Thinking about the future
While studying animation, I started thinking more seriously about one question:
How can I build a long-term future in animation?
I have always enjoyed independent animation and personal projects. Creating work with my own style and ideas is something that attracts me a lot. However, after learning more about the industry, I slowly realised that independent practice does not always provide a stable lifestyle. The animation industry is very competitive right now. Many artists work freelance, manage multiple jobs at once, or spend long periods searching for new opportunities.
Luck, timing and opportunities
During an Inmotion event, someone asked Alex Hirsch, the creator of Gravity Falls, how he found work. His answer surprised me. He said that luck was an important factor because industry demand moves in cycles. He explained that he graduated when studios were hiring more people.
Of course, this is not the whole story.
He is an extremely talented director and animator, and I believe he would still have become successful regardless. However, this conversation made me think more about the importance of timing and opportunities. It also made me realise that careers are not always completely predictable.
Rethinking what I want to do
Because of this, I started reconsidering my own future direction.
At first, I mostly imagined working in areas such as character animation or visual development. Later, I realised that I am also interested in directing, production and research. During my graduation project, I discovered that I enjoy more than simply making animation.
I also enjoy thinking about themes, audience experiences and creative processes.
Thinking about research differently
At the same time, I started becoming interested in practice-based PhD programmes and academic research. I realised that animation is not only technology or entertainment.
It can also connect with culture, social observation and personal expression.
For example, I have always been interested in the relationship between female-oriented fandom culture, BL creation and animation.
Because I have spent many years participating in fandom spaces myself, I started wondering whether personal creative experiences could also become part of research.
Exploring different possibilities
Recently, I started researching PhD programmes related to animation, design and cultural studies.
I noticed that different schools understand practice-based research differently. Some focus more on theory, while others allow creative practice and written research to happen together.
This made me wonder whether personal practice and academic research really need to be separated.
Although I still do not know exactly which direction I will choose, this process helped me understand that there are many different ways to work within animation. Besides traditional studio jobs, people also move into education, research, independent production and interdisciplinary practice.
Leave a Reply