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Disney Character Designer answers your questions about Concept Art, Character Design for Animation, Digital Painting & Illustration.

Animation Jobs Go Fast (And Why You Must Go Faster)

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Cartoon Chris Oatley screaming "Portfolios Now!"There are many new ways to break into the animation and games industry.

While personal projects, conventions and gathering a fan base are, in my opinion, essential, we need to remember that artists still break in the old fashioned way.

…by responding to a “Help Wanted” ad.

Animation and games studios announce job openings all the time.

When I hear about a credible job announcement I pass it along to my art buddies who might be interested.

…and most of them lose the job before they even apply.

Not because they aren’t good enough…

…because they don’t respond fast enough.

For one simple tip that could completely change the way you apply for games and animation jobs (and a list of places to find them) read on…

The Mouse Watch Is Ticking:

mouse-watchI got my first in-house gig at Disney in March of 2007.

In 2008, I launched my podcast so I could share my experience with artists just like you.

By 2009, I knew enough about the animation industry to help my friends find work.

As soon as I started referring my friends for jobs in animation, I discovered an epidemic of artistic dilly-dallying that continues to drive me bonkers.

Here’s how things play out pretty much every time:

1.) I get an email about a current job opening (or internship).

Emails from the Disney HR department often include direct requests for referrals from current Disney employees.

Occasionally an art director or friend in development writes me personally and asks for a referral.

I also get personal emails from other friends in the industry, The Animation Guild and from strangers who found my website.

I’m also subscribed to all of the websites listed near the end of this post.

2.) I review my mental list of qualified friends who are currently looking for work.

I might think of a close friend, a student or even one of my subscribers with whom I’ve developed trust over time.

If I know that the artist does great work and is great to work with, they are a candidate for a personal referral.

3.) I tell the artist who is most likely to follow-through.

My friend thanks me for the heads-up and immediately goes radio-silent.

4.) A few days later, I’m wondering if she fell off the planet…

Two weeks later she writes me and ask for feedback on the new portfolio she has prepared.

Of course, by this point the position had been filled.

Must Go Faster:

t-rex-jeep-chase
I can count on one hand the number of times someone applied right after I told them about a job opening or internship.

I don’t get it.

We’re all aware of how insanely competitive this industry is.

Hundreds of qualified professionals and pre-professionals start lining up the very second a job is announced. Within a few hours that line wraps around the block, stretches across the city, extends all the way to the east coast and circles the the world several times!

…and all those artists are behind the ones who had the inside scoop and lined up before the job was even announced!

Two weeks?

Two days is pushing it.

I’ll apologize in advance for yelling:

If you’re applying for a job in animation or games and you want your portfolio to actually be considered YOU MUST GO FASTER!

…not two weeks.

…not two days.

24 hours.

Yes. 24 hours.

Submit a relevant, competitive portfolio (and resume, etc.) within 24 hours of a job posting.

But how can anyone expect you to prepare a relevant, competitive portfolio within 24 hours?!

I don’t.

You have to be prepared before the job becomes available.

Once that job announcement goes out, it goes viral. There’s no time to finish three more paintings, draw a new storyboard, design a few more characters or lay on the couch and play Angry Birds.

You-got-to-move-it-move-it!

Cat & Mouse:

tom-eyesHave you ever seen a cat stalking a mouse?

The cat is tense from head-to-toe, full of potential energy, ready to pounce at the first opportunity.

She never takes her eyes off of the mouse.

The cat doesn’t go off and start building a new mousetrap.

While you can’t stay a healthy human and live in that kind of tension 24/7, I’m sure you can see my point.

If you want to catch a mouse, you have to be ready to pounce at the first opportunity.

BEFORE Opportunity Knocks:

tmnt-trainingVisit the links to the games & animation job resources in the next section.

Sure, you’ll want to check out all of the current job openings for which you’re qualified to apply.

…but don’t go into panic mode, disappear and try to bust out a new portfolio in two weeks.

That’s what most of the other aspiring professionals are doing.

Do what nobody else is doing and look through the PAST job postings.

Studios are structured. Those same jobs will become available again in the future.

Use the guidelines in those past job posts to create a relevant portfolio for specific jobs at studios whose creative sensibilities match your own. …and be specific.

Most of your competition won’t even stand a chance.

…not because they aren’t good enough.

…because they don’t respond fast enough.

They’ll still be working on a new portfolio when the art directors are reviewing yours.

So hurry up!

Where To Find Games and Animation Jobs:

IMPORTANT: Beware of mysterious “studios” that nobody’s ever heard of.

Some online job aggregators don’t verify the legitimacy of the companies represented on the site. …but all of the recommendations listed above are awesome.

Matt Scheuerman (who runs Concept-Art-Jobs.com) and Tina Price (President of CTN) are personal friends of mine. They carefully verify the jobs they announce. Although I don’t know the CreativeHeads team personally, I have been subscribed to their email announcements for years and I’ve never noticed anything shady.

Studio Websites:

Final Thoughts:

Of course there’s plenty more to learn about illustration and concept art portfolios, professionalism and breaking-in.

But right now, I just want to speak to the heart of the matter…

The portfolio you have right now is the portfolio you have right now. 

What difference is two more weeks really going to make?

…besides putting you at the very end of that very long line?

When you’re trying to break in, you must remain just as proud of your work as you are critical of it.

Now is the time to be intensely critical of your own work.

…not right after you spot a job announcement.

When you send your portfolio away to the recruiters and art directors, rest easy and take pride in knowing that you did absolutely everything you could to prepare.

…and got your application in on time.

Learn More:

Improve Your Portfolio At The Oatley Academy

Concept Artist Jobs: How To Break In & Stay In

Is Your Concept Art Portfolio Versatile Or Just Confusing?

How To Get A Portfolio Critique From An Entertainment Industry Pro

Concept Art & Illustration Portfolio Pitfalls

Any Questions?

Did you find this post helpful? Please let me know!

If you have any questions about animation jobs, post them in the comments below and I’ll respond all week long.

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Comments

  1. Spot on, Chris! This is a great post, not just for animation but also for other coveted jobs.
    I guess in my case I have spent all my time doing a portfolio for a different industry (graphic design) so I’m now taking some months to prepare one for the industry I DO want. Nothing in the portfolio I currently have will land me any of those jobs… hehe. But I know it, and I’m working to fix it so I guess I’m halfway there. I hadn’t thought about checking old job offerings, though, so thanks for the tip. That’s a great way to focus my efforts.
    And as usual, a very compelling and clear post! 😀

    • Great plan, Maria. I also started as a graphic designer but animated storytelling was my passion. We can still keep our graphic design portfolios just in case. I had to fall back on it recently, but it was my years of passion pursuit that steered my career right back to animation work.

      • I’m on the same boat as Maria. In my case i still can’t find what it is I should be doing? Not sure if it’s the same as what i want to be doing. My portfolio is also all graphic design right now…i have no idea where to start for an illustration/animation one.

        Best of luck to u maria!
        Chris, every post seems to hit exactly on target, i thought i was the only one making foolish mistakes

  2. Now this… is something I’ve been guilty of more than once. The letting time slip by, I mean.

    I don’t really have a portfolio ready for sending out (yet), but even so, a friend recently offered me a small part time gig in the little company he works for and I was extremely grateful. Then I sat around panicking for a week and a half. I needed to improve on this, but first I had to get better at that, but certainly not before perfecting those and don’t even get me started on these!

    However, the worst part was that I was aware of every second that went by, both day and night. I eventually sent them something, but it was already way too late. Oh well, at least knowing I have a problem is half the battle, right?

    Sorry about the sudden story time there, but this post struck a nerve. The ‘past full of regret’ nerve. Anyway, thanks for keeping consistent quality content coming, Chris! I appreciate it!

    • Thank you, Cristian!

      You’re definitely not the only one. In the six(ish) years I’ve been actively trying to help my friends break-in, I have rarely seen anyone respond as quickly as they should.

      And yes, knowing is half the battle!

  3. SO good– and exactly what I needed to hear yet again. Lately I’ve been feeling really overwhelmed– like even with my experience I’m not ready to apply for things because the work I’ve done on my own doesn’t feel like it stands up to some of the work I’ve done that’s still under NDA… I do need to keep making new work (and working through Painting Drama 1 with Oatley Academy is moving me really far in the right direction)– but my current book is what it is right now. Better not to miss the opportunities. Thanks once again for your insight and candor! I’ll definitely be sharing this one around!

    • Thanks, Jenn.

      Having your wings clipped by an NDA is one of the most frustrating parts of staying in after you break-in. Sometimes you can get the studio to make an exception for a job interview. I don’t think it would hurt to ask.

      The thing to keep in mind is that you’re experiencing these problems because you’re past that insanely difficult “big break.”

      • It’s very surreal. I don’t know if I’ll ever feel like I don’t need to completely RE prove myself! You’re right though, this is a speed bump compared to the hurdles that were lined up in front of the door to the first gig!

  4. So be great to work with, have awesome art and be prepared! Mission for 2014 accepted!
    Thanks for the timely advice as always Chris!
    (be prepared automatically had scars voice singing away in my head)

  5. Great post, Chris! This is a good reminder that there is never any perfect time in the future. You go with what you’ve got now and make the best of it.

  6. It happened to me. A friend told me they were looking for character designers in his videogame company and that he was sure I was perfect for the job. But I didn’t have a portfolio ready so… I made it and sent it a few weeks later. It was too late, they weren’t offering the job anymore.

  7. Non-coincidentally, my dream studio has me on a short list to hire in the near future – all because of a job listing YOU sent me, Chris. I’ve fallen into the dilly-dally method and your advice is SPOT ON.

    I like your point of being just as proud of our work as we are critical. I spent way too long hating my work because I was reaching for perfection. Because you gave me this advice in the past I still work to improve, but I take joy in my PROGRESS!

      • Thanks Tegan! Actually, the short list is not for interviews, it’s for hire. They already liked my reel, interviewed me, and asked me to send them updates on my new projects. Every project I’ve been doing, I’ve created in response to a question they asked in the interview. It’s been a great way to propel growth. How’s your search coming? Any new developments?

  8. Oh I never knew that on these job website they also post jobs for illustrators? Man if I had known earlier..I skip these websites because it’s mostly concept art (and no that’s not really my specialty) but it’s worth watching them apparently :).

    • Oh yeah, Petra. Some companies don’t know where else to go so they go to the animation/ concept art job sites.

      Even The Animation Guild itself sends out illustration jobs. Childrens’ books, interactive etc.

      Glad you found value in today’s post!

  9. Great advice!! I’ve fallen on that mistake like many others. I think the terror of confirming you’re not good enough makes you feel that maybe in this 2 weeks time you will do something better… Some time ago I finally got it, that’s never the case. As you said, your portfolio (or animation reel in my case) is what it is, so we should just apply and be stronger than the fear of failure.
    In my case I apply at every animator job I find out there, but man, it’s like nobody wants a junior cg animator (at least here in Spain). Everyone wants some years of experience, senior knowledge of every aspect… No risk for their studios. Sometimes it makes you doubt of your skills (as poor as they may be)… However I will keep on applying to each open position that I find until i get my first opportunity eventually. Meanwhile I keep on making new shots for a new reel.
    Thanks for reminding us that you have to be prepared… always!

    • “We should just apply and be stronger than the fear of failure.”

      You nailed it right there, Albert.

      As my buddy Mike says “You can’t steer a parked car.”

  10. I always try to apply for things as soon as I find them, but I never feel prepared – so I think this year I will make more of a concentration there – to have the best portfolio I can ahead of time. 🙂 As always, Chris, Brilliant post that gets right to the heart of things and explodes my mind with awesomeness!!

  11. Wow, Chris, great post.

    Back in the day, when we had a race team, there was a saying amongst racers, “run what you brung”…amateur racers spend all their off-track hours honing skills, fine-tuning their vehicles, but when race time comes, perfect or not, you “run what you brung” there’s no time for do-overs when you’re on the track. You pull up to the light, twist the throttle and hope you did your best and pray that confidence and skill will fill in any gaps in your run.

    I think that mindset could apply to portfolio submissions, no?

    Oh, and epic use of the Jurassic Park quote…I love dinosaurs. 🙂

    Tami

    • Hahaha! I was hoping someone would catch the Jeff Goldblum reference! You should get a prize or something, Tami…

      Perfect metaphor with the race. That actually does a better job of saying what I was trying to say in the “final thoughts” section.

      Thank you for sharing!

      • No problem, Chris! …and I’ve seen that movie so many times, I couldn’t help spot the quote. 🙂 It’s also one of my favorite parts of the film (objects in mirror may be closer than they appear).

  12. So I’m curious when an artist hears about an opening and it doesn’t state specifically is it better to send in a physical portfolio or a website link via e-mail or even to do both?

    • Hi, Paul. I think that would be studio-specific.

      Honestly, I recommend just calling the main line at the studio and asking.

      When I was in grad school, Pixar came to visit and I needed to know something like that. I just called the main Pixar number and they got me an answer. I had to wait on hold for a while but they told me what to do.

  13. Ughh, this is such simple advice but /everyone/ (myself included) seems to slip it by.

    Better to apply than let opportunity slip by, right? (Oh hey, a rhyme!)

    Although I personally can say I don’t end up applying for jobs because, if I do happen to be qualified, they’re in areas I can’t get to- right now I can’t travel while I work out the final kinks of citizenship for Canada, so that’s been the biggest thing keeping me from putting my portfolio forward. Hopefully next month that will change!

    But thanks for this post. Great advice and great resources. Now I can at least keep working on the back-end (Portfolio prep) with a greater sense of focus for my skills!

    • Alex, the international challenge is something that we will be addressing this year on ChrisOatley.com.

      I don’t have a fully-formed (or fully INformed) collection of thoughts yet. But the gears ARE turning.

      No matter what though, the two “secrets” are key. Do great work and be great to work with. Amazing how the details just seem to dissolve for everyone who really gets that…

  14. Thanks for the post, Chris, it was perfect timing and the best motivation ever to just put my work together in a finished portfolio rather than continually reworking it because it “isn’t there yet”. It’ll never be exactly where I want it…but I’m still proud of the work I did. Today I’m putting together a portfolio for summer internships 🙂

  15. Oh, I’ve definitely been guilty of this in the past, and now I make a point to try and respond within the same business day of the posting. (It’s how I got my current position. My boss-to-be posted a job listing at 11am, I responded by 4, had an interview the next day.)

    I have a question, though – I’ve heard that artists can contact animation studios for an art test even when they don’t have posted openings. Is this true, and how would you go about doing that?

  16. Thanks for yelling some sense into me Chris!!

    This is a real “Cart-before-the-Horse” situation.
    Except in this case, we are letting the cart pass us by while we groom our horse.
    Or…something like that. 🙂

  17. Hey Chris,

    So true on all accounts. I think that if you live outside of the entertainment industry’s “sphere of influences” or at least in some remote suburb you really have no idea as to the climate the industry is in until you start doing some serious research and join online communities to see what the good fight is really like.

    Every time I see a job posting I always think of the line at CTNX and say to myself “that’s exactly what the studios inbox submissions are going to look like in a days time”.

    Thanks for your insight again,

    -CS

  18. Really great and relevant post. Currently on the job hunt, I’ve been trying to be super on top of things. Hunting everyday on multiple sites and applying as fast as possible. I usually like to let emails from contacts mull in my head for a while so I can get a good response ready, but I always answer back by the end of the day (or immediately if it’s a simple response).

    i’ve had my fair share in the past of waiting too long. I have learned. But during long days of job hunting your brain gets fuzzy and you start to forget doing now is better than later. This post helped give me another kick in the butt to stay on top of things. I have my portfolio ready, but always updating when I work on something new that’s portfolio worthy. I’m hoping it’s only a matter of time. It’s been 3-4 months of searching with little luck.

    I need to be more involved in networking too, but I feel often that I’m bugging people if I have nothing relevant to say. Would a email newsletter with updates on your work every month or so be a good way to keep in touch with contacts? Or should there be even more effort than that?

    Thanks for the posts!

    • Effective networking has very little to do with what’s going on with you and a great deal to do with how much you care about other people. Shift your focus from inward to outward and see what happens.

      • Ah, okay. Makes lots of sense. I’ll definitively try that. I honestly feel better talking to people about their lives vs my own, so this should be easier than previous efforts.

        Thanks ^_^

  19. Unfortunately, hiring procedures running at top speed also mean that international applicants are out of luck…

      • Yes, there are international artists working in the US, but in general, it is a lot more work for studios to hire internationals, which makes it a lot harder for internationals to find jobs in the US…

  20. Great post, Chris!

    I’m with Petra – I had no idea concept art job listings included a few illustration gigs too? That’s great!

    Maria, I’m in the same boat as you. Background in GD, now moving forward with a more focussed goal of getting an illustration folio underway.

    Back to PD1 and MB with intent. Thank you for posting, Chris!

  21. Hi! I’ve been reading your post for a long time now and never encouraged my self to write! I love your website and the info you share if great and super useful.

    My problem is I love drawing, now, where do i fit? I really like doing concepts and funny ideas, i have fun also with layouts, but i am not sure what should i focus on…

    Thanks a mill for the tips!

  22. Guilty as charged.

    I feel my issue is intimidation and not having that “entry level” experience needed to get to the interviewing stage. I’m tempted to add more, work more, try to push my skills further and never end up sending the application out.

    I wager the only solution is to work towards the next job opening and keep an eye out for entry level positions.

  23. I think I managed to accidentally did your advice for my current local client. I actually delayed a moment with seeing the post for an internship in my email. I was at my old internship when I got it. However, curiosity got the best of me, I looked it up real quick and found I could double up with this internship with the old one as it happened to be from a business right across the street from the campus I was doing the old internship. I instantly sent out my resume and cover letter. I got an interview before Thanksgiving Break last year and actually did good with finding he would contact me back. However, during said break, I got the bill for next semester and had to make the decision to not go back as a grad to complete my old internship as the price was higher than I predicted. It’s getting pretty bad when two studio classes, a total of 6 credit hours cost over $2,000 for a grad from a local college. I was guessing $1500-1600 which was the highest I could possible go due to financial issues. Made me very glad decided to graduate that semester, anyways, with those two classes I was planning to take right now if I did was two I missed out during the college career; illustration and print making. I let my client who offered the internship know of the situation and give him my other email as I was using my school email for resume at the time. I got an email back if I wanted to take a internship job as a freelancer and said yes with thinking he was just going to have me do the internship at home. Next email, I found he was not referring to the internship, but an actual job as a graphic design freelancer.

    Having a portfolio always ready is a good thing… However, word of advice if you work in digital and can print out multiple pieces. Just make sure you have two “physical” portfolios if possible on hand. I thought I would have lost the internship(now my freelance job) due to the printer going wonky and my full portfolio was in the senior show, hence I only had 5-6 pieces with me for the interview. I lucked out and got it, but rarely can someone get away with that with a portfolio of 5-6 pieces unless they are god-smack awesome.

  25. Hey Chris, love the post.
    I guess personally, being one who just** graduated, I feel like my connections are just still in school or trying to get into the industry. I don’t really KNOW people within the industry much, so I feel like my connections are low.
    I’m in your Magic Box, hoping to build some relationships there, but any suggestions on how to do that?

    Cheers,
    JECooper

    • The Centrifuge is a great place to start making connections inside The Magic Box.

      I can also personally vouch for the awesomeness of fellow Magic Boxers like Beki (Rebecca) Black-Gliko, Jeff “Je Kri Mo” Morris, Dwayne Biddix, Chris Conlon, Norman Haldeman, Ejiwa “Edge” Ebenebe, Seth Greenwald, Heino Brand, Florian Moncomble, Frederic Daelemans, Geidre, Ania Marcos, Paul McKay, Wayne Beam, Seth Greenwald, Kevin Allen, Caleb Barefoot, Ivan Miletić…

      I could go on and on… There are so many amazing, friendly up-and-comers in there it’s ridiculous.

      Just remember – trust is built slowly over time. “Connections” are about quality, not quantity.

  26. This is an interesting discussion. I think artists in general, can be a bit paranoid about their work and a lot of the time what drives artists is the concept that their work is not good enough/ never good enough/they are not ‘the best’ (which keeps them motivated to improve). And I disdain the ‘falling off the planet’ thing, too, having been in a managerial capacity at some part of my life. It makes me respect the person (no matter how talented) less. There is a phrase in the movie industry that goes something along the lines of “if you’re late, it means you’ve already pissed someone off”.
    That being said, it ties in nicely with a discussion I had with an Emmy Award winning tv Production Designer this past Sunday. I asked him “what is the most important thing, in your opinion, to have a successful career? I was thinking along the lines of “the ability to tell a story, great craftsmanship, etc. His response was “hard work and being dependable”. He said that there are so many flakes that when you are that person who at the end of a show, people turn to and say “we can’t imagine having done this job without X person”, it’s a great thing. It changed a lot of my perspective on the whole ‘being the best’ in class ideology, because that is something that can be measured (via grades, etc), whereas the skills he is talking about can’t be measured as well, but they make a HUGE difference in a professional career.

    • Oh yeah. I’m convinced that’s why for the five years after I officially moved to LA I only went one day without work. Not because I’m a great artist. I just do my best to be dependable and I try my best to take care of my colleagues.

      And you’re right on re: flakes. So many artists are just so flaky. They don’t communicate, they miss lots of details… That was one of the things that motivated me to write this post.

      It might be tough love but it’s definitely love.

  27. This is all common sense to me. I’m glad you put it in a post though because maybe for others it’s not. Your information is always invaluable and the fact that you take the time to share your knowledge is amazing.

    My only concern is, what if you feel like your portfolio will never be “ready”? I’m finally at a point where I feel somewhat confident with my work and wouldn’t feel ashamed submitting it to a job. BUT (and maybe this is just me) there are always some doubts in my head. Maybe I need more of this or more of that, etc.

    How do you overcome that part or is that something everyone faces?

    • Hey, Ian! Yeah, I don’t think you’ll ever fully feel like your portfolio is “ready.” There’s always something to improve. …always something to change.

      I think that after you’ve done a lot of jobs you start to relax and realize that it’s not as big of a deal as you once thought it was. …so that’s great. But I don’t think that “I’m not ready” feeling ever completely goes away.

  28. You see, posts like those are the reason I subscribed. Because I’m a beginner with that attitude and that probably cost me a lot of opportunities, but I want – I need – to get rid of it as fast as posible. It all comes down to “I’m not good enough for that”, “my portfolio is not enough”, “they’ll certainly pick someone else” thoughts. You blog has impacted me a lot, because it’s helping me to build my confidence and show me points of reference. Thanks to the blog I can see many points in which I have failed before.

    Let’s what we can do from now on! Thanks, Chris!

  29. Chris, this post is fantastic. The past 2.5 years I’ve spent as a freelance animator and artist have validated every word. Most studios already have a short list, as Scott mentioned, for a position before a position is posted. At Disney Interactive, I was being prepped a month before it was ever posted. Being on multiple short-lists helps.
    It’s also easier for a small/medium studios to hire without posting the job when they have a list of hireable candidates. For many jobs I was hired without a job ever being posted.
    Sending regular updates to studio leads where you want to work can help establish that rapport . Thanks Chris for the great work you do.

  30. Hey Chris, thanks so much for these links!! – I knew most of the animation ones but am just starting to look into the games industry and have no idea where to start as I’m not an avid gamer so not really aware of the companies behind the scenes 🙂

    All bookmarked now and will be regularly checking in ^_^

  31. This is so true. I am graduating and trying to find an internship. The problem is I was too late to find the job posting. It is definitely a great way to just subscribe and prepare! Thanks for this article! Really help!

    Vanessa

  32. Good stuff man…here’s what I got out of the post..
    You are only as good as what is currently available for others to view on your portfolio/website right now this instant. Doesn’t matter if you’ve done some killer pieces that can really show your stuff. If it’s not actually in your portfolio, ready to send.. or uploaded and placed on your website… it effectively doesn’t exist. So face up to the skill level you are at and send what you have. Then do some work TONIGHT so you’ll be better prepared for the next opportunity. Sigh, like my outdated website… : )

    • Those are some interesting observations, David. Though that wasn’t exactly my thought process, I think this is a nice contribution to the conversation.

  33. Thank you for this post Chris. It finally gave me the kick in the arse to apply for job postings that I’ve had open on my computer since LAST WEEK *smack myself in the head*. My problem is mostly the time I spend looking at the computer, trying to come up with something interesting to write in the cover letter. It is hard to try to write an interesting introduction of yourself again and again that nobody might even read. After a while, it all blends together into a big blur of blahs.

  34. Thank you Chris for another great blog post! I have been lurking and following your blog (as well as paperwings) for quite a long time, and this post finally got me to come up and say thank you! 🙂

    I’m a MFA illustration student focusing on concept art at AAU. I’m from Hong Kong but just as well interested in the US market as everybody else. This post hit me right in the feels because I frequently find myself not wanting to face the fierce competition in the industry just yet – I constantly fear to be rejected and being not good enough.

    The animation industry in Hong Kong is puny comparing to the US, and job openings are very rare. I think in a small industry, networking is perhaps more likely to land jobs. I got my part time job as a concept artist at a local animation studio by sending an email asking if they are looking for artists.

    • Haha! YES! That’s great, Bonnie! Congrats!

      Yes, the international path is usually more complicated but keep focusing on doing great work and being great to work with (and keep doing personal projects) and unique opportunities will appear.

  35. 2 weeks seriously? The reps from Pixar got snowed in so instead of just the 2hr presentation, the gave portfolio reviews for the whole day, first come first serve.

    personaly, I find job posts to be stale after 5 hours. I’ll still replie, but ive gotten better results if applied in the first 5 hours.

    • You make a good point, Cetriya. …one I actually meant to cover in the blog post. …but I forgot.

      If the job posting is more than 2-3 weeks old, then I’d forget about it UNLESS the studio re-posts the job. …which does happen more often that you’d think.

      …but even if you’re past the 24 hour mark, I think you should still go for it. Apply if there’s even a slight chance you’ll still be considered.

    • Well, I suppose one’s perception of the number of animation jobs is relative. To me, and probably most of those working in the industry, it seems like there are too few.

  38. Thank you Chris. You are so right it only makes sense to have a working portfolio before job hunting. You are either ready or your not. It has taken me a couple years to get to where I am confident in my portfolio and ready to show. But I think the key is not to give up.

    • Thanks, Paxton!

      You’re right about not giving up. And I always try to remind aspiring artists that I was, in no way, “READY” when I actually landed my first gig.

  39. Chris, I agree but I have to say that even when you have a portfolio and experience and contacts, it can still be a lucky lighting strike to get employment. It never gets easier, you just need to learn more every time you apply.

  40. Chris, this was a great post. And can I just say I LOVE the character you made of yourself!! SO GOOD! And hilarious, because it just reminds me of Chris ranting! I love it! Just had to throw that in.

  41. Thanks for the links Chris. A few of them were new to me. For periods of time where I’ve been looking for temporary freelance work, I’ve also had some success with http://www.freelanced.com. Some readers might benefit from adding that link to their repertoire. Anybody have any other links that I might benefit from?

  42. Wow, Very nice description. I wanna ask u 1 question that is Why the freshers are not getting jobs in any of animation studios? All the studios in world need all experience artist. If this is the case what the freshers should do?. I am asking u this b’coz even I am a fresher in this industry. If a fresher doesn’t get chance how could he enter in animation industry and how will he show his new talent to the industry? Please suggest some animation studios in which freshers can also apply.

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  44. Awesome site Chris. This certainly is encouraging for me to at least plan ahead and stay persistent. I’ll never know what could have been if I don’t keep at it and continue to seek employment in this difficult industry. Especially when it’s something I love to do.

  45. Very true! I’ve always practiced this & it’s helped a lot.
    The thing I think a lot of students don’t understand is there are 2 reasons why a studio will be hiring. 1) it’s a new production and they need to crew up. Problem with this, they have lots of time to pick the best possible canidate. 2) someone left a show and/or they realize they need help. These spots need to be filled ASAP & as long as you fit the minimum requirement & a good referral you might get a shot….it’s how I got my current job at disney. My friend told me about it tue night, I sent him a folio by the morning, on Friday I was interviewed & hired on as inhouse freelance .