Professional Opportunities
The Animation and Game Pipeline
In large studios, creatives are more likely to perform a single job in the pipe line. In medium sized studios, they likely perform 2-4 jobs. I na small studios, they will perform most or all of the jobs. The vast majority of professional animation and game creatives start in small or medium sized studios.
Animation and game industries that hire creatives into an animation pipeline include:
Entertainment
Character Animation
Youtube channels
Broadcast TV cartoons
Feature films
Multimedia Design
Motion Design
Education, information, and training
Social Media
Advertising
Youtube channels
Animation and Game Pipeline Jobs
Animation
Writing
Storyboarding
Concept Art - backgrounds and characters
Production Design: backgrounds and characters
Layout (position assets on the timeline)
Lead animator (Key posing)
Animator (in-betweening)
Musical scoring
Sound Design (assembles score, foley, environments, effects, accents)
Titles and credits design and animation
Director (oversees everything)
Game
Game design (produces a document)
Wire-framing
Concept Art - levels, props, and characters
Production Design: levels, props, and characters
Graphic user interface design (GUI)
Layout (position assets in the game engine)
Animator (creating loops and moves)
Coding (this is almost never also an artist or animator)
Musical scoring
Sound Design (assembles score, foley, environments, effects, accents)
Director (oversees everything)
Courses at KCAD
Here is a list of courses where a student can focus on the many aspects of the animation and game pipeline.
Foundational
DM 231 Sound Design
DM 241 Digital Imaging I
DM 243 Digital Imaging II
DM 250 Digital Character Drawing
DM 294 Animation Processes
Developmental
DM 321 Concept & Production Art
DM 323 2D Character Design
DM 331 Applied Music & Sound
DM 337 2D Character Animation
DM 334 Storyboard Art
DM 365 Motion Design
Advanced
DM 420 Professional Studio I
DM 421 Professional Studio II
DM 466 Digital Art & Design Thesis I
DM 467 Digital Art & Design Thesis II
Becoming a Professional
Study Animation and games
YouTube is a great resource for this. Use the < and > keys to see frame x progressions and analysis
What is puppet-ed
How are the characters designed for puppet-ing
What is frame x framed
How are characters simplified for frame x frame labor
How long is each frame held on
What is 'smeared'
How are visual hierarchies created
How are backgrounds designed for multi-planing
Apply your studies
Rework old animations
Create new animations (by yourself or with a team)
Pick-up freelance projects from places like Fivver and Upwork to get experience for your resume
Create work that is directly targeted for the specific type of companies you would like to work for.
Be flexible when you are starting out. Most creatives working in entertainment start in informational, social, and advertising media.
To work in the motion design field, you need some work geared towards adults.