In lieu of the usual Monday list post, I thought it would be interesting to debate whether or not animation is a knowledge or trade-based form of education.
What I mean is, in life you generally have two forms of education: knowledge-based and the more vocational trade-based. The difference between the two is that one is taught primarily in a classroom and based on theory whereas the other one favours a more hands-on approach and acquiring knowledge through practice.
- Does animation fall primarily into one or the other?
- Do different types of animation fall into either one?
- Is there an emphasis on one to the detriment of the other?
- Would animation education improve if things were changed?
I’m curious to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment below! 🙂
I have to say it’s a little bit of both. You can learn a lot from books and teachers but you’ll never really understand a walk cycle until you sit down and do one yourself, not just copy one from a book.
It’s definitely more of a trade than a knowledge-based skill. You can read up exposure sheets and the 12 basic principles of animation all you want, but you won’t truly grasp it till you actually animate and learn from mentors and peers.