The unpredictable nature of the ongoing global pandemic has been causing uncertainty among people across all industries.
For students, especially the new graduates, having a career path that would offer some sort stability might be challenging.
While it’s true that various industries have been gravely affected by the lockdowns brought by the pandemic, one industry has remained resilient - and that’s the Animation Industry.
“Animation remains a relevant industry despite the pandemic,” said Animation Council of the Philippines Board of Trustee Weena Espardinez during the Goal Keepers Webinar by iACADEMY.
Recent studies by the Animation Council of the Philippines have shown a “steady increase” in the demand for animators in different fields of expertise such as 2d, 3d, and special effects. Worldwide, the same study has shown an “exponential increase in the number of the demand for content that requires animation.”
Espardinez, who also serves as the Animation Program Chair of iACADEMY, explained that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has caused people to stay at home, thus, in turn caused the “rise for the need of content.”
Content, Espardinez noted, translates to the demand for animators around the world.
In Asia alone, iACADEMY said that “there are 4,409 animation studios present and all of them are trying to keep up with the need of content.”
Other job opportunities available for Animation graduates also range from different fields. Animation graduates can choose from a variety of careers such as Traditional Animator, Creative Director, Character Concept Artist, Game Level Designer, and Motion Graphics Animator among other creative paths they can choose from.
Aside from that, Animation Graduates can also choose careers in the technical side like; Technical Director, Scene Editor, Animatic Person, Game Tester, Web Developer, and Motion Capture.
iACADEMY explained that capability demands in the industry of Animation are as follows: 34 percent for 2d Animation, 22 percent for Web animation, 21 percent for 3d Animation, and 13 percent for Special Effects.
“This means that subjects like 2d and 3d animation are still top most priority in being equipped for a student’s future career,” iACADEMY said.
Likewise, iACADEMY noted that Animation careers are also present in different applications such as advertising, television, movies, corporate applications (architecture, medicine, etc.), and game development.
iACADEMY noted that careers in Animation have also remained “resilient” - especially for the new grads because of this demand for new content.
“Small and big time players are trying their hardest to cope with this demand and are in need of more people to work on this fast,” iACADEMY said. “Aside from the need for content, the work environment of Animators is also a big factor in it being a resilient career, wherein most of their work can be done at home,” it added.
iACADEMY, a school based in Makati, is the first to offer a Bachelor’s Degree in Animation in the Philippines and is now considered as one of the leading schools in Asia to offer animation and is the first Toon Boom Center of Excellence in Asia.
It is also the first one to be accredited by Toon Boom in the region. iACADEMY also offers a 1:1 student to software ratio in terms of the use of Toon Boom which is the leading software used by the biggest names in the 2d animation industry.
iACADEMY, Espardinez said, have professors who have worked on different animation giants like Disney, LucasFilms, Cartoon Network - among others.
“Whether or not you are good in drawing, iACADEMY is sure to train you and equip you not only with the basics of animation but also with the support and skills that you need to pursue a career in animation,” Espardinez added.