The challenge of the educational system:
The challenges with the current educational system for animation students is that its expensive, time-consuming and in many cases just not providing the best education a young animation student deserves. All too often the instructors at many colleges are just not qualified to teach the subject properly. This is because of the derelict academic system for the arts – where quite often the best teachers are not allowed to teach their subjects because they do not have a degree, or that many of those who do have a degree are teaching because they are simply not good enough to get into the industry! Students need more than this, especially in view of the extortionate fees they are required to pay these days to learn what they are passionate about!
The problems with accreditation:
Most colleges are made to become accredited in order to attract student loans. This effectively means that students have to pay through the nose for courses that have nothing to do with the subject they most want to study - animation! Reflecting this point, it should be pointed out that the two best animation schools in the world are Gobelins in France and online, Animation Mentor. Both of these are NOT accredited and they are by far and away the best programs any aspiring animator could wish to study. Without accreditation they can donate 100% of the teaching process to just teach their students animation, with no other burdensome classes added.
Most colleges are made to become accredited in order to attract student loans. This effectively means that students have to pay through the nose for courses that have nothing to do with the subject they most want to study - animation! Reflecting this point, it should be pointed out that the two best animation schools in the world are Gobelins in France and online, Animation Mentor. Both of these are NOT accredited and they are by far and away the best programs any aspiring animator could wish to study. Without accreditation they can donate 100% of the teaching process to just teach their students animation, with no other burdensome classes added.
The cost of animation training:
Added to this is the fact that the better mainstream schools, even with all their non-animation related classes, are becoming exponentially expensive and require their students to uproot themselves and move to where the school is. Additionally, many of them are extremely picky on who they accept for training, which means that students with a passion for animation but who disadvantages in their prerequisite training will never get in. All this means is many of the best and most passionate animation students do not have a fair shot at getting the best training in a way that is both affordable and accessible to them.
Added to this is the fact that the better mainstream schools, even with all their non-animation related classes, are becoming exponentially expensive and require their students to uproot themselves and move to where the school is. Additionally, many of them are extremely picky on who they accept for training, which means that students with a passion for animation but who disadvantages in their prerequisite training will never get in. All this means is many of the best and most passionate animation students do not have a fair shot at getting the best training in a way that is both affordable and accessible to them.
Why a traditional art-based curriculum?
As Tony White pointed out in his book “Jumping Through Hoops ~ The Animation Job Coach” (a free digital copy of which is given to all Foundation students!) more and more employees in the animation industry are asking to see not only digital animation portfolios and showreels. Today they want more – which effectively means they want to see additional art skills to just software skills, comprehensive sketchbooks and indications of the kind of process that has got the applicant to where they are with their presentation material. This is becoming more and more imperative to employers – especially small studio employers where most graduates start out – because applicants with art skills are versatile in what they can offer. Big studios invariably want specialists – but those specialist have to come with significant industry experience. The smaller studios however will be more inclined to take a chance on the unexperience college leaver – but the clincher in this case is that the applicant as proven and wide-ranging art skills that will enable them to work in several different departments in the production process if required too.
As Tony White pointed out in his book “Jumping Through Hoops ~ The Animation Job Coach” (a free digital copy of which is given to all Foundation students!) more and more employees in the animation industry are asking to see not only digital animation portfolios and showreels. Today they want more – which effectively means they want to see additional art skills to just software skills, comprehensive sketchbooks and indications of the kind of process that has got the applicant to where they are with their presentation material. This is becoming more and more imperative to employers – especially small studio employers where most graduates start out – because applicants with art skills are versatile in what they can offer. Big studios invariably want specialists – but those specialist have to come with significant industry experience. The smaller studios however will be more inclined to take a chance on the unexperience college leaver – but the clincher in this case is that the applicant as proven and wide-ranging art skills that will enable them to work in several different departments in the production process if required too.
Necessary foundational skills:
Many tech-driven schools and colleges do not teach this to a significant degree and will not tell you that you will need that side of your skill base too. Therefore, the Foundation Course in Animation has been designed to provide all those necessary foundation art skills to individual students who either want to enter the industry or simply apply for a more advanced academic program they believe will ultimately get them into the industry. The Foundation Course in Animation will therefore fill that gap that most schools and colleges have in their program and will give anyone taking it a solid animation-focused foundation that will put them way ahead of the completion in these neglected skills.
Many tech-driven schools and colleges do not teach this to a significant degree and will not tell you that you will need that side of your skill base too. Therefore, the Foundation Course in Animation has been designed to provide all those necessary foundation art skills to individual students who either want to enter the industry or simply apply for a more advanced academic program they believe will ultimately get them into the industry. The Foundation Course in Animation will therefore fill that gap that most schools and colleges have in their program and will give anyone taking it a solid animation-focused foundation that will put them way ahead of the completion in these neglected skills.
One final truth!
The one thing that the academic system does not tell you – in fact they don’t even know it themselves in the case of some schools and colleges – is that in art and animation fields you don’t need a degree to get a job! This may be true in science, medicine, engineering, law, physics, etc. but in terms of art and animation it is what you do that gets you the job, not the bit of paper that says you have completed a teaching program. The only thing a degree will enable you to do is teach – but in 99% of the time animators only turn to teaching because they don’t have the necessary high-earning skills to exist in the industry. If you have art and technique skills of a high enough nature then you will be very well compensated in thie industry and will never need to work about having a degree for teaching! Consequently, future students should consider their educational paths carefully. The Foundation Course in Animation offers the very best core, foundational skills for the professional animators, or the higher learning degree students, in a very accessible online way and at a extremely lower cost than in any other way.
The one thing that the academic system does not tell you – in fact they don’t even know it themselves in the case of some schools and colleges – is that in art and animation fields you don’t need a degree to get a job! This may be true in science, medicine, engineering, law, physics, etc. but in terms of art and animation it is what you do that gets you the job, not the bit of paper that says you have completed a teaching program. The only thing a degree will enable you to do is teach – but in 99% of the time animators only turn to teaching because they don’t have the necessary high-earning skills to exist in the industry. If you have art and technique skills of a high enough nature then you will be very well compensated in thie industry and will never need to work about having a degree for teaching! Consequently, future students should consider their educational paths carefully. The Foundation Course in Animation offers the very best core, foundational skills for the professional animators, or the higher learning degree students, in a very accessible online way and at a extremely lower cost than in any other way.