Animation ‘xpress presents ‘ESSENTIALS OF AN ANIMATION TRAINING COURSE ‘ the eighth in a 12 part series.. on The Importance of Industry based training in animation. The views expressed throughout the series are the Author’s.
Animation ‘xpress may or may not subscribe to the same.
ESSENTIALS OF AN ANIMATION TRAINING COURSE
CONSTANTS
1. Involvement of animation companies from the industry
2. Involvement of senior and experienced people from industry
3. Should keep standards of industry always in focus
4. The courses should be practical and relevant to industry
5. Senior faculty be of only working members from industry
VARIABLES
1. Recruitment methods used by various institutes
2. Structure of courses taught at these institutes
3. The target audience
4. Duration of courses offered
5. Whether financial aid available to trainees
6. Management of the courses
7. Place of training
8. Other participants such as non-government bodies
9. Teaching methods used by the institutes
10. Infrastructure available at institutes
CONSTANTS
Involvement of animation companies from the industry
The success of an industry-based course is directly proportional to the level of involvement of the very industry it aims to cater. Industry involvement means immediate transfer of newer technologies and processes to fresh entrants. It is also a means of keeping recruits in touch with industry norms and practices. Look at the best management schools and colleges. All of them have serious participation from the industry.
Involvement of senior and experienced people from industry
Senior and experienced people bring with them a wealth of knowledge and a stable perspective into teaching. They are not driven by trends and fashions but rather by the desire to help groom fresh talent. Experience is a vital part of an animators’ training. Senior people can utilise their experience and knowledge to guide recruits and bring with them loads of credibility. It should be noted here that this involvement should not be on paper alone. Many institutes today approach industry professionals purely for the credibility factor.
Should keep standards of industry always in focus
Training courses should always strive to maintain and improve upon prevalent standards of operation in the industry. An industry-based course is only as good as the students it produces. Poor teaching standards and course design will affect the caliber of fresh recruits and thereby be detrimental to the industry in the long run.
The courses should be practical and relevant to industry
Teaching students material that does not aid employment and/or is outdated, irrelevant to current industry requirements is of no use. If industry is to benefit, courses have to be designed in such a manner that new recruits are able to get employment and become useful to their employers from day one. Too much emphasis on theory without practical application and vice-versa are bound to produce trainees that will be misfits.
Teaching staff be of only working members from industry
If those that teach are actively working in industry on a daily basis the course is bound to be updated and relevant to industry needs. Few people outside the industry understand the pressures and demands of working in this medium. A practicing animator will bring in his own set of practical measures, solutions and problems for recruits to learn from, something a pure classroom teacher is ill equipped to do.
VARIABLES
Recruitment methods used by various institutes
Institutes should be free to decide how they want to recruit or lure students. In the final analysis, it is compliance with the constant factors that will determine the success or failure of a particular school. Some institutes prefer direct advertising while other might want to tap into their local contacts and referrals supplied by their faculty.
Care should be taken to provide training to all categories of students, from freshmen to practicing animators who might want to refresh and/or upgrade their skills.
Structure of courses taught
Varying course structures will bring about competition and open the education field to better resources. It would be quite impossible for one institute to provide skills in all relevant areas. Therefore it might be better if many different schools run industry-based courses and offer variety to students and professionals alike so that specialisation and excellence in both training and course materials is possible.
The target audience
Most courses available today do not take into account senior artists who might want to refresh their knowledge or improve their skill sets. Courses are not designed for the practicing animator on the pretext that he would learn all that he requires on the job.
Nothing could be further from the truth. There is very little time or space available for a practicing animator to attempt gaining newer skills while under constant production pressure. There is a large market for such courses that can be designed around production schedules.
Duration of courses offered
Current courses range from short 3-months to a year. Too much is crammed into the syllabi to be of any practical use to the animator. The idea is to design and offer specialised, 6-month courses that enable students to get thorough knowledge both in theory and practice.
Whether financial aid available to trainees
With courses in animation being urban-centric, most students find the costs exorbitant. There should be an attempt to organise financial aid in the form of educational loans by the institute to offer talented people from all walks of life a chance to realise their dreams.
Management of the courses
Qualified people should manage these courses. Businessmen and knowledge brokers will never be in a position to understand the complexities and constraints of running an educational institution. Some level of idealism is required to avoid the common pitfall -that the teaching of business becomes a business of teaching.
Be it setting up his own animation and sfx studio in 1995 or providing insights and project reports to help re structure organisations and animation training schools, independent animation producer and TASI India founding member and spokesman Ranjit Singh’s 15 yr old stint in the animation Industry is marked with many highlights.
In 2001, Ranjit resigned from the company he founded and has since been working as an independent animation producer, director and consultant. He is currently writing the first of a series of books on animation for beginners.
An animator and modeler himself, Ranjit is very passionate about animation. He wants the new breed of animators to avoid the struggle of his formative years and in this endeavor he is forever available for advice to students and animators alike. He can be reached at phanspal@vsnl.net
Place of training
Art schools and colleges are best suited for such courses. In any case courses are best situated in an environment of learning. Teaching staff in such cases should be independent and there should absolute freedom to the institute to conduct the course as it deems fit. Animation can become part of courses in fine and commercial art as a field of specialisation. Animation courses can also be incorporated into the normal structure of higher education with regulations in place to ensure proper recruitments and validations.
Other participants such as Non-Government bodies
Lack of funds is a main source of trouble for any high-end specialisation course. Non-government organisations and public bodies can play an active role in financially supporting such ventures. It would be quite impossible for a single unit to take over the entire burden of such an exercise. However care should be taken that financial assistance does not lead to interference in administrative and more importantly course related issues. It is very difficult to keep focus with too many players involved in the financial aspects of a venture. Certain compromises on the intended direction are necessary to take the project forward.
Teaching methods used by the institutes
Different institutes may employ different teaching methods. So long as they are relevant to industry norms and practices and are technologically current they will be useful. Care should be taken that there is a right mixture of theory and practical time on the courses. As far as possible independent practice sessions should be encouraged.
Infrastructure available at institutes
Equipment that is used for animation is fairly expensive. However institutes cannot afford to train students on outdated technologies and systems. Constant upgrades and induction of fresh equipment on a regular basis is required in order to offer the most relevant training to students. Institutes that realise this fact are bound to lead in terms of the quality of students they offer to the industry.
End of Part 8
Part 9 of the series entitled ‘Current Indian Scenario’ shall appear in the next issue of Animation Express.