Jasmin Hernandez

12/13/24
Period: 3

The animation industry

The animation industry is an art medium that is very common in the

entertainment industry and many animations are made on the computer. According to

screenskills.com the UK excels in the animation industry. For example they have

created some amazing shows like Shaun the Sheep, Peppa Pig, and many more. The

UK has established itself to be one of the greatest places with the best animation

producers. Studios tend to become famous for a particular type of animation whether it’s

for 2D CG which is computer-generated, 3D CG, stop-frame, or hand-drawn. There is a

range of techniques and styles suited for the production but the main roles would be

director, producer, production coordinator, and runner. Yes, there are many other types

of roles but these are the main ones.

The animation industry is a great industry. They showed that the power of

creativity has no limits. Along with the help of technology and working in teams they

have been able to do some really amazing things. Many of these amazing things involve

character making, 2D and 3D animation, and background artists. In this world where

their imagination has no boundaries these animations come to life through collaboration,

a variety of diverse talents, and everyone using their unique skill to contribute to a

harmonious skill set which captures the visual experience.

The process of creating an animation is very hard. It involves various stages. To

start an animation it begins with an idea, a sudden spark that arises from the depths of

your mind which later turns into a storyboard. The collaboration between artists, writers,

and directors transform the small idea into a visual narrative. They set the stage for the
animation process. This phase includes character design making, modeling, rigging,

lighting, texturing, and rendering. These areas depend on everyone to make a

successful animation.

Teamwork is an essential part of animation. It is the lifeblood of this industry.

Without it nothing would be done and it would probably take centuries to make a movie.

Working in teams allows creativity to be even bigger and better. To make a successful

animation movie it requires great flowing communication of talents from different people.

They must learn to combine their artistic visions to come to an agreement whether it’s

for the art or the story telling. Every member of the team contributes to a crucial piece of

this process ensuring that the final product is better than the small bits.

A place where collaboration is really important is when they are working together

on the story. In every animation there is a compelling story. The collaboration between

the writers, directors, and storyboard artist is what brings the story to life and not only

the story but the characters, the plot, and the emotions in every scene. The compatibility

between them is imperative; this compatibility results in a captivating story that multiple

age groups can relate to or enjoy.

Another important aspect of animation is the technical prowess and the artistic

vision. Animators and modelers work together to create characters that they bring to life.

To enhance the visual appeal there are lighting and rendering specialists and

techniques working on that. As the technical steps merge with the creative steps it

elevates the animation from just a film to a work of art.

In the world of animation there are so many unforeseen challenges that pop up

and some of them are inevitable. There are so many things that can happen such as
technical glitches, creative roadblocks, the ability to collaborate well together,

adaptability, and not being able to problem solve. Apart from this there are deadlines

that they have to meet and some animators are expected to go above and beyond

meaning that the expectation they have to meet are very high but sometimes all of this

isn’t for nothing for some it is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth in the

industry.

Under any animated project there was blood, sweat, and tears poured into the

project. There lies a pile of unique and a talentful skills. Where many individuals left a

part of them. All of these people involved have played such an important role in bringing

not only the finished product to life but the small bits and parts that were needed in the

film. Creating stories and characters takes so much time, effort, and dedication and it

requires balance between artistic innovation, collaborativeness and technical

proficiency.

Animators not only create characters they infuse them with a personality and

emotions. They’re responsibilities include a bunch of different tasks whether it's with the

storyboard or the concept of art. Once they have a vision these animators use various

techniques such as 2D and 3D animation to make the movement of the characters

much smoother. They also have to do something called “rigging” which is a technique

used in computer animation in which a character is represented in two parts. One the

surface representation used to draw the character and a hierarchical set of

interconnected parts and two a virtual armature used to animate the mesh. Rigging

allows animators to manipulate and articulate movements realistically.

 Their ability to think outside the box is extraordinary. These animators have a

deep understanding of the many different aspects. The animators have to master using

the very complicated animated software. They ensure that their artistic vision is put into

the software as easily as they possibly can. From spacing the manipulation of curves in

the animation and to the timing. Their technical skills are the foundation to which the

animator's creativity flows.

Collaborating with others in the industry is also a very crucial point. With these

animators working on key components. They are able to come together and create one

big cohesive piece. Being able to merge their creativity and their technical finesse is

unmatched. This allows them to be able to incorporate emotions and other crucial points

that allow them to bring their creations from scrap to life.

As previously stated a director is a really important part of animation. The

directors hold the creative vision on whatever type of animation they are creating. They

work out the style, its mood, how it will look and how it will sound. They give their vision

and everyone works towards it together. Directors may also sometimes create original

designs for their characters. They direct everyone on the team. Animation may also

include voice actors and the directors will work closely with them to get the performance

needed for the animation. Actors may also be called upon on where they are needed to

act out scenes for animators to capture and imitate.

Directors are responsible for the quality of the finished product. When all the

work is done and the frames have been assembled, edited together and all the sounds

they needed have been added, the director will sign off on it. When a director signs off

on something this is called the director's cut. Sometimes on bigger productions there is
more than one director. There is an animation director as well as a director. When there

is more than one director the director not the animation director is overall responsible

and in charge. They delegate the day-to-day management of the animation department

to the animation director. When the project is smaller there will only be one director and

they are either known as the director or animation director. There is not much of a

difference if you are called director or animation director unless it is for a bigger project.

Directors could also freelance or be employed by an animation studio.

Some of the things directors are good at would be imagination, leadership,

storytelling, and the knowledge on animation and arts. They envision the film and create

the vision. They also share the vision with different departments and inspire them to do

their best work. Because they also work with storytelling they need to understand what it

means to make a good story and how to be able to use emotions that affect the viewer.

They also usually have a passion for the art of animation and all the genres that come

with it

Directors play an important part in the world of animation. They are visionary

architects that sculpt the narrative landscape, shape story characters and stories into

compelling experiences. Their role involves so many different things. They need

leadership, a great understanding of the animation process and it demands a blend of

creative insight. The importance of these directors in the animation industry is

imperative. They cannot be overstated because they serve as the guide in the seamless

integration of storytelling, visual elements, and the realization of a shared vision.

As stated before animator directors they are the primary architects of the vision.

They work with other people such as writers and storyboard artists. These directors set
the aesthetic tone and they control the character design and the choice of animation

style. They are the guide for the entire animation team. They unify all the ideas into one

great vision.

Animation is not just about what you can see but it’s a creative art form that

conveys emotions through the power of storytelling. They allow people to make

connections with the characters that are brought to life. They set the rhythm to how fast

or how slow the process is going. They also push their creative boundaries and explore

new areas which contributes to the revepance of animation in art form.

Another important role in this industry is the producer. Producers are also

animation producers or senior producers. They have overall responsibility for their

animation production. They manage the director and every other department to ensure

that the project will be delivered on time. They ensure that everything is within the

budget and made to the best creative brief.

At times the producers start with an idea and then they go and get financial

banking from distributors or broadcasters to make their animation. This would mean that

they need to predict the cost of the production and propose a budget. These people

must also have a deep understanding of animation and its creative possibilities.

Animation companies or studios can also hire animation producers and depending on

the size of the studio the work of the producers can look very different. For example in a

larger company they may be more focused on management but if they work in smaller

companies they have more opportunities to oversee creative decisions.

The Production coordinator who is also known as the animation production

coordinator or POC which is the production office coordinator. These people play a
crucial role in the production of animated productions. The production coordinators keep

everything running smoothly by supporting the other departments with their production

requirements. These people are responsible for creating and maintaining asset

databases. They also track the delivery of assets to third parties. Production

coordinators schedule and attend reviews and they may also be responsible for taking

detailed notes. They are also responsible for checking stocks, reordering supplies, and

organizing couriers and shipments.

Their job duties depend on how big the size of the company is. If they are

working for a smaller company they could be required to work on reception but if the

company is larger they could potentially be responsible for uploading and delivering the

completed animated series episodes to broadcasters and delivering animated films to

distribution partners. Production coordinators also help with the accounts by processing

invoices and keeping the petty cash records. They can also provide holiday cover for

any other members of the production team.

The last crucial role I would like to talk about is the runner. The runner is also

known as the personal assistant, PA which is the production assistant, or the production

trainee. A runner is mainly responsible to keep an animation project running as

smoothly as possible by assisting the production management department of the

animation studio. They are the junior members of the department and do any number of

administrative jobs.

The role of the runner also varies depending on the size of the company they are

working in. If it is a small company they support all the departments whereas in a larger

company they may only specifically help the production coordinator. They may also be
responsible for scanning and labeling the storyboard and any associated documentation

for shipping.

Collaboration and communication is always a key component no matter what you

are doing but it is really important while making an animation. In this industry you are

always working with others so being able to communicate with others is very important.

As people in this industry meet many different people with different strengths,

weaknesses, and abilities it is crucial for them to work together effectively so they can

create a consistent and compelling visual story. As each person brings a different skill to

the table everyone must learn or at least try to collaborate with each other.

Successful collaboration requires open communication which cultivates an

environment where thoughts stream easily and the input given is traded helpfully. From

the conceptualization to the rendering and to the liveliness of the industry everything

flourishes on its experts. Whether it's adjusting the script, or making sure character plan

goes well with the activity developments everything is gone through with clear

communication and a shared commitment to bring their creations to life.

So in conclusion working together in the animation industry is very important. It is

the key component for an animation to get done well and effectively. Collaboration and

communication are the foundation of the industry. In order to transform creative ideas

into fascinating visual experiences, activity may take the form of a multidisciplinary

handicraft shape that needs the continuous integration of many different skills, such as

journalists, executives, illustrators, and masters. Collaboration ensures a

comprehensive storytelling method wherein creative visions adapt and every person
assumes a crucial role in the complex step of generating lifelines. Everyone on the team

in the company is useful in contributing to the final product.