Once upon a time, in a kingdom called Far Far Away, a king fell ill, and finding a successor to the throne turned out to be more trouble than anyone could have imagined...
As fans of all ages eagerly anticipate the upcoming Shrek the Third, the newest installment in the wildly successful Shrek series, the animators, art designers, and multimedia artists behind the scenes get to see their hard work pay off. The production of a CG animated movie sustaining the quality of the Shrek franchise is a supreme challenge and requires an expert team possessing a wide variety of skills and creative training.
The Making of Shrek the Third
In the case of a CG animated movie like Shrek, every level of production comes with its own exacting tasks. Writers create the story and sequence it into storyboard sets. Voice actors read lines, the sound is recorded and their faces are videoed as well. Animators review the footage in order to create realistic facial movements for the characters to go with the sounds created by the voice actors. Digital editors then put sound and image together. Even those at the top of the ladder are greatly involved in the process--high level producers and directors spend hours poring over dailies and approving editing changes.
The film industry, with its aura of glamour and faced-paced trendsetting, has become even more interesting (and efficient) with the addition of the latest technology. "Technology helps us do things easier and quicker, which in turn allows us to spend more time making each shot perfect," says Aron Warner, Producer of Shrek the Third. "It really helps the performance of an animated character when we're able to take the time to get every nuance right." Animation professionals hoping to break into the digital arts world often benefit from degree programs that give them the technical knowledge they can pair with their creative gifts.
Animators Train for the Digital Age
Training in multimedia applications and other aspects of digital arts can give animators the skills they need to take their creative career to the top of the industry. While no degree program can guarantee a particular career or salary, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that job prospects will continue to improve for multimedia artists and animators trained in digital filming and computer generated imaging.
A variety of careers are possible for students with training in graphic design, digital arts, or animation, including:
- CG Special Effect Artists
- Texture Artists
- Computer Modelers
- Storyboard Artists
- Production Artists
Careers within television companies, advertising agencies, and Web agencies are also possible for trained graphic designers and digital artists. According to the BLS, graphic designers in advertising and related services--like the ones who may have helped create the official Web site for Shrek--made an average of $40,010 in 2004.
After completing a program in graphic design, digital arts media, or animation, graduates interested in moviemaking should continue to build their portfolios through hard work. On the Shrek the Third Web site, Warner offers some simple advice to new graduates hoping to break into the digital animation industry: "As with any business," he says, "get an entry level job if you can and then work like crazy." In the highly competitive field of moviemaking, it can pay in the long run to take on any portfolio-building job. Animators must improve their skills as they work up to the quality demanded by studios like DreamWorks and Pixar.
Keeping the Heart in Digital Arts
The best digital artists possess a combination of storytelling skill, creativity, and computer savvy. As Kirk Honeycutt of Hollywood Reporter notes, "However much Shrek might expand the visual palette of computer animation, much more important is the wit and compassion the CG animators at PDI/DreamWorks bring to this fractured fairy tale." Digital artists with a love of characters and stories often do best in this industry, where even the most talented animation falls flat if it lacks a heart.