Alumni Speak
3 tips on how to be a great animation artist
The alumnus of Apeejay Stya University says that the faculty at the university is very good and helped him hone his skills
He has always been enthusiastic about animation and even took up Science (non-medical) in class XI. After completing class XII, he sat down to scan the Internet for colleges/universities that were offering a programme in BDes. During his search, he came across the name of Apeejay Institute of Design (AID); it was listed as one of the top institutes for design. The AID was also offering a degree at the end of the course and that clinched the deal for Amogh Mathur.
“Born and brought up in Jaipur, Rajasthan, coming to Delhi, staying in the hostel, and studying at School of Design and Visual Arts at Apeejay Stya University (ASU) was fun once I enrolled in 2017. I would say that staying in the hostel was the best part of studying at ASU. For the next two years, everything was hunky-dory and then the pandemic hit. But I continued to stay in the hostel. We were then asked to go back home and things went from bad to worse,” says the animator and design artist at Social Eyes, a digital marketing agency based in Delhi.
Excerpts from the interview.
How was the hostel life?
It was a total blast. Each day was fun-filled. To be honest, I enjoyed my hostel life more than the course itself (laughs). Life in a hostel is always interesting. You get to meet different people, you are away from home and have no one to watch over you. The sense of freedom is awesome.
How was the faculty at ASU?
It began with the faculty at Apeejay Institute of Design. I had done a lot of research and found out that all the faculty there had several years of experience. It was wonderful to learn from them. When I enrolled I knew nothing about the programme. What I know today is because of the faculty at AID during the foundation years and then ASU.
The best part is that first, they spoon-feed you and then throw you in the pool and tell you to swim. This way you hone your skills.
“I had done a lot of research and found out that all the faculty there had several years of experience. It was wonderful to learn from them. When I enrolled I knew nothing about the programme. What I know today is because of the faculty at AID during the foundation years and then ASU”
-Amogh Mathur, design artist at Social Eyes
What got you interested in animation?
I took non-medical classes in class XI because I was expected to sit for various exams and study engineering. For as long as I remember, I was groomed to be an engineer. But I soon realised that it was not something that I wanted to pursue with passion. I would have studied engineering because it was expected of me.
What attracted me to animation was that I was always interested in dramatics and being able to emote on stage. I was an introvert till class X. But then the stage allowed me to be myself. Animation is a combination of design and creating a world out of nothing. This excited me.
Why is India unable to produce the quality of animation seen in the West?
There are a few things that work against us. When we are taught animation, our basic foundation is weak. The schools in India don’t have programmes that allow you to express yourself with colours unlike in the West where the students are allowed to explore themselves and they have the liberty to choose and learn whatever interests them. This gives them an edge when it comes to being creative. In India, there is still a lot of emphasis on academics.
Is money also a constraint?
It is true to a certain extent. Not every animator artist is being paid big bucks. Those who are invested have to struggle a lot to get funding for their projects even though their ideas are brilliant. Sadly, at present, no market in India can guide you or support you to make good animation.
What are some of the things to keep in mind to be a good animator?
One of the most basic know-how is to know how to sketch and draw. To make a career in this field one must keep drawing to hone skills. Second, know things work in this sector; understand scripting. Three, one must read books or whatever written material one can get one’s hands on. Reading helps you to expand your horizon and vision – the two most important things needed to be a great animator.
