LO2: Task 2, Job Role in a chosen sector

The job role I am going to investigate is the role of an animator, this is because I enjoy creating animated visuals in my own spare time.

Practical and technical skills:
It is important that Animators are familiar with using computers, including a range of operating softwares (both MacOS and Windows) and a range of animation/video editing softwares. This is because during different tasks, animators may find themselves having to use different softwares which are more suited to certain tasks. For example when creating a stop motion animation, I would have to use the software Adobe After Affects, meanwhile if I was needed to create a 2D animation for a task, I would be required to use 2D animation software like Adobe Animate or ToonBoom studios. It would also be important for an animator  to have artistic skills at drawing, and creating worlds which seem believable, which would be achieved at having skills at cinematography, since animation uses the same principles of shot types and camera work, however through the use of animated characters instead of real ones. I would also need to have technical experience in terms of software, since certain types of animation (especially 3D animation) require a very high amount of computer power, including high graphics requirements in order to render 3D animations. In the case of a computer crashing or breaking, I would need to know how to resolve this in order not to compromise the project.

Specific Industry Knowledge:
Being an animator in the industry would require me to have a huge amount of experience in a large range of softwares. These softwares include Adobe Premiere, Adobe Animate, Adobe Character Animation, ToonBoom studios, Adobe AfterEffects, Maya (3D Animation software) and also the ability to use professional industry standard cameras (to create stop motion) and lighting equipment (again for in case of creating a stop motion). It is also important that I have a general awareness of the type and visual style of animation which is popular during the time, in order for the animation to successfully appeal to an audience.

Communication Skills:
It would also be required of me to be able to communicate fluently and successfully when interacting with bot clients, people working along side with you and also employees. This is because when animating a product, I need to be sure that what I am creating fits their requirements in order for the animation to be successful. In terms of communicating with other animators, it is important that we have a mutual understanding of the task in hand, and an understanding/ability of how to make our animated sequences link together in continuity.

Organisation:
It is important that when animating, I set myself certain deadlines when animating in order for the product to be finished in time for a certain release. This is vital in the animation industry, since animation takes up a huge amount of time regardless of the style, and needs have a large amount of time dedicated to completing it. Animation is not something which can be left till the last minute. Creating milestones and timelines for myself will also ensure that the process is completely as efficiently as possible in order for the production to happen as quickly as possible.

Creativity:
Being an animator requires creativity, since you are attempting to mimic life and movement in characters, which first of all requires imagination. Imagination is also required for the design of characters, and the design of set, since you are trying to create the illusion of a certain world, which needs to appeal to a certain audience in order for them to be interested in your animation.

Problem Solving:
In a similar way to the practical and technical skills section, it is important that I am able to resolve problems as quickly as possible with as little help from anyone else as possible in order to speed up the production of a product.

Working as part of a team:
In a similar way to the organisation sector, working as part of a team is vital, since when working as an animator along with many other animators, you need to be able to create a sense of synergy within the product, since if you are all animating different parts of the same product, you wouldn't be able to animate in separate styles, since the animation wouldn't have a clear sense of continuity and flow. All the animators will need to decide on a certain style that they are all able to work in, and then all complete their designated sequences in as similar a style as possible.

LO2: Task 1, Job roles and skills

For this task I will be investigating the media sector, web and digital interactive content. This is also a media sector I hope to work in, as one of the jobs you can get within this sector is a stop motion animator.

All information found about this Job Role at:

http://creativeskillset.org/search/59?tags%5B%5D=&tags%5B%5D=2D+computer+animation&tags%5B%5D=&q=Animator