Before starting the course, I only had a generalised skill set when it came to animation as a medium that were carried over from my BA. I was experienced when it came to making animations with knowledge in software’s like 2D, 3D and stop-motion and editing but did not have as much knowledge when it came to storytelling, the principles of animation and character animation. That all started to change as I progressed with the course and has resulted in so much growth as an animator.
Reflecting on Unit 1, I gained a deeper understanding of working in a professional setting within the animation pipeline and industry. The LIAF project was my first chance to create work that would be shown at a festival, even if it was just a trailer played before the main events. This experience helped me understand the process of pitching an idea to an industry client and the challenges involved, especially since only 10 ideas were chosen out of around 40. Although my idea wasn’t selected, I received helpful feedback on what worked and what could be improved. This taught me how tough it is to create a pitch that stands out and appeals to clients, and helped me improve my pitching skills for the future. Instead, I joined a greenlit project in a supporting role. Even though there were some challenges, I carried out my tasks in animation and production management, kept communication clear with tutors and the client, and helped ensure the production stayed on schedule.
Unit 2, helped me develop my storytelling based on a script and keywords provided by the Screenwriting course. It helped me understand what is needed to make a well written and effective narrative in the small amount of runtime we had available. Alongside helping me develop my storytelling skills, this units also provided me more opportunities to work in a collaborative scene with fellow students as well as students from other courses and universities. This meant I could experience roles that I have not done before, helping me have even more knowledge on the different roles within the pipeline and what it takes to do that role effectively.
Comparing my skills now to when I first started the course, I have noticed how my style of storytelling has developed into being more grounded in realism and something that the audience can find relatable. In addition to how confident I am in the pipeline to experience working in different roles when needed. Having worked on 3 films, I can also see my skills in animation slowly develop after each completion and I’m looking forward to how the progress will develop with future projects.