BP Human resource management

Back in 1987, the first edition of Final Fantasy was once considered the most state-of-the art animation in the market. Compare it to the most recent version of Prince of Persia (the game), and Final Fantasy 1 looks like a cave drawing.

In other words, gaming animation has evolved at breakneck speed over the last few decades. This is due to two key factors; the lightning fast evolution of the computer, which in turn caused the incredible growth of the video game industry itself. The video game industry grossed over $20 billion in 2008, now making a major contributor to the nation's gross national product. In turn, this has created a new type of animator, one who specializes in gaming as opposed to more traditional TV or film. This new type of careerist is coming in with a solid education background and adding grants for college research is a great way to plan.

At his or her core, a gaming animator has to have the same basic skill set as his or her TV/film comrade. These days they must be as equally skilled at a desktop as with a paintbrush. All must have excellent visual story telling skills, as well as the visual acuity of a professional painter. Knowledge of the most popular animation software is also standard.

There are also many more schools offering animation courses than ever before. Still, to get into the good ones a young artist now has to have a solid demo disk, as well as a graphic portfolio to get in. The reason for this is the schools want to see some fundamental knowledge of the production process as well as the ability to design great characters and backdrops.

Where gaming animation differs from TV in film is how animators apply their craft. In traditional animation, the viewer has no active participation in the story, while the gamer is quite the opposite. Whatever he punches on his console has a consequence on what happens on the screen. This means the gaming animator has to come up with imagery with whatever the gamer does, whether it be throwing a right hook or offering a flower.

Financial aid for animators is pretty much on the same track as for any other art student, only with a number of studios like Disney, Sony and Dreamworks adding their revenues to the pot. It's not uncommon for Disney to lock up a particularly promising student with a full scholarship to Cal Arts (a school they founded). For those less blessed, there are the usual routes for grants, other scholarships and loans out there. The best thing to do is consult with a financial aid advisor and research grants for single moms options on your own to see what fits your individual situation.

What does work in an animator's favor though is it's a very small field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics believes there are about 20,000 as of 2009, half them employed in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Salaries can go up to $80,000, depending heavily on where one works. California, the heart of America's entertainment industry, pays higher than any other city. From there, one can move on to a director or producer's job.