Why Animators Need to Finish Their Reel

One of the key tasks for our graduates is to be job-ready at the end of the course, and this includes finishing a professional-level demo reel.  

A student's demo reel is the single most important means of landing that crucial first job in the animation industry.  

The key thing however is to get it done.  Remember that the best is the enemy of the good.  Perfection, as Milton Friedman used to say, is for the next life.

Don't Be a Procrastinator

We all procrastinate, and put off the hard things we know we need to fix. We tend to perfectionism, and think that we can't show our work until it is perfect.  But in today's economy animators are much in demand, and a demo reel just needs to be good enough to show potential. And, of course, it can always be improved; a demo reel is a constant work-in-progress, regularly updated and polished over the years. 

Demo Reel
Your reel should be a showcase of your best work. To see more about how to put together a great demo reel, read this blog post.

Jobs Resources at Animation Apprentice
We have many resources available at Animation Apprentice aimed at helping our students find work in the animation industry. To get started, see the blog posts below:

• How do graduates find work in the animation industry?
• Demo Reel Advice - at Skwigly
• Demo Reel Advice by Animal Logic
• Why Animators Need to be on LinkedIn
• Be the Rhino - remember that rejection is normal
• Six Rules to Create a Great CV
• How to Write a Cover Letter
• How to Find an Animation Internship
• Blue Zoo Recruitment Tips
• Escape Studios' Free Industry Survival Guide
• Escape Studios Free Careers Guide
• Michael Morgan: "From the Classroom to the Studio"
• Why Animators Need their Own Blog or Website
• How to be a Freelance Animator
• 12 Rules to Find Work in the Animation Industry
• Pixar Advice for Graduates

To find out more about Animation Apprentice, click here for a link to Frequently Asked Questions. To sign up for our next classroom at Animation Apprentice, follow this link.