Design Skill Set to Become an Artist
Animation is something that has always been in demand. With the rise of OTT platforms, there is an urgent need for artists proficient in 3D animation. If there’s one trend that’s caught up in recent years, it has to be character design for the anime industry. The characters you see in cartoons, films and advertisements are all designed by anime artists. Anime is a style of animation that originates from Japan. It is characterised by colourful graphics, vibrant characters and futuristic themes. This style of television and film animation is enjoyed by children and adults alike.
While you do need artistic skills to create anime characters, you also need cultural knowledge to create real or imaginative characters that an audience can connect with, and find inspiring and educative at the same time.
Usually, character designers get a brief from directors, review scripts and start designing based on the character’s personality and physical traits. However, to truly make each character unique and different from the other, there are certain skills required.
Top 7 Skills Required to Become a Character Designer/Anime Artist
If you’re someone who wants to pursue a career as an anime artist, here’s what you should be doing:
Learn Basic Shapes
As with any field, you cannot become a character designer overnight. You have to start with the basics. Learn shapes like squares, circles and triangles. It might seem like child’s play. However, as you start practicing the basics, you will realise that it is not as easy as it seems. Basic shapes are generally the building blocks of character design and scenes. Most anime characters are nothing but fun geometric shapes. If you keep practicing regularly, you will realise how your anime is evolving.
Study Anime Styles
You need to learn from established artists without copying their style. To improve your drawing skills, you need to observe different techniques, perspectives and styles. It’s important to design characters as per various situations. When you observe their work, see how they draw characters, notice little details and analyse their techniques. Remember, every artist has their own unique touch. If you really want to stand out with your anime drawings, you need to make sure your designs are original.
Get a Bachelor’s Degree
If you’re pretty serious about pursuing a career in animation, you can do a four-year Bachelor of Visual Arts undergraduate degree programme from one of the best animation institutes in Bangalore. You will learn about the fundamentals of 2D and 3D design, anatomy, illustration, and so on. It’s best to learn the technical aspects of visual art and design from a reputed college.
Learn Human Anatomy
When we’re referring to a technical skill-set required to enter the anime industry, we have to emphasise on human anatomy. A common mistake beginners make is that they start creating anime drawings without learning about human anatomy. Though manga and anime may be exaggerated characters, they still follow the realism and consistency of basic human anatomy. To take your anime design skills to the next level, learn the fundamentals of human anatomy. For example, the ratio of the shoulders, arms and legs. Once you understand basic anatomy, you can draw each character in different poses and perspectives.
Create according to the Story’s Script
As an anime artist, you should be able to point out your own mistakes. If you feel it’s looking amateurish, start from scratch. Whether you’re creating a comic strip or characters for a film, it’s always better to read the script several times. This way, you will be able to create relevant characters. Even if you have to make many edits, do so till you perfect it. Only drawing regularly can improve your skills.
Master Anime Design Software
To become an anime artist, great drawing skills are imperative. However, besides that it is also important to be proficient in using various software and design tools. You will learn how to use various software in most 3D animation courses. To enhance your portfolio and secure a decent-paying job in the market, you should know how to use Adobe Illustrator, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Animate and Blender. Besides this, study the basics of 2D animation too.
Creativity Skills
Lastly, you cannot embark on any creative profession if you are not creatively inclined. To become an anime artist, along with technical skills, you need certain soft skills too. Though you might learn from inspiration, to create 2D and 3D animation, you need to have a level of creativity within you. This way, you will be able to tell and depict different stories through various anime characters.
Final Words
To become an anime artist, it is important to have fun and enjoy the process. As a beginner, you might fail many times. However, never give up. Keep trying and you will surely get it right. To kickstart a career as an animation specialist, enrol yourself at Vogue, one of the best animation colleges in Bangalore. If not a degree, you can also pursue a graduate diploma in 3D animation.
