Letter to Mom of Aspiring Animator

image from Andy Hickenbottom

I got an email from a proactive mother of a hopeful animator asking me for classes and inspiration for her daughter. After I finished the email with all the information I could think of, I figured it might be good to post the information here and on the forum. Hope this helps other people who want to break into animation! ~Angie


[Email from Mom]

Hi Angie, I found your website and am a Mom of a 12 year old daughter that is excited about Animation. What advice do you have for her? As a 7th grader, what software tools would be great for her to try? Any advice on what type of classes she should take...Traditional art classes, computer software, any advice is so much appreciated. She was able to attend an Animation Camp this last summer. She also took a Flash Animation class. What software might good for her to try to "get started" at spreading her wings. Thank you so much...If you have the time to respond. If not, congratulations on an amazing career.

Mom of Samantha
7th grader


[My response]

Julie-
Here are a few things you can get her started with...
Since you are in Oregon, I will give you things you can buy or have access to online.

Get her a light box at Cartoon Colour


and some hole punch paper.

and some pencils of varying leads.


and a peg bar she can glue to your scanner

OR! You can get her a nice stylus tablet
and she can draw straight into the computer. The CINTIQ is the hottest new thing!


Wacom Intuos
but its gonna run you some serious cash!
So, you might just start with paper,
pencil and the light box to see if she takes to it?

Buy her these books:
The Illusion of Life


Cartooning the Head and Figure


The Animator's Survival Kit




Timing for Animation



How to Animate Film Cartoons

and of course I have to say to buy my book :)
Thinking Animation: Bridging the Gap Between 2D and CG

Classes for her to take would include life drawing and illustration. Life drawing is key to understanding weight shifts in the body and strong gestures. All of this is an important foundation to establish before she ever picks up a mouse to animate.


Here are some courses offered at the Art Academy of Los Angeles that should be the type of courses you should look for up there in Oregon.

Introduction to Drawing
Introducing the fundamentals of drawing. How to hold a charcoal pencil, simple shapes, volumes, c-curves, s-curves, straights, edges, 4-value system, thumbnails, introductory composition, light sources, core shadows, reflective lights, are all covered in this course.

Beginning Figure Drawing
For all students who want to begin figure drawing but are not sure how to approach it. Students will learn how to approach a figure drawing from the very beginning stages. They will also focus on producing an image that reads well in space.

Figure Quick Sketch
Figure studies from the live model. Focusing on the understanding of gesture and the structure of the figure and head to achieve a solid idea of the underlying form. Gesture, proportion, form, lighting, and basic anatomy are stressed throughout the course. Poses range from 5-20 min.

Intro to Sight-Size Figure Drawing
This approach is for the artist who wishes to create a fully realized charcoal drawing of the nude figure, which is strong, accurate, and full of vitality. Using the methods he first learned in Florence, Italy, Tim McGuire guides his students along the way towards understanding the basic principles of sight size drawing, including outline, proportion, and gesture. As well, students will learn rendering of form, picture composition, and light effect.

Illustration classes will introduce her to different mediums like rapidographs, inking, and many other pens and tools, as well as studying styles in drawing. Get her studying artists like:

Al Hirschfeld

and Ronald Searle
so she can learn about line of action and line quality.

Flash is a great way for her to quickly get her stories made and with enough massaging can even create some decent limited 2D animation.

As far as computer animation, there is a program called

Hash Animation Master

that is only 300 bucks. Start her on that.
If she progresses well with that I would recommend
you get her the program
Maya

image from Alvaro Buendia

- you can get a learning edition at a discount.
It's still pretty pricey, so start her with Hash first.
Maya is the standard in most studios,
so that is why I recommend it as she progresses.

Once she gets older and considers colleges and art schools, I would recommend Cal Arts. The school isn't what it was during the golden age(s) of animation - as far as instructors go, but it does hold a pedigree and standard in the animation community and will open more doors for your daughter through sheer affiliation than any other school.

You can also look into the online classes provided by my friend Bobby Beck at AnimationMentor.com They are expensive, but will push her animation further.



There is also a school here in Los Angeles called 1on1animation.com that could help her, but unless you brought her down for a weekend workshop? I guess, geographically, that could be challenging.

Have her frequent the Thinking Animation Forums because we have many handouts, resources and Q & A's online there.

And of course we have a Thinking Animation Blog where my coauthor and I try to post anything inspirational or connected to animation.

Finally here are some great blogs
and forums for her to check out:

Animation Nation
CG Char
Cartoon Brew
Animation Podcast
Strut Your Reel
Black Wing Diaries
Animation Meat

Hope all this information helps and good luck to Samantha!

Angie Jones