Expert: Andre Hickman - 7/10/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi,I just cleared class 12 and want to take animation for further studies, can u suggest some Insti. and courses which I should go forward with. Currently I'm planning to do a BSc degree from PICASSO(New Delhi), It has a JV with Centennial college Canada. How is the college and pl have a look at there course "http://www.picasso.co.in/programme_information.asp" and guide me further
hoping a quick reply
thanks

ANSWER: There is not much guidance that I can give you.  I don't know anything about the school, and can only go by what they have listed in their curriculum, which is based on project titles...As far as I can see, it looks like a pretty thorough course, starting with basic techniques, then working into character modeling and rigging, animation, and special effects.

This is what I tell many that ask similar questions.  They can only teach you how to use the tools.  It is up to you to adapt those tools to various problems.  It is up to you to be creative.  They can't teach that.

It's like this...I can give you a hammer and wood and nails, and you may know how to use them, but those same tools in the hands of a master craftsman or an architect will produce something far superior than what the average user would create.  You can learn how to use the tools from the school, but unless you really apply yourself, and harness your innate creativity, you will just be spending a whole lot of money on "a hammer and nails"

Cheers,
Andre

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Andre for ur reply
you made certain things quite clear to me but do you think that the course is satisfactory for both 2d and 3d animation. If not then what else should I do along with it to be successful master of both type of animation  and one last thing I currently am not aware of the technical words written in the course but is the course comprehensive enough to teach me basic of 2d cause i think that they will form the base of 3d animation.
Thank you once again
Anmol

Answer
you will definitely get 2D animation when learning Flash, and more than likely, even though I didn't see it, you will get it when you composite video using After Effects or some other video composition software.  Animation is animation.  Whether you are using 3 dimensions plus time, or 2 dimensions plus time, it the principles of animation will still apply.

Your techniques may change a bit, but they will still be founded in the same principles.  I assure you that you will get a foundation of 2D, and you will most likely get it before you are introduced to 3D in the curriculum.

Cheers,
Andre