Self-analysis

I’ve been studying animation for six years, four years as an undergraduate, and two years in MACA, which seems like a really long time, but I still feel it’s too short. During these years my animation skills have grown a lot, and I have gained a lot in what I did. In the beginning, I was full of enthusiasm in creating new things and exploring different methods in animation, but now I feel that I get stuck. As I’m approaching the end of my MA now, I feel that I can’t be stuck in this situation anymore, so I decided to do a self-analysis to understand my strengths, weaknesses, and needs, and to make a clear plan for my professional future.

• The skills I have:
• animating characters realistically and softly (this one is also my problems, recently I’ve been stuck in this style which limits my animation skills.)
• detailed character performance, exaggerated morphing
• character and background design skills
• good understanding in storyboarding with proficiency in multiple compositions and different perspectives of the camera.
• variety of software: TVpaint, clip studio painting, toonboom harmony, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects
• My weakness:
• A relatively single production style (In the early days, I used to work in different styles…Sadly, now I get stuck)
• time management, very slow production process
• understanding of performance. I need to make the action into a performance, I should put more emotion into the character acting rather than just a variety of movements.
• low skills in timing, the principle of animation, clean-up, and color matching

Highlights in preparing showreel for industry

• put the best and the most memorable shot first!
• explore different styles!!!
• show different capabilities/skills in different shots
• 20-25sec / 45sec, don’t try to include every exercise
• not rely on sound, check it without music

what should I do next

• update CV/ portfolio/ showreel
• keep applying for the internship
• update homepage and add project to the linke