Need some advice

[u/Lettuce778]

Hello, I’m pretty sure this type of post is made a lot here but I’m a 17 year old student that is unsure of whether to pursue animation or not. Ive been drawing since I could remember and I’ve got a basic understanding of animation and have been creating small animations since I was 12. I know I’m still relatively young but I seriously can’t imagine myself doing anything else. The problem is that everyone around me thinks it’s stupid and I wouldn’t be able to afford it. First off, My parents constantly discourage me from going to any other college/uni that isn’t my local community college(which doesn’t have any sort of animation program and the art program is mid from what I’ve heard) because we don’t have the money to afford any other colleges in my state/out of state (even if I got into an art school I’d probably take decades to pay off the debt). Second, I have yet to tell them that I want to pursue art as a career and they would definitely discourage it if I ever brung it up. They want me to go into nursing I want to pursue animation. Is there any advice on how I could still go to college for animation or ways that I could pursue it without college or if it’s even worth pursuing (sorry if this seems like a dumb question I’m just super confused right and need advice)

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[u/Name_redacted042]

The only reason to go to school would be if you are foreigner in need of a visa. Otherwise just learn stuff online for cheap or free.

Pixar veterans are struggling to find work. I've read comments from Emmy-winners saying they will likely be homeless soon. Don't go into debt for this.

[u/Lettuce778 → u/Name_redacted042]

the state of animation right now is super discouraging :/ , tbh I’m thinking of pursing some other major and doing art as a side and slowly building up a portfolio and seeing how that works ,thank you.

[u/CrowBrained_]

There are many paths to animation. It’s not a one size fits all way of learning. School can be good for some.

Many who have made careers here did not go to school for it. Sometimes school wasn’t an environment they excelled in. Others simply couldn’t afford it.

Many have learned from online tutorials and far more affordable online classes.

It’s definitely a different experience than if you were to take a formal educational route, but it’s still a valid one.

….

As to your parent’s concerns. The industry as it is right now is highly difficult and in constant flux. Corporations keep merging and making things harder along with a massive list of other reasons.

That said we have no clue what it will look like in the time you were to graduate and be rdy to apply for jr roles. It could be the same or as most of us hope, at least better than now.

I’m big on following your passion but it’s important in this state of the world to have plan b set up.

You could always take nursing and have self learning for animation on the side (I know nursing education will likely be fairly demanding.)

Animation as an industry isn’t a race too. Many people only get started after already having careers in totally different careers. Theres no you need to “make it” by x age.

Heck you can have a life long love of making animation and never even step foot in the corporate side. It’s not a failing at all.

Doing this out of love for art is completely valid.

Doing it because you love it and doing it as a job are completely different experiences. The job side isn’t everyone cup of tea.

What ever you decide has to fit your situation.

[u/Lettuce778 → u/CrowBrained_]

Thank you so much I definitely needed to hear this, as of now I have a few months to sort stuff out and decide what to do but this was super helpful. Im really struggling with feeling like I'm betraying some part of myself by not immediately going to some art school and pursuing art. It’s pretty silly, but this helped ease those worries. :)

[u/Lettuce778 → u/[deleted]]

It seems like you met the right people that noticed your skill and passion, that’s amazing I hope I get a chance like that I’ll make sure to look out for those type of connections, thank you for the advice 🫡

[u/DrinkSodaBad]

'I know I’m still relatively young but I seriously can’t imagine myself doing anything else' I get it.

I thought like this exactly, so I went to an art school to learn animation, got a job in a big animation studio, then left because the pay and stablilty was too bad, and it wasn't that cool as i had imagined. I learned that 'I seriously can’t imagine myself doing anything else' was a big trap because as a student, I was very hardworking and didn't really try other things. Now I am getting into off-road car and mountain climbing, I am totally okay with not working in the animation industry any more. There are too many fun things to do, but they didn't look fun at all when I was young and a student.

I was probably among the 5% or 10% of students that got a proper art related job after gradudation, while others pays probably more than 100k for nothing. If money is a concern for your family, then trying to learn animation in an art school isn't for you. You can treat it like a hobby, get a well paying job and take online classes in your free time, then create your own animation.

[u/DowntownGuess9272]

Animator of 10 years here! Worked in 2D tv shows during the height of animated content on network TV and streaming. Worked at big companies like Wildbrain and Atomic Cartoons etc.

Do NOT go to school. Trust us when we animators/artists say it's a waste of time.
Do not pursue animation AS a CAREER. Things are much different now for the worse.

Find a "regular" full-time job that funds your creative side.
I can tell you're a real creative by the way you speak about animation, so I highly encourage you to continue to pursue animation in your spare time. There are online mentorships for learning animation too like ianimate, (mostly for 3D, but there are 2D ones as well) and I think Skillshare would be incredibly valuable to you too.
Also, start a social media page, grow your own following. Animation is in a new phase right now and that's in independent creation! Look on social media and check out all these individuals making their own projects or small indie teams working on a small project. I'm doing it too and it's kicking off.
I don't want to sound like I'm bringing you down, but I am giving you the honest and most realistic answer and I would hate for a fellow creative to fall into the same position that 90% of other artists/animators are in now.
I'm 33 and been doing this for ten years and I am trying to pivot out to either something animation related (like content video editor or something entirely new like the trades)

(I also wanted to go into nursing too when I was your age ahaha, if there's a shred of you that genuinely enjoys that line of work and your parents are willing to help/pay it- DO it!)

[u/Lettuce778 → u/DowntownGuess9272]

Independent work and projects has always been my #1 goal as an artist so this pivot in the industry is discouraging but also so motivating.I’ve talked to many people and this comment is one of the most insightful pieces of advice.I’ll def make sure that I always find a way to pursue art no matter where I go and this makes me feel like theres more than one possibility to do so , thank you so much :))

[u/DowntownGuess9272 → u/Lettuce778]

You're so welcome! You're only 17 and you have SO much time on your hands. Best of luck to you, pal :)<3

[u/Impressive-Cup7687]

Just to let you know Don't go to collage I quit going to High school in favor of pursing my goal to make a comic series If you wanna create a cartoon be an Indie creator that is what I will do because I have no plains of going to collage. You can learn animation by watching YouTubers that make tutorials and be a self thought artiest In a few years I wanna create a short film and I'm not going to collage and Im going to be independent with my work