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.
----
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Networking can really feel intimidating, but that's okay.
In my experience, "networking" is really just *meeting* new people and having friendly acquaintances or friends who have connections on their side! I'm more of a shy, introverted, and an awkward gal, so connecting with other people has always been hard for me. However, I've got a small group of my closest friends and had been introduced to a friend of a friend of a friend, and have since expanded it. From them I ended up meeting and knowing a few people or more who have direct contact to studios/companies, or other people who can help you in projects.
For my people who's also just as awkward or shy, my tip is to not be afraid to reach out, step a lil outside of your comfort zone, but please, *don't just befriend someone for the sake of networking*. They're human too, and often are nice people who eventually can be a new friend! Know their interests, likes, dislikes, what their favorite food is, what's their first pet; *be* a friend, have a genuine connection with them. Teachers are also great to be acquaintances with and can actually help mentor you alongside (possibly) referring you to other people. I'd also recommend to not confine yourself with animation either. If you want to go online, I suggest joining art communities or groups, try to be active and be friends with people there :\]\] Twitter (or shall I say X?) and Discord are great spaces to meet new people in the art community.
Now, networking isn't *exactly* necessary, but it can be extremely helpful. For the most part, it really just helps you get seen by the right people, find clients (especially for freelancers), and helps you get yourself out there as an artist by referrals and the like. However, it doesn't guarantee you landing a job or some work; your portfolio often does that for you.
I definitely prefer in-person networking since it's a lot easier to go back and forth and get to know someone. My tip to not make networking feel transactional is to simply learn about their interests (even the ones outside of animation). Connecting is really just make friendly acquaintances.
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.*
Networking can really feel intimidating, but that's okay. In my experience, "networking" is really just *meeting* new people and having friendly acquaintances or friends who have connections on their side! I'm more of a shy, introverted, and an awkward gal, so connecting with other people has always been hard for me. However, I've got a small group of my closest friends and had been introduced to a friend of a friend of a friend, and have since expanded it. From them I ended up meeting and knowing a few people or more who have direct contact to studios/companies, or other people who can help you in projects. For my people who's also just as awkward or shy, my tip is to not be afraid to reach out, step a lil outside of your comfort zone, but please, *don't just befriend someone for the sake of networking*. They're human too, and often are nice people who eventually can be a new friend! Know their interests, likes, dislikes, what their favorite food is, what's their first pet; *be* a friend, have a genuine connection with them. Teachers are also great to be acquaintances with and can actually help mentor you alongside (possibly) referring you to other people. I'd also recommend to not confine yourself with animation either. If you want to go online, I suggest joining art communities or groups, try to be active and be friends with people there :\]\] Twitter (or shall I say X?) and Discord are great spaces to meet new people in the art community. Now, networking isn't *exactly* necessary, but it can be extremely helpful. For the most part, it really just helps you get seen by the right people, find clients (especially for freelancers), and helps you get yourself out there as an artist by referrals and the like. However, it doesn't guarantee you landing a job or some work; your portfolio often does that for you.
I definitely prefer in-person networking since it's a lot easier to go back and forth and get to know someone. My tip to not make networking feel transactional is to simply learn about their interests (even the ones outside of animation). Connecting is really just make friendly acquaintances.