Animation: Media Arts

23. June 2008 admin

Media arts is a relatively new field in the art world and is a direct marriage of art and technology. It is a term that has grown to encompass all of the visual and performing arts if the result is broadcast, developed, blended, or presented in the context of various media. In this sense media is communications and recording technology.

Some may disagree with this definition but people constantly disagree about what should be classified where. In the end, it really does not matter. For the sake of this discussion, it will refer to audio/visual art production. This includes videography (digital and analog), computer animation, sequential photography, and sound mixing.

Media arts schools teach students how to combine these various aspects and produce works with the aid of modern technology. You may also find dedicated film schools at these institutions. In larger university settings, media may be a department within the visual art schools along with film or in some other combination.

The Best Training in Media Arts
Media arts, as with most of the arts, do not receive the recognition or funding that maybe they should from large public universities. Private universities sometimes do a better job of it. The best training, however, comes from schools that dedicate themselves to giving their students intensive and exhaustive training in their chosen art form.

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Animation: Media Arts And Animation Training

22. June 2008 admin

Media arts and animation training are related because of the use of computers in the creation of the animated images and the blending of sound into the finished product. Animation is more than a visual art. It may be considered sequential visual art with an emphasis on environment and important audio elements.

That said, you can find media arts schools that can supply you with an excellent training in animation. Dedicated animation schools are rare because the practice is so closely related to many other types of art. At larger universities, animation is sometimes an afterthought in the visual art or multimedia departments.

To gain the best media arts and animation training, however, you should consider going to a smaller, dedicated institution that will allow you to focus your energies on your art. This is only if you are sure that animation is the career path you want. Graduation from a specialized school is not the same as graduating with an M.A. from a university.

Media Arts and Animation Training in the University
Not all universities give media arts and animation training much respect or funding. If animation interests you but you still want a university degree, do some real research into their animation courses and talk to the faculty if you can. You can receive a good animation training at some universities but others are a joke to the industry.

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Animation: 2D Animation Programs

21. June 2008 admin

More schools offer specified 2D animation programs than you might think. Just because 2D animation has been around for over 100 years, many people think that the art form is beginning to fade away. This is very far from the truth. 2D, or classical animation is currently thriving and for several different reasons.

Though 3D animation is receiving more and more attention as time goes by, classical techniques are still the leaders in animated television series, anime, and on the web. It is a simpler form to master, so many people with a hobbyists interest in animation gravitate towards it. 2D animation is the foundation on which 3D animation is built.

2D animation programs, like Flash MX, allow anyone to create characters, animate them and send them to friends and family. More than that, however, Flash is capable of producing richly detailed, animated sequences with full environment and sound. You can spend a great deal of time learning to exploit the capabilities of Flash.

Areas of Study in 2D Animation Programs
2D animation programs usually include basic drawing and animation techniques to start. The better classes will then go into story design, storyboarding, anatomy and more advanced animated projects. The further you go into these courses, the more cinematic your assignments become. Before you know it, you have a professional-looking portfolio of animated work.

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Animation: 2D Computer Animation

20. June 2008 admin

2D computer animation takes all of the processes involved with standard hand-drawn animation and adds the assistance of the computer. Rather than having individual sheets of paper, you draw, or scan, your work into the software and manipulate it. You can add sound and enrich the animated environments. It is a thriving field.

Some people seem to feel that 2D animation is going away. That is far from the truth. It has simply been around for so long that people do not always see it. It is everywhere–on television shows and commercials, cartoons, web animations, anime, even feature films. 3D animation simply grabs the attention these days.

You can produce your own 2D computer animation quite easily. If you learn to use Flash MX or any of a number of other software programs, many of them inexpensive or free, you can create your own greeting e-cards, web cartoons, or animated diary. It does take some time to get up to speed with it, but it takes much less time than most of the professional 3D software.

Studying 2D Computer Animation
Because it does not seem to be going away any time soon, most schools include 2D computer animation in their animation studies. Not every school will have a specialization in 2D because so many people are using 3D, but they should all have ample course work. If 2D is your thing, though, you can find schools that explore it exhaustively.

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Animation: Online Art Schools

19. June 2008 admin

Online art schools are good places to start, or continue, your animation training. If you are not sure if animation is a career or a hobby, online learning can be an excellent choice. You need not turn your life inside out until you are certain that animation is the career path you want. You can move at your own pace and on your own time until that point.

If animation used to be something you loved, learning online can help you see if that spark is easily rekindled. And you can catch up on the latest developments in the animation world during your absence. Stopping everything, packing up, and moving to a new animation school is a big decision and should only be done when you are ready.

Online art schools come in all types. Some schools will offer single courses meant to approach and give an overview of entire subjects, while others offer in-depth education in every aspect of animation. The better education, of course, comes from the latter. If you are serious, look for dedicated animation schools with plenty of courses.

Working with Online Art Schools
The best part about attending online art schools, is the freedom it gives you. You can learn in your spare time without totally altering your schedule or your life. You can receive the training you want and have feedback you need. It is very important, when choosing a school, that you pick one where you will receive adequate feedback.

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