country offer.
Sheridan College is one of the best offering animator programs. Since I would like to be the best of the professionals doing animation, I would also like to study at one of the best colleges. From my survey of the institutes and my discussion with the students from various colleges, I found that Sheridan offers one of the best programs on multi-media and animation. The course content is elaborate, very practical, and at the same time, motivates the student to try on his own. Some of the students from Sheridan had their works on the internet. It is nice to see the students exhibit their animated products. This was also one of the reasons why I wanted to study at Sheridan where the students get to do lots of practical work. I am willing to put in the hard work that goes into learning any skill.