Japanese anime has been popular worldwide for many years, and recently there has been an increase in people wanting to work as animators in Japan, the heartland of anime production.
An animator is someone involved in animation work, and while this encompasses a variety of roles, this blog post will specifically focus on providing information necessary to thrive as a 2D animation animator, split into two parts!
Japanese anime is hugely popular worldwide!
Overview of the Anime Production Process
The anime production process begins with the inception of an idea, followed by scripting, storyboarding, keyframe drawing, in-between animation, color design, background art, photography, editing, sound effects, and finally, the final edit. Animators are most directly involved in the "keyframe drawing" phase, which is the act of drawing the pictures.
Roles and Types of Animators
There are several roles within the realm of animators:
Director:
Determines the overall vision of the anime production and coordinates the work of different departments. This role is similar to that of a film director.
Episode Director:
Creates storyboards and directs the creation of scenes to make the anime engaging, working under the anime director to craft specific scenes.
Key Animator and In-Between Animator:
Key animators draw the principal frames that serve as key movements, while in-between animators draw the movements that fill the gaps between these key frames, bringing the characters to life.
Animation Director:
Ensures the quality of the animation and creates a sense of unity in the drawings. They may also handle character design.
A very large number of staff members are involved in anime production.
Becoming a Director Without a Background in Drawing
In the anime industry, it's not uncommon for individuals with experience in production progress or photography, rather than drawing, to become directors. This is because anime production involves not just the skill of drawing but also managing projects and collaborating with many staff members to create a piece.
In the first part, we have detailed the roles and work involved in being an animator. The second part will introduce the skills and qualifications necessary for animators, as well as schools where one can pursue a career in animation!
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