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I'm thinking about getting a degree in computer animation (Bachelor of Science in Media Arts and Animation). Has anyone done any online courses that would like to share their experiences? I'm looking at Full Sail University and the Art Institute. Any advice and opinions are welcomed. I know there are a lot of professionals that frequent this forum and I'm hoping some of you will give some helpful advice to a laid-off AutoCAD drafter / visualization specialist.

i was always impressed by the student work of http://www.animationmentor.com/
they seem to have pros from the industry who teach.

on the other hand a degree will not give you a job automatically these days and online schools still have a certain stigma - but maybe that's only in europe.

but other than than i encourage you!
i spend 2 hours a day (in my 16 hour days) just trying out and learning new software/hardware, reading books, doing personal project that i know will never be profitable but are ones i love and learn a lot, just to keep me updated with the latest tech and manufacturing. and i do one big personal project a year, so i can show my clients that i can do more interesting and complex projects, not just the silly ones i did for other clients.

Sorry to hear about your situation, Brian. With the portfolio you have I'm sure it won't be too long until you're snapped up. Best of luck with the courses!

Perhaps Gnomon School have something for you?

http://courses.gnomonschool.com/courses.php

Chris

Bubbaloo wrote:I'm thinking about getting a degree in computer animation (Bachelor of Science in Media Arts and Animation). Has anyone done any online courses that would like to share their experiences? I'm looking at Full Sail University and the Art Institute. Any advice and opinions are welcomed. I know there are a lot of professionals that frequent this forum and I'm hoping some of you will give some helpful advice to a laid-off AutoCAD drafter / visualization specialist.

Will a degree in computer animation get you a job in this economy?

Will this degree teach you things that you couldn't learn otherwise by yourself? (now that you are laid-off, you should have plenty of time)

what would your ROI be, and how long will it take? (return of investment)

Colleges are usually expensive... I would avoid the burden of students loans if I could.

Your best bet is to network, hit up all your contacts (and make sure you spend some time making a killer portfolio to show your talent).

Best of luck!

Hi Leonardo,

These are very good questions. First, a degree would definitely help get a job. Right now, all I have is 10 years experience at an architectural firm, and a whole lot of self learning. But my goal is not to land a job, it's to have success running my own small studio. To do this, I need to learn more, much more. Although I am laid off, I am still doing contract CAD work and various small 3D projects. As I want to move more into the field of animation and/or effects, I realize how much I need to learn, and what I need is a structured system of learning that a specialized school can provide.

As for a return of investment, I think with a few good years of steady work, repayment of debt could be completed. But that's the appealing aspect of self employment for me; that the amount of success I achieve will be due to the amount and quality of work I can do. When working for someone else, this is not so much the case. I'm tired of making money for other people.

So as far as doing the best I can with where I am now (contacts, portfolio, etc.), I'm afraid that's not good enough. I want more, and the way to that goal for me, is through a structured education.

Bubbaloo wrote:Hi Leonardo,

These are very good questions. First, a degree would definitely help get a job. Right now, all I have is 10 years experience at an architectural firm, and a whole lot of self learning. But my goal is not to land a job, it's to have success running my own small studio. To do this, I need to learn more, much more. Although I am laid off, I am still doing contract CAD work and various small 3D projects. As I want to move more into the field of animation and/or effects, I realize how much I need to learn, and what I need is a structured system of learning that a specialized school can provide.

As for a return of investment, I think with a few good years of steady work, repayment of debt could be completed. But that's the appealing aspect of self employment for me; that the amount of success I achieve will be due to the amount and quality of work I can do. When working for someone else, this is not so much the case. I'm tired of making money for other people.

So as far as doing the best I can with where I am now (contacts, portfolio, etc.), I'm afraid that's not good enough. I want more, and the way to that goal for me, is through a structured education.

Okay, we are getting somewhere.

Your end goal, is to have your own successful business. Therefore the actual "degree" have no other vaule than self-learning. Meaning it doesn't matter if you go to an On-line college, an actual college, or you self-learn from books / tutorials.

At the end of the day is the "knowledge" that you get what's important to you... Unless, of course you are planing to use your degree as a marketing tool (Like lawyers, doctors, and other professions )

If that is the case, then as a business owner, you want to make sure you get the best possible knowledge at the best possible price. The link above http://www.animationmentor.com/
showed a $20,000 price tag. Is that the best way that you can invest your money to get the knowledge that you are after? (I don't know... you are the only one that can answer that question )

As a side note... IMO Architectural visualizations is a evolving field. Architectural Graduates are coming out of school with enough knowledge to do great renderings (and they are only going to get better)... that means more arch offices are going to be doing renderings in-house (again this is my personal opinion.... I could be dead wrong )

In order to succeed you are going to need to offer a product/service that:
1- Has a market (nitch)
2- It's hard to copy / duplicate
3- It has vaule (people are willing to pay for it)

If you can create a service/ product (it doesn't matter what it is) that achieves all three of those things.... you'll be filty rich!! it's not an easy task though .

Is "Bubbaloo Animations" that product? (Again... I don't know, you are the only one that can answer that question )

I'm trying my best to answer that question. My answer is "not yet".

The offers are there for me to go back to drafting 50 hours a week, making the man rich and watching my life and passion for computer graphics slide away from me. With 3 kids depending on me, it is very tempting to go back to that. I just got a call from a large architectural firm about 10 minutes ago to set up an appointment for an interview.

... one too many beers last night.

If you want to learn Character animation, there really are only two things you need:

The animator´s Survival Kit - http://www.theanimatorssurvivalkit.com/

&

Keith Lango VTS - http://animationclinic.com/cart/index.p ... djruuqkgq7

+ Time ofc

Chris

I just finished a great interview with a large firm to work in the visualization department. It looks like the way to go, then I can continue my education (and maybe they will pay for it).

congrats you landed the job.

if your goal is to start your own company i partially agree with leonardo - you don't need the degree. i'm very efficient at self-learning, i learn a new software/techniques easily. but others are not. in the field of animation though i think it helps tremendously to have pros who work in the field hone your skills.
i also think renderings will be done more and more internally by architecture firms unless you have a big renderfarm and fast turnaround. or you have the photoshop skills of rusteberg!

i have an art school degree in traditional and computer animation and went on to work for many industrial design-firms. i got funny looks by coworkers - but i didn't mind as i knew in the end i want to have my own company which i do now for several years. i don't have three kids and wife though - i'm sure they would not be thrilled by my long work-days (and nights)

Bubbaloo wrote:I just finished a great interview with a large firm to work in the visualization department. It looks like the way to go, then I can continue my education (and maybe they will pay for it).

Fantastic Brian, I'm so happy for you!!!

Thanks, Curt! I have a second interview with them tomorrow. I have high hopes for this one! In my first interview, they expressed their desire to take their renderings to the next level, more photorealistic. I will slowly introduce them to the world of Maxwell. After I get comfortable there of course. It will be a big change. For the last decade I had been solely in charge of 3D presentations, doing things my way!

The job is mine!