Ok, so I think this is the write section to be posting this... I want to get a job as an animator or 3D modler for a video game development company and I'm looking to do a degree that would help with this. I live in the UK and from what I've heard most of the video game development degrees out there aren't up to standard. So would it be better to do a animation degree that focuses on animation specifically, or find a video game development degree that look at more aspects in the industry (at least they're supposed to?) I just wanted to get some more people's opinions on this. I've read a bunch of articles about UK video game degrees and stuff but I want to actually get some opinions from people that might have done a degree here or know someone that has.

As an artist your portfolio and experience is everything. The important thing in a school is to just look at their environment and make sure that they will foster you as an artist and develop a strong portfolio. Whether it is a game development or more traditional animation school is largely irrelevant (though admittedly I'd probably lean towards the latter).

For what its worth, I studied Computer Graphics Technology, with emphases in Animation and Game Development at Purdue University in the US, which is largely renown for engineering, management, and pharmaceutical technologies (not animation or game development). I now work as Game Designer. [wink]

If you want to be an animator, then why consider a game development degree? Get an animation degree, but work in your spare time on providing animations to hobby game development projects, so you become familiar with the constraints that apply there.

The upside to this approach is that you'll be able to get any animation job in the interim, if finding one that suits you in game development proves a little more challenging.

Based on what I know (because I went through 3D animation program myself), most of those 3D animation "degrees" will get your feet wet in 3D animation and then leave you to your own devices to continue. They will teach you modeling/uv mapping, rigging, skinning and most important animation principles, but by the end of your courses you will not be good enough to be hired anywhere.

You will have to do lots of work while in school, and at least as much work after you graduate, probably for at least a year, before you can get a job doing dirty work for some multimedia studio. And the way you get work is by showing what you can do (and hopefully having an inside contact by networking), so the people at the studio can see your work matches their expectations (in particular, they will be extremely interested in how long it took you to make something rather than how detailed and awesome it looks).

All of the 3D animation stuff you can learn on your own, if you are serious enough. Of course you have to know your tools which often have a steep learning curve, but in the end it all comes down to knowing how to animate. So if you do want to be an animator, don't go to a program that teaches you how to animate in Maya, or Max, or insert-name-of-3D-program-here, but instead go to an actual art school where you learn the ins and outs of animation with paper and pencil. If you want to do modeling and game art - follow the same principle. Solid degree in art from an art school, then on to learning digitals tools like Photoshop and 3D modeling programs.

Quote: Original post by ValMan
Based on what I know (because I went through 3D animation program myself), most of those 3D animation "degrees" will get your feet wet in 3D animation and then leave you to your own devices to continue. They will teach you modeling/uv mapping, rigging, skinning and most important animation principles, but by the end of your courses you will not be good enough to be hired anywhere.

Interesting point. I was thinking about a traditional animation degree myself - not one focusing specifically/solely on 3D animation.