Doodlers, video game fans and those who spent their youth filling notebooks with everything from airplanes to superheroes: it seems that the kids who were reprimanded for daydreaming in class grew up to be adults with successful careers in animation.
Some animators have bachelor degrees in fine arts, but an increasingly popular choice is one of the many animation programs offered by colleges around the province.
Toronto’s animation community is vibrant, with companies like Nelvana, Cuppa Coffee, Head Gear and zinc Roe Designs (to name but a few) doing imaginative and memorable work for television, film and games. There’s also an incredibly strong experimental and art film community here, and many animators straddle both worlds, while others eschew the commercial world altogether.
People interested in animation should check out the Toronto Animated Image Society (tais.ca). This awe-inspiring facility in Liberty Village hosts workshops and lectures and is home to a full working studio for its members’ use.
The Job
3-D ANIMATION
3-D animators use software like Maya to create some of the most popular animated images around, primarily for films, the internet and games. As with all animation, 3-D animators require a strong art portfolio and strict attention to detail.
In Ontario, get 3-D animation training at Sheridan, Boréal, Fanshawe, Seneca, St. Clair, Humber, Loyalist and Algonquin colleges. Some schools offer specialization in 3-D, while others have individual courses within a general animation program. Tuition ranges from $2,214 to $8,423 annually.
IF YOU GO
Duration of program: Three years for a diploma, four years for a bachelor’s degree in applied arts. Projected earning potential: $34,000 to $61,000 (with the potential for earning much more by becoming a producer).
GAME ANIMATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Canada, along with the U.S. and Japan, is a leader in game development, which gives graduates of Canadian programs a great shot at a career. While you need a good portfolio to be admitted to these programs – including George Brown’s postgraduate programs in game design and development – simply enjoying games can lead you to this career option. All those hours spent playing Call Of Duty can pay off after all.
While most schools offering comprehensive animation programs include courses in game animation, George Brown, Centennial and Seneca have programs specifically aimed at game art and animation. Tuition ranges from $3,020 to $12,231 annually.
IF YOU GO
Duration of program: Three years for a diploma, one year for George Brown’s postgraduate certificate. Projected earning potential: $34,000 to $61,000 (with the potential for earning in the six-figures with a top-selling game under your belt).
2-D
The most traditional form – think The Simpsons, Family Guy, Disney films and most of the cartoons, animated commercials and, until recently, video games you’ve ever enjoyed – 2-D remains the most popular form of animation. A number of techniques fall under the umbrella of 2-D, including stop-motion, cel/hand-drawn and paint-on-glass. While 3-D relies on the creation of models that are later manipulated, 2-D is a series of images photographed one frame at a time to create a moving picture.
In Ontario, schools offering 2-D animation programs include Algonquin, Boréal, Cambrian, Centennial, Durham, Georgian, Loyalist, Seneca, Sheridan and St. Clair. Tuition ranges from $2,812 to $8,423 annually.
IF YOU GO
Duration of program: Three years for a diploma, four years for a bachelor’s degree in applied arts. Projected earning potential: $34,000 to $61,000 (with the potential for earning considerably more if you’re the next Matt Groening).
