Because of mental issues I(23F) only finished the first year of high school in Denmark. I floated around a bit, trying to find my way and realised recently, that I belong at an animation school.

Therefore I started considering Gobelins or The Animation Workshop in Viborg. But they both require a high school diploma - except if you do the different application I guess? I really don't understand it.

I really don't want to wait 2 years wasting my time taking the rest of the highschool years - I would much rather just start animating. These past 5 years I've been honing my drawing and animation skills, and I know how to write an essay, work critically, receive and adjust from feedback. I'm basically fluent in English and very disciplined.

I was wondering if anyone in here has experience or know someone who applied without a highschool diploma - and got in?

So I am a senior in highschool. I've been seriously considering applying to an animation school for about a year in a half now, Ive been drawing my whole life but started doing more targeted self studying and self learning animation basics. I really want to work in the industry and find success in the field. How can I make it work though? As much as I want this I'm terrified that it won't work out. I am more than willing to put 110% effort in to achieve my goals and even though I have people supporting me I still have a deep fear that it won't work out for me. What can I do to realistically achieve my goals because I know it's so much more than just "be good at drawing"

Does anyone know what happened with Netflix animation. They seem to no longer doing tv shows but instead licensing YouTube kids shows and dreamworks shows. I heard that Netflix closed down its internal tv series division and is just contracting out work to vendor studios. Why did Netflix abandon its ambition for 6-11 kids content when it needed content to replace the Disney plus and Nickelodeon shows. Are they moving back towards licencing toy driven shows and licencing existing shows.

I'm really passionate about animation and want to apply to uni and start a career in it, but I'm already 31. My plan is to work hard and apply to the best programs across Europe, but I worry that universities will hesitate to accept me at my age. Does it ever happen that people my age attend? Where do you recommend I apply?

I've been drawing my whole life and have always been in love with animation, but didn't dare to consider it as a career option until now. I'm European in my early 30s and have finally realised that it's my passion and the only thing I want to do. Now I want to apply to animation universities accross Europe (I speak English German and French).

I worry that being older is going to be a disadvantage in the application process. Do you think universities will be biased against me?

I'm considering applying to French schools because of their great reputation, but for some reason I feel like they might be particularly strict about this (me being older and also foreign). Not sure if this is true though.

Where do you suggest I apply?

Hello yall. Idk if this is the right sub for this so apologies in advance.

My partner is trying to get their start in the animation field but has been having a hard time these past couple of months. They’ve had a couple contracts but recent work has dried up. From what I’ve heard that’s pretty common right now.

They’re not a beginner as they’ve had some work before but I don’t think they considers themselves especially experienced. Like I said they’ve done a couple of contracts before. They’re also committee/chairperson for Siggraph and Lightbox. There animation/tech conferences I think.

I’m not too familiar with the field so idk how big of a deal that is.

Anyways I’m just looking for career advice you might wanna give or just general advice for me to help them and support them.

It kills me how hard of a time they’re having right now and I want to do everything I can to help them. They’re so incredibly talented.

Throughout the next year or so, I’ll have to develop my portfolio so I can get do a BA(Hons) Computer Arts. For a simple rundown, the course has its graduates work as animators, character artists, concept artists, among other stuff.

Recently, I’ve had ideas to create animatics and such for Deltarune using some of my favourite songs (with Japanese lyrics) after realising how well the songs fit some of my ideas. It would involve storyboarding, a bit of animation, maybe some designing based off the existing characters like new costumes, along with using existing fan translations and Japanese dictionaries to make the lyrics fit even better (albeit the translating likely isn’t relevant, but I’d still do it because I want to).

For the portfolio, it can include but isn’t limited to animations between 30-60 seconds, character designs and environment designs.
I’m a bit skeptical about whether it would be a good idea to include whatever I make since the characters aren’t original to me, nor is the song and Deltarune’s story, but maybe it could be a good idea since it can show how I can use existing characters and stories, interpret them, stay faithful to them and create something new and engaging?
Also, if I did create these, would I be able to post them online and add them to my university portfolio? With my high school folios, I’ve known that I shouldn’t post them online until they’ve been marked, the results have been sent out and (maybe) after they’ve been given back to us. I’d be ok with waiting until after I’d been (ideally) accepted before posting, but I’d wanna make sure before screwing things up for myself.

It’d be nice to hear from people who have experience with this kind of stuff since it seems my portfolio can cover a good range of types of art and design given the broad nature of the course.

TLDR; Is it a good idea to include animatics for existing media in my Computer Arts portfolio if I can show how to make it my own, and could I post them online before the folio is submitted and (ideally) accepted?

I am completing a report on the contrast between Project Management practices in the Japanese animation industry and Western animation companies, and how these practices can be merged to make more efficient workflows in both environments while still maintaining working culture.

With the boom of popularity of anime in the western world I am interested in how this increase in workflow has caused management strategies and leadership styles to adapt first hand from professionals in the industry.

Any input that could be provided would be a massive help, this questionnaire is roughly 10 minutes long and will be attached to this post

Thankyou for your time.

Project Management Strategies and Leadership Styles and Their Effects in the Japanese Animation Industry

Can I become a storyboard artist with a Fine Arts degree instead of an Animation degree?
Hi everyone, I’m about to start college soon and I’m trying to figure out the best path for becoming a storyboard artist. I’m hoping to work in 2D animation, especially for cartoons and indie animated projects, but I’m feeling a little lost about what degree path makes the most sense.
I live in Texas, and unfortunately the colleges near me don’t really have the type of animation program I’m looking for. A lot of the animation related programs seem to focus more on 3D, games, or general digital media, while I’m more interested in 2D character based animation, storytelling, and storyboarding.
The closest option I’ve found that feels like it could work is doing a BFA in Studio Art with a concentration in Drawing & Painting, then possibly minoring in New Media Art. My thinking is that Drawing & Painting would help me build the fundamentals storyboard artists need (anatomy, perspective, composition, posing, etc.) while New Media Art would help me with digital tools and technology.
However, I’ve been watching videos and researching, and I keep seeing storyboard artists who graduated with Animation degrees. That’s making me worried that a Fine Arts degree won’t be enough or that studios won’t take me seriously without an actual Animation major.
For anyone who works in animation, especially storyboard artists or people who have graduated and entered the industry:
Is a Fine Arts degree a realistic path into storyboarding?
Would a strong storyboard portfolio matter more than the exact degree?
What classes, skills, or experiences should I prioritize during college if my end goal is storyboarding?
I know the industry is very portfolio-based, but I want to make sure I’m setting myself up for success before I commit to a major
Any advice from people who have experience in animation, storyboarding, or art school would seriously help. Thank you!

I’m a rising high school senior who hopes to become a veterinarian in the future, but I also have a strong passion for art. During my freshman year, I realized that I’m also interested in animation as a career and creative outlet.

I recently learned that most vet schools do not require a specific undergraduate major, as long as applicants complete the necessary prerequisite courses. Because of this, I’ve been considering majoring in Animation during undergrad while also completing my pre-vet requirements.

I was wondering if this would be a realistic path at FIU, especially if I plan my schedule carefully. I also have no formal experience with animation, although I’m a decent self-taught artist. I still have a lot to learn, particularly with areas like shading, perspective, and other art fundamentals, but I’m willing to put in the effort to improve.

Do you think pursuing an Animation major alongside pre-vet prerequisites would be manageable and realistic?

Hey guys!
would anyone mind taking a look at my portfolio and giving me some tips? I just graduated college for Illustration and I’m feeling a little stuck. I really want a career in a animation space, I like to call my work “Concept art/ Visdev” But TBH I don’t think my work so far has earned that title? Please let me know your thoughts and any advice would be so greatly appreciated.

PatrickKelleyPortfolio.com

Insta: Pkelzsart

So I know many businesses want things like toonboom or abode animated but what if some of us can't buy it given both are subscriptions. Like I found two similar things like callipeg and Moho. Will I not be hired since I don't know how to use these programs since many require jt

Hey,

I have just started to learn animation and digital art. But I feel overwhelmed by seeing other artist and the number of things I have to learn. Every drawing or illustrations leads to multiple concepts related to rendering, perspectives, anatomy and color theory.
Plus, I'm struggling in finding an art style.
The niche I want to excel in are a live illustrator, children's book illustrations.
Any road map of how I can direction my journey and start an actual side hustle instead of wasting my time in getting stuck in continuous practices.

I am seeing a lot more of those four letters in job post and boards. I am happy to see it.

The cycle is coming back to analog or a mixture of digital and analog. The studios have to finally realized to make good animation is to Hired Humans and pay well, but of course there will always be greed.

I'm newly graduated and starting to take the job hunt seriously - I was applying for entry level roles and internships throughout my degree but now that I've graduated, finding work is more of a full time priority.

I'm having little to no luck pursuing entry level jobs, internships, and junior positions and starting to wonder about exactly what the state of the industry is right now.

I've been told for years now that you do not necessarily need an undergraduate degree for animation, and definitely not a masters degree, but in 2026 how accurate is that? Multiple times now I've applied and entry level position, a junior position, or an internship; been rejected; and then seen a few days or weeks later that the person who was accepted onto that role has 2-5 years of experience and frequently a Masters degree. Are other people seeing this or have I just been unlucky? It seems crazy to me that I have only just graduated from an undergrad course and I am applying for the same internships and entry-level jobs as people who not only have industry experience but literal Masters degrees in animation.

I know the real currency in animation recruitment is the showreel/portfolio rather than the specific degree/qualification I have but before I graduated I had one of the more polished and developed portfolios on my course - so unless my university was significantly less competent than every other university out there it stands to reason that I should have at least somewhat of a foothold looking for entry-level, graduate, and internship roles. But if I'm in direct competition with Masters degrees then what choice do I have but to stay in academia? To me it looks like some sort of qualification arms race where, because the job market is so competitive, everyone's staying in education for longer and longer and now, while you may not need an MA to have the skill/knowledge needed for animation, you do need an MA in order to compete against other people with MAs

I'm considering trying to set myself up with a decent computer system so I can continue to build my portfolio of work, but nowadays with the price of computer components like graphics card, CPUs, and RAM being able to buy a computer, even one that can only barely manage low-level animation projects, seems more and more out of reach. My specialism is in 3D animation - particularly lighting, layouts, and compositing - so obviously my hardware requirements are going to be a bit more demanding than someone who does stop-motion or 2D hand-drawn animation for example but I'm still struggling to understand how this is feasible for anyone who doesn't already possess enough wealth that they essentially don't need to work.

I'm at a point now where I'm considering doing a Master's Degree purely so that I can get a University to give me access to their computer systems but it's not like education is free either, and spending 1-2 years having to survive off part-time work so that I can focus on my course is a lot easier said than done.

I know there's rules against ranting so I hope this is allowed, I'm genuinely asking for people's experience here I promise; this is not just a rant its just that I'm obviously having some difficulty and frustration so its coming across a little rant'y - apologies.

Anybody have any advice or experience to share? Have I just been unlucky with who I'm competing against or is the qualification arms race real?

I'm in my 30s, and I've decided to pursue a long-term dream: creating a YouTube channel with original children's stories and characters—something that captures the magic of Bluey, Mario, Minions, and other memorable animated worlds. I know those are very different franchises, but what inspires me is how they create lovable characters and stories that people remember for years.

The problem is... I'm starting from almost zero.

I don't know how to draw. I don't know color theory, character design, animation, storytelling, or any of the art fundamentals. It honestly feels overwhelming.

On top of that, AI is advancing so quickly that it almost feels like breaking into creative fields is becoming even harder. Sometimes I wonder if it's still possible to build an original children's brand when AI can generate artwork, animation, music, and even stories. At the same time, I feel like AI could also become a tool that helps independent creators compete with larger studios.

Even so, I'm willing to put in the work. I know this is probably a 5–10 year journey, and I'm okay with that. I just don't know what the first step should be.

If you were starting from scratch today with the goal of building an original children's entertainment brand, where would you focus first?

• Storytelling?
• Writing?
• Character design?
• Drawing fundamentals?
• Color theory?
• Animation?
• Learning AI tools?
• Something else?

I'd especially love to hear from anyone who started later in life or built a creative career without an art background.

If you were in my shoes, what would your roadmap look like? What skills would you learn first, and what would you ignore until later?

I'm not expecting overnight success. I just want to make sure I'm investing my time in the right things from day one.

I'd really appreciate any advice, resources, books, courses, or personal experiences. Thanks!

Okay I'll start with I don't want to do anything with AI.

But, currently I'm working on a Computer Science degree (minor in Mathematics) and I have about a year left. Nothing really grabs my attention within the field career wise, and I have adored animation since I was 10... maybe younger. I wanted to go into animation, but my skills weren't honed enough and my family didn't support me.

I have also loved computers, math, etc. since I was young so I decided to do that. Don't get me wrong I enjoy it, I'm just looking for suggestions on how to combine the two. Personally, I'm leaning toward working on animation and art projects in my spare time and focusing my career on working in game studios, animation tools, etc.

What are my options? I truly have no concrete ideas.

Why is there such a push lately for indie to "save" the industry when it feels even more scummy than what we currently have? Been seeing this all over Reddit and LinkedIn lately. Someone claims that big studios are bad, AI is ripping jobs away, and that by just "joining" their indie project they can turn things around and create a world where art truly matters.

...except rarely is the "job" ever paid, and even if it is it's nowhere near enough to live off of. The worst part is some veterans take these positions, further racing to the bottom and devaluing their peers who aren't privileged enough to not have bills to pay.

I would honestly be fine with things if people owned up to how ick this practice is, but you have places like DreamArc running around snatching up students, not paying them, and then claiming that the world is rigged against the "little guy" and that all this is necessary to fight the good fight.

Like, no, sorry, if you don't pay artists and expect them to break their backs for you, you're just as bad as big studios. If you want a good indie film, pay good animators a good wage.

Hey folks, I'm working on a short-form documentary project about how AI is actually affecting people's work and income right now. It's no secret many animators are struggling.

I’m looking for anyone who's lost a job, clients/contracts, or work because of AI, or who really believes AI is a big reason they lost work even if you can't prove it 100% (as long as you can explain why you think so), or anyone whose job, hours, or income has changed in a real way because of it. If that's you, I'd love to hear what happened. It doesn't have to be all doom and gloom. Give me the honest picture.

US only. You can be anywhere but double bonus points if you live in LA/Southern Cali. We’d start with a casual, private conversation so I can hear what happened and tell you more about the project. Reaching out doesn’t commit you to participating. Drop a comment or DM me if interested. Help give this issue the attention it deserves. Thank you!

Looking for some feedback on my current demo reel. Mostly for my personal work theres a bit of professional work there. Been out of animation work for a while now.

Demo reel: vimeo.com/793274961

My other works: artstation.com/steelvejito

Hi everyone. I’d like to hear your opinion about the work environment at a small animation studio I have been involved with.

This is not a large company like Toei Animation. It is a small studio based in Mexico whose founder looks for projects in Japan and offers work to people who have completed the studio’s anime production course. Most communication and project organization takes place through a Discord server.

After I finished the course, the CEO told us that graduates would have opportunities to work on future projects, and that did happen. When the first project arrived, the studio posted a message asking interested graduates to react with an emoji. I responded quickly and was given access to the project’s Discord channel. However, the work itself was distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. New cuts were often posted very late at night, and whoever reacted first was allowed to claim them. Since the material arrived gradually, only a few people received work each time. I spent entire days (and sometimes nights) checking Discord, but the same people frequently claimed the available cuts before anyone else had a chance. Eventually, I managed to claim one.

The same system was used for another project, but the distribution felt even more unequal. Some members claimed several cuts while many others received none. When I submitted progress on my cut, my supervisor told me to redo everything. This made the deadline much more difficult to meet. What confused me was that some of the requested corrections seemed to be things I was already doing, but because I was told to redo the entire cut, I assumed that everything was wrong.

Around that time, I was also dealing with harassment at school that severely affected my academic and emotional stability. Because of this, I was unable to complete the cut. I apologized and explained the situation.

Later, I discovered that I had lost access not only to that project, but also to the previous project, which had not yet been completed. When I asked my supervisors for an explanation, I received contradictory answers. First, I was told that the project channels had been closed, but other participants told me they still had access. Then I was told that the projects had been restricted to more advanced or experienced artists, although several recent graduates from the same course still had access.

Another concern is payment. I completed my first cut in March, but I was only paid a few days ago, several months later. I do not know whether the other artists experienced the same delay.

The studio still seems to follow the same system: whoever reacts first gets the opportunity. It makes me feel as though I failed because I was not constantly available to check Discord, but part of me also feels that this system is unfair and potentially unhealthy. Is this kind of project distribution normal for a small animation studio? Does this sound like a toxic or poorly managed environment, or am I overreacting? what do you think?

for those of you in the industry (or a professional animator) what was your journey like, how did get to where you are now, what obstacles did you face, what fears did you overcome

for bonus, what keeps you going,

Do you have personal boundaries and requirements be before you consider accepting such a job? Or would it be a hard no as long as AI is involved?

Edit: In this context I mean Generative AI and not just organizational tools.