As we know, animators are a subdivided profession in the animation industry, which means that we do not need to be fully proficient in the responsibilities of other workflows (such as modeling, binding, and synthesis). With the advancement of technology, traditional workflows are being continuously optimized and improved. Software used to make animations is constantly optimizing user experience and improving work efficiency, and various plug-ins can also make animators more convenient when making animations.
So this makes me wonder, for the career development of animators, will the way of making animations be gradually changed completely? When I was doing research, I found that this change was widely used in live action movies.
From the perspective of CGI, the two types of animators may have completely different responsibilities in different projects. In the traditional animation industry, the production of character animation will strictly follow the 12 principles of animation to express the character’s personality characteristics and emotional expression.
According to the current description of the animator requirements released by Disney Animation Studio, the work content is roughly to polish the lens according to relevant requirements to the degree that can best resonate with the audience, focusing on expressing emotions through the movement of the characters to tell the story.
From the job description of animators at DNEG (a company that has worked on live-action movie animation projects such as Godzilla and Justice League), we can see that animation is more like a part of VFX. Animators need to have experience in handling complex characters and actions in high-end live-action movie VFX production, be proficient in using Maya to solve problems in three-dimensional space, and show excellent animation works (such as flying, biological movement and motion capture). Senior animators also need to provide technical support, guide the team to improve processes, and promote team development through innovative problem solving.
In the scope of live-action movies, realism is the primary service goal of animation. This also derives technologies such as motion capture and muscle simulation systems that are completely independent of the 12 principles of animation. But combined with the story, it can also bring a completely different shocking experience.
So for me, whether I can tell a good story that resonates with people is the ultimate goal of an animator. I don’t mind what specific way to do it. If I have the opportunity, deepening my roots in the traditional animation industry will be my first choice. In addition, there is no harm in trying to learn the latest technologies and developments in live-action movies. After all, all job descriptions require a can do attitude, so just do it.
References
https://disneyanimation.com/process/?drawer=/process/animation/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live-action_animation