When 'Ice Age', one of the first to come 3D animated movie released, there was a lot of excitement around it. But as technologies developed people involved in 3D animation began working in different areas rather than just the fields of films and gaming. And with time it is also known that one needs strong design and art skills, good observational skills, and not just artistic talent for careers in the animation industry.
3D Animation is vast. There are various job profiles that come under the umbrella of 3D animation. Take a look at the career options you have, when you complete a course in 3D animation. Most of these animation career coursescan be taken up immediately after successful of 12th or equivalent programs.
3D Animator
As the name suggests, people involved in this field create 3D animation. They take on a variety of responsibilities for the purpose of planning and crafting their art form. This job requires strong visual imaging, and computer skills. According to various industry reports, the demand for 3D animators is huge right now.
3D Modeler
3D modelers build 3D characters and environments based on the concept art. Modelers also create character skeletons, which animators then control. These multi-talented professionals create more than just characters we see in movies. They come up with images & models for geologists, architects, scientists, engineers, healthcare companies, and more.
3D Rigging Artist
3D riggers are responsible for using computer software to form skeletons for characters and objects. They create a series of bones that deform and animate specific parts of the character. It requires creativity, precision, and an eye for detail.
Texturing Artist
People in this field specialise in creating photo realistic textures and create images to a high level of realism as part of the model. Strong visual skills, and a good eye for detail, scale, composition, colour and form are necessary skills.
Lighting Artist
To be a lighting artist, you need to be good at understanding how material/textures work with light, why something has specular and others do not. You will apply virtual lighting to mimic the illumination in the real world. You can add secondary virtual light to visually enhance the objects or characters in the scene.
Rendering Artist
3D rendering artists are involved in rendering stylised and photorealistic environments, objects, and characters. They do all necessary modification using software to achieve the final looks, and render the compositing file as final result.
Compositor
This is mostly the post-production aspect of animation. Compositing artists work with lighting directors and FX artists to help create the final animated film or project. Their job is to creatively combine rendered computer animation, special effects, and graphics into a well enhanced project.
And regardless of the type of work, every aspiring animator needs to possess the skills to work as part of a team. It is not just the technical skills that makes you an animator. A need to understand the aesthetics of visual storytelling is very important.
What’s your area of interest in 3D animation? Let us know in the comments below.
