Latest Trends in Animation
The landscape of animation is constantly evolving. Whether you’re an animator, creator or enthusiast, staying ahead of the curve is important. From mastering cutting-edge techniques to getting the hang of various storytelling formats, understanding animation trends is key to your success. It also helps you create captivating content with existing resources. However, as a filmmaker or animator, how can you stay up-to-date with changes in the animation industry? Well, there are various ways through which you can stay at the forefront.
Tips to Keep up with Changes in the Animation Industry
Follow blogs and websites
One of the easiest ways to stay up-to-date with the animation industry is by following reliable news sources. Animation-related blogs and websites are gold. They usually cover news, information, reviews and animation tutorials. They even talk about the latest animation trends. While some are free, you might have to subscribe to others. You can subscribe to an animation magazine or follow a popular site for industry news – Cartoon Brew. It includes animation-related news, articles and forums. Other popular sites include Animation World Network, 3D Artist and CG Channel. A couple of sites even give you insights into the work of other animators.
Watch and take notes
Nothing is better than watching and learning. If you’re someone who has completed a visual arts and design programme, the only way you can stay updated is by constantly watching videos, tutorials and online courses. Don’t underestimate the value of online courses. They’re a great resource that offer high-quality education in animation. You will get to learn the fundamentals as well as advanced concepts of animation. If you cannot commit to a long-term degree programme, you can even consider a one-year graduate diploma in 3D animation. Besides classroom work, you can even watch and analyse a variety of animation works such as films, short films, TV shows, web-series and commercials. You can even experiment with different animation techniques on your own. This includes 2D and 3D animation, stop motion, mixed media, motion capture and graphics. When you’re watching any animated piece of work, watch and pay attention to story, design, characters, sound and editing. If you like something, you can even challenge yourself by doing something out of your comfort zone. Experimenting is the best way to learn new skills and improve your existing one.
Networking
When it comes to staying updated, the animation industry is no different than any other industry. If you’re a newbie, networking can take you a long way. Attend animation-related events where you will meet other animators, media producers and creative professionals. If not offline events, online forums are also a great place to exchange ideas, tips, give feedback and network with peers. When you attend events and festivals, you get a better picture and idea of what’s trending, the needs and demands of the industry and so on. A few popular animation festivals you can attend include Anifest India, Mumbai International Film Festival and Animate. All these events offer excellent networking opportunities. It’s also a great opportunity for you to find potential clients or collaborators.
Research your niche
Animation is a field where the prerequisites of a niche keep changing. Depending on your style, genre and target group, you need to keep updating yourself. Specific research will help you with this. For example, if 3D animation is your forte, you can explore the latest techniques in rendering, modelling, lighting and motion capture. On the other hand, if educational animation is your specific niche, you can study the current regulations and expectations of your clients which may include schools, colleges and other educational institutes. By researching your niche, you can identify any gaps in your market and find different solutions for the same.
Embrace emerging technologies
There are no two thoughts about the fact that technology is evolving at a very fast pace. The future of animation surely has exciting possibilities in store for animators. One of the challenging aspects of the animation industry is to constantly embrace new tools and technologies. However, it is exciting too. Whether it’s AR, VR or AI, experiment with the latest technology to see how it can be beneficial to your projects. By embracing the latest technology, you can push the boundaries of creativity and unlock an array of storytelling techniques.
Conclusion
Animation and filmmaking trends are changing constantly. To stay relevant, you need to keep up with them. Look for inspiration around you in art forms, comics, photography, music and literature. To continuously expand your knowledge and skills, consider pursuing an animation course from an animation college in Bengaluru.
