Pocket Mentor for Animators

Want to work as an animator in the video games industry? Then this is the book for you. This is a friendly guide to understanding the industry that offers practical advice and guidance to prepare you for the challenge!This book covers every step of the way, from picking universities through to your first year on the job. Outlining the whole job application process, with essential dos and don’ts, it also includes helpful animator-specific tips that might come in handy in those early years! Drawing from personal experience, along with interviews with ten incredibly talented people within the industry, this book ensures you feel supported and ready to enter the industry. From lessons learned to mistakes made, tackling imposter syndrome to finding friends, this book shares plenty for the reader to take away with them – even if that is just a bunch of things they know not to do . . .A beginner’s guide to life as an animator, this book is an invaluable resource for aspiring and seasoned pros alike.Table of ContentChapter 1 Hello! I’m Hollie....Chapter 2 Wait… What is Game Animation?Chapter 3 Let’s Go Back to School! (Oh God I Hope Not . . .)Chapter 4 The Ultimate Game Animator’s Job ApplicationChapter 5 Looking and Applying for Jobs Is Your JobChapter 6 You Got an Interview! Congratulations!!Chapter 7 Your First DayChapter 8 Your First MonthChapter 9 Your First YearChapter 10 Who Said Learning is Bad?Chapter 11 This Is Not an Animation Textbook (. . . Let Me Just Give You a Few Tips Though)Chapter 12 Get It in the GameChapter 13 What Do I Animate?Chapter 14 Approaching Game SystemsChapter 15 Having a Bad Day?Chapter 16 Stay Connected, Get Inspired (+ Make Friends!)Chapter 17 Focus on HappinessChapter 18 The Reality of Game DevelopmentChapter 19 Closing ThoughtsBiographical NoteHollie Newsham is a lead animator working in the games industry. Her journey began with studying computer animation at the University of South Wales, where she received a first-class honours degree, landing her first job at Lucid Games within six months of graduating. She has managed to fit a lot in since 2017: she shipped her first PS5 exclusive title “Destruction AllStars”, got promoted to Senior and then most recently to Lead, has directed motion capture shoots, mentored new animators and has given presentations at multiple international games conferences including Game Developers Conference (GDC) and Konsoll.