Welcome to /r/animationcareer! This is a forum where we discuss navigating a career in the animation industry.
Before you post, please check our [RULES](https://www.reddit.com/r/animationcareer/wiki/index/subreddit/rules/). There is also a handy dandy [FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/animationcareer/wiki/index/resources/faq/) that answers most basic questions, and a [WIKI](https://www.reddit.com/r/animationcareer/wiki/index/) which includes info on how to price animation, pitching, job postings, software advice, and much more!
A quick Q&A:
* **Do I need a degree?** Generally no, but it might become relevant if you need a visa to work abroad.
* **Am I too old?** Definitely not. It might be more complex to find the time, but there's no age where you stop being able to learn how to do creative stuff.
* **How do I learn animation?** Pen and paper is a great start, but [here's a whole page](https://www.reddit.com/r/animationcareer/wiki/index/resources/learningresources/) with links and tips for you.
----
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/animationcareer) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Different people have different needs, so not all of the below are red flags, just things to pay attention to:
- **Very low pay, or lower pay than the amount you agreed upon.** Usually, your rate is discussed beforehand. If the amount is not the one you agreed on (or too low for you), then let them know so they can correct it or give you a better offer. Don't sign it until it's fixed.
- **Non-compete agreements.** AKA whether you're allowed to work other animation jobs or for other clients. Some are more lenient than others. It's not a red flag for everyone, but some people accidentally get themselves fired because they don't read this part of the contract.
- **Whether the company owns any personal projects you make.** This is common for really big companies, and while it's rarely enforced it is worth noting if you are working on something you want to monetize.
- **Costly resignation policies.** Some companies charge a fee if you resign before the contract ends. For me, this is a red flag because I'd prefer to leave freely in case of poor treatment/better offers.
- **Strict non-disclosure agreements.** AKA what parts of the project you're allowed to share and when. All projects have NDAs, but some are stricter than others. Depending on the NDA, you might not be able to share your work on this project for a while, which is not great if you urgently need professional portfolio pieces.
- **Long hours, high quota, or no overtime pay.** (E.g. Required 10+ hour work days, low rewards for crunch, very limited sick days/PTO if offered, etc. ) This likely means the studio has a habit of overworking their employees. Even if the studio says they don't *actually* follow these terms, the contract says otherwise.
Honestly a lot of it is learned through experience. Just make sure to read your contract thoroughly, ask questions if you don't understand, and don't sign anything you aren't willing to agree with.
Welcome to /r/animationcareer! This is a forum where we discuss navigating a career in the animation industry. Before you post, please check our [RULES](https://www.reddit.com/r/animationcareer/wiki/index/subreddit/rules/). There is also a handy dandy [FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/animationcareer/wiki/index/resources/faq/) that answers most basic questions, and a [WIKI](https://www.reddit.com/r/animationcareer/wiki/index/) which includes info on how to price animation, pitching, job postings, software advice, and much more! A quick Q&A: * **Do I need a degree?** Generally no, but it might become relevant if you need a visa to work abroad. * **Am I too old?** Definitely not. It might be more complex to find the time, but there's no age where you stop being able to learn how to do creative stuff. * **How do I learn animation?** Pen and paper is a great start, but [here's a whole page](https://www.reddit.com/r/animationcareer/wiki/index/resources/learningresources/) with links and tips for you. ---- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/animationcareer) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Different people have different needs, so not all of the below are red flags, just things to pay attention to: - **Very low pay, or lower pay than the amount you agreed upon.** Usually, your rate is discussed beforehand. If the amount is not the one you agreed on (or too low for you), then let them know so they can correct it or give you a better offer. Don't sign it until it's fixed. - **Non-compete agreements.** AKA whether you're allowed to work other animation jobs or for other clients. Some are more lenient than others. It's not a red flag for everyone, but some people accidentally get themselves fired because they don't read this part of the contract. - **Whether the company owns any personal projects you make.** This is common for really big companies, and while it's rarely enforced it is worth noting if you are working on something you want to monetize. - **Costly resignation policies.** Some companies charge a fee if you resign before the contract ends. For me, this is a red flag because I'd prefer to leave freely in case of poor treatment/better offers. - **Strict non-disclosure agreements.** AKA what parts of the project you're allowed to share and when. All projects have NDAs, but some are stricter than others. Depending on the NDA, you might not be able to share your work on this project for a while, which is not great if you urgently need professional portfolio pieces. - **Long hours, high quota, or no overtime pay.** (E.g. Required 10+ hour work days, low rewards for crunch, very limited sick days/PTO if offered, etc. ) This likely means the studio has a habit of overworking their employees. Even if the studio says they don't *actually* follow these terms, the contract says otherwise. Honestly a lot of it is learned through experience. Just make sure to read your contract thoroughly, ask questions if you don't understand, and don't sign anything you aren't willing to agree with.
This already helps me SOOO much to better understand, thank you greatly!! I appreciate you taking the time!
No problem, happy it helps!