OdHero 2008-05-14 10:28:34

Well the thing about Behemoth is it formed around Dan Paladin's style. I read that somewhere recently but forgot where so it could be BS. I can't offer you any career advice in animation without it being generic stuff that everyone talks about.

molkman 2008-05-14 10:38:07

You have to be good at what you want, that is not only a fact in animation business.

And even if many want to become animators, not everyone will do it in the end and also animators are needed everywhere. Plus the internet allows nearly everyone to make money of stuff. Just make flashgames and get a shitload of money from sponsoring.

On the other hand, you have to ask yourself, is it the best thing to make what your hobby is now your profession? There's always the fear that when doing it for a living, you get sick of it. :/ But then again, doing a stupid job all day you dont like might be worse.

jakobhummelen 2008-05-14 10:39:10

Well, the way to get into bigger projects I guess is that you produce really nice movies or games (movies tend to grap some more attention). Try making a flash commercial for some company and they might just buy it, or get some more exposure on NG I don't know.

You obviously want to be an artist bad, but it will be rough since it's not a traditional career choice and there are a lot of people out there with skills, but I don't think you do not have the drive or the talent to make it. It's just that you are feeling unmotivated right now (probably because of the let down your job turned out to be). Just don't get to down and keep animating, try to think of something and something good will happen :)

MindChamber 2008-05-14 10:39:13

you need to keep doing what you enjoy to do, whether you get paid for it or not. and if you cant, you work somewhere else , so you can afford to do what you love to do.

alot of kids these days lose sight of that. the flash scene is now full of greed and laziness.

the love comes first.. and if you love what you do, it will show in your work and you will eventually get paid for that love.
some people might get to that place faster than others, but it shouldn't matter because ...well
first and foremost you should be loving what you do.

plain and muthafuckin simple.

Emanhattan 2008-05-14 10:39:16

I think you have the material for being a full time flash animator. yeah I also was like you. everyone on my class room in elementary school was like "omg i wanna be a fireman, or a cop or a taxi driver" and other shitty jobs like that.

Look dude. youre gonna think Im a NO0B but.... havent you seen a movie called "the secret"???

If you really think youre gonna be a flash animator and you work your ass into it, one day you will be hired by the behemoth. or disney whatever the heck.

but I think you have to do as rtil did. he went out and looked for a job. he made A MILLION good animations that were not really payed. they were all done just to demonstarte he was worthy.

you can do the same! make a couplde more flashes. and finish salty swamp!

Emanhattan 2008-05-14 10:40:58

oh and responding to odhero.... yes dan paladin rocks mah world. but that doesnt mean we should all be like him and make the same characters n drawings.

maxvm 2008-05-14 10:48:45

I use Flash as practice for a future career in the film/game industry. I have some great plots in my head, I just need an early start for experience.

Emanhattan 2008-05-14 11:18:52

!!!!!!

Now mindchamber is saying words of wisdom. If he was nearby I would give him an applause. I THINK I WILL! "clap"

Hoeloe 2008-05-14 11:26:16

If anywhere, I'd want to work in a small, independant company doing the programming side of games. Smaller companies are much more fun because everyone there would be there because they enjoy what they are doing, would be so much more fun than a big business, where everyone is in it for the money...

BritishMoose 2008-05-14 12:06:30

I found myself in a similar situation to you a couple of months ago when I dropped out of university due to medical reasons. I decided that I wanted to pursue animation (even though I've no formal art qualifications and have never received any sort of artistic training). So I called up loads and loads of animation companies (around 30) asking for work experience. Only two got back to me - one offered me a work experience, the other said I had lots of potential. Naturally I'd have rather had 30 replies, but even two replies means I have two more contacts in the industry.

Another good idea would be to call up any prestigious animation universities where you are and ask to meet the course leaders. If they like you, they'll do their best to help I'm sure!

Best of luck with the whole thing, mate, it's horrid being stuck in a rut.

RedHotPoker 2008-05-14 12:26:50

Dont get down hearted.

<a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=QdvKdAZJhII&feature=PlayList&p=16E6B479232C7529&index=4">http://youtube.com/watch?v=QdvKdAZJhI I&feature=PlayList&p=16E6B479 232C7529&index=4</a>

Not sure if that helps.

Actualy, just watch all of the "film skool" series. There intersting and fun. Also he is living proof that you can achieve your dreams. (he made a feature length movie by himself.)

Go for it!

OdHero 2008-05-14 13:28:43

''oh and responding to odhero.... yes dan paladin rocks mah world. but that doesnt mean we should all be like him and make the same characters n drawings.''

Sorry, but I never said anything along those lines.

Dazmi 2008-05-14 13:29:16

My advice is to take things slow and learn what you need to learn

RubberNinja 2008-05-14 14:10:05

Dreams are hard. That's why they're called dreams.

Best thing I can recommend is getting a showreel together and emailing that thing like mad.

Psi43 2008-05-14 16:04:26

ANTE UP
YAP THAT FOOL

ANTE UP
KIDNAP THAT FOOL

GET HIM GET HIM GET HIM
HIT EM HIT EM HIT EM

Hi5er 2008-05-14 16:31:23

Ah... dude I have the same dream...

the best thing that I would suggest you do is cook up a resume saying that YOU HAVE HAD past eperiences as working for websites and designer flash banners for websites... At least this puts some perspective on your past work and makes you seem more suited for the job...

If you fancy going to university... you should take animation and art and then at least tht way you HAVE what you need to get into the industry...

You're 19 man... Its not too late until your about 25... Uni/college will take 2 - 3 years tops. And besides, with your dads mate and all you have conections with that type of buisness... so it maybe easier than you think...

As for me, I want to become and animator or an actor... I know they are total opposites, but hey I am 16, sitting my GCSE's now and gonna start college, I haven't got any connections like yourself, I cant travel anywhere and I missed out taking art as a course...

I don't have much hope of being an animator, but I still try to keep my dream alive by creating flash animations and attempting to sell them to different companies... (or at least I will when I stop animating simple things like stickmen and tutorials...)

Anyway, the point is at least you have some experience of working in that field of industry so why not speak to your old boss of the website firm? I am sure he must have some connections with animators etc...

Just get your name out there dude.

Good luck man

~Bob

Psi43 2008-05-14 16:32:52

Ok, I read it now. I wish I could work at some kind of web design company. Also, it has a LOT to do with your location. I could never ever become an animator because there are no, and I mean it, NO animation schools in Germany. It's really annoying, I'd have to move to the USA to get to be an animator.

Oh well.

JonBro 2008-05-14 18:42:04

I'm sorta losing hope and motivation. I've been releasing things a lot slower recently. The thing is, I only want to submit something that I know people will like and that I feel is a good idea...

Sometimes, though, I just get bored of what I'm working on and put it off until later. "Riddle School 3" was postponed for almost a full year. The funny thing is, I had several pages of plans for the game, and when I got back to working on the game, I couldn't find them, so I had to basically re-plan it all from scratch.

I will keep at Flash, though. I believe that, eventually, my inspiration might build back up again. Hopefully it won't all be about video games, though. XD

DariusR 2008-05-14 18:43:52

What's preventing you from being REALLY good or having a real drive or passion about it? Don't limit yourself. I know I'm too young to give someone older than me advice, but that's what I think of the situation

I haven't talked to you in a while D: (Mostly my fault, I just abandoned my e-life when i entered high-school ><)

lenkalamari 2008-05-14 19:02:12

Maybe have a break for a bit if you're feeling uninspired, the best thing to do is just stop for a bit, do other things instead of forcing yourself.

It's my dream to cartoon too man, whether its illustrating kids books and flash games or directing the next pixar movie or whatever. either way, i'm trying to work so that at the end of my days i'll be able to sit back and say i've lived the life i've wanted to live.

don't give up man, and remember - everyone starts small. matt groening started off doing indie comics that he got to the public by hiding them in record sleeves hehe.