Internship In Animation: Stepping Into Digital Era’s Creative Career

Animation is the art of conveying a story with the help of moving still figures. Toy Story, Kung Fu Panda, Pinnochio and Finding Nemo are some of the finest animated movies ever made. Almost every show that you ever see on Cartoon Network or Nickelodeon or even in the movies, are all the magic of animation. Animators are artists whose job is to put life in images and make them appear as moving and convey a story with them.

The global market for animation is expected to reach $642 billion by the year 2030. Animation has become an indispensable part of television, marketing, gaming, education and arts. The rise in technology and its unprecedented reach is also increasing the demand for skilled animators. The animation industry will expand and offer lucrative opportunities as well.

If animation is your choice, an internship is recommended to know the field a bit more deeply. Whether it is 2D animation, 3D animation, stop motion, traditional animation or motion graphics, choose a relevant internship to zero in on your style and craft. The internship will strengthen your knowledge and skills.

We list the internship experiences of two interns who worked with an animation firm. It will help you know what to expect before you start your internship and also highlight the importance of internship experience.

Nikhil Gupta, (21 years)

Nikhil has completed his Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the School of Open Learning (SOL), Delhi. He did his Advance Diploma in Animation from the International School of Design (ISD), New Delhi. Currently, he is doing a four month long internship with a cosmetic startup based in Okhla, New Delhi. This is his second internship. He gets Rs. 16,000 as a stipend for this internship. Nine hour work schedule, starting from 9 am to 6 pm in the evening.

Highlighting the pros of the internship he mentioned he got to know a lot about how to use various software at different stages and places. Learning how to do animation and apply visual effects for the products was a fantastic experience. He learnt to deal with a real work environment and handle work pressure effectively. Talking about the seniors he mentioned they’re very supportive and taught him the minute details that are critical while making a perfect animation or a 3D model of a product. He also practised and mastered the use of his skills of 3Ds Max, Autodesk Maya, Adobe After Effects, and Blender 3D.

While discussing the cons of internships he said that the workload can be overwhelming. He often extends his nine-hour shift and leaves the office late after completing the target-based task at hand. His manager expects him to meet the deadlines with strict adherence. This level of professionalism is demanding, plus there are no leaves for interns.

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Overall he describes his experience of interning as a rewarding period in terms of learning the skill. Despite the frustration, which is part and parcel of the internship, he looks forward to a positive career in animation.

Vivek Kumar, (17 years)

Vivek is from Patna. He is skilled in Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro. He did a few online courses during the lockdown period to get introduced to the basics and develop his skills in animation. He did a two-month internship after completing his Class 12 board exams this year.

His first internship was with a sports shoe manufacturing company based out of Patna. His job was to make interesting and relatable social media posts. It was during this internship that he learnt the scope of animation. He described it as a phenomenal tool to excite the audience. He used animation to create small stories that would connect with the viewers and increase the brand footprint.

Every day, he was given a certain number of posts or reels to make and submit to his senior who used to review them and edit them if needed. One good thing was that whenever the senior edited his work, he used to call him and make him see his mistakes. The work environment was very friendly and he described never having felt the burden of work pressure.

He was paid Rs. 8,000 for two months of internship. Working hours were from 10 am to 5 pm. He was considered a rookie at first but eventually earned his respect with punctuality and eagerness to learn. He also received the certificate in the end.

Careers360 has brought to you the experience of two animation interns to help you prepare and learn from their experience. These two animation industry aspirants tell us how they were able to explore the depths of their subjects in a working environment, learning from other people and also understanding their own shortcomings.

To know one's potential, it is important to tread uncomfortable paths. Opt for an internship in animation, and change the way people see things. Have a good future!