‘What do you see yourself as when you grow up?’ Across cultures, this is the one question that has made every child sit up and wonder – What do I want to do for the rest of my life? And as the times change, so do the answers – from lawyers and doctors to startup founders and software professionals.

In today’s times, and presumably, beyond, the answers have been leaning more towards design. Design as a field has had quite a journey. From being perceived as a mere hobby to a full-fledged career, the value of good design has been increasingly appreciated and understood in India, making it a viable career path, especially communication design.

It is an audio-visual language used to trigger, attract, inspire, or inform the end-user about a service or product, drive sales, build a brand, or support a humanitarian cause. How is it different from graphic design? Well, If a graphic designer creates specific visual or graphic elements, a communication designer utilises those elements to communicate a broader message to the target audience.

Be it print media design, type design, or UI/UX design; many exciting career opportunities are up for grabs as a communication designer. However, if you are a fan of enthralling space battle sequences, or tear-jerking, cathartic Disney movies and want to create something similar, you should go for a career in animation.

Here are some of the paths available to you as an animator.

Who didn’t tear up when Paul Walker smiled and parted ways with Vin Diesel at the end of FF7? Well, as unforgettable as the scene was, it was only possible due to 350 CGI frames and distant shots of his brother. But CGI artists aren’t limited to necromancy. All your favourite superhero action sequences and fantasy battles wouldn’t be so enjoyable if it weren’t for CGI artists.

CGI or Computer-Generated Imagery artists create photoreal visuals and integrate them into live-action feature films, ads, television series, or console gaming. It’s basically making the viewer believe that what they are watching is real. It could be anything – a dragon, aliens, fairytale castle, rainstorms, or spaceships.

If you want to create masterpieces like The Lion King, Spirited Away, Aladdin, or Your Name, then 2D animation is what you should go for. A 2D animator’s job is to create characters, draw breathtaking scenes, and breathe life into inventive ideas and thoughts. The movement in 2D animation, be it walking, camera pan, or talking, is achieved by sequencing drawings together over time. One second of 2D animation may require somewhere between 2 to 24 drawings or frames. However, besides being good at drawing, 2D animators must also be excellent storytellers. As difficult as it sounds, the end reward is tremendously satisfying and monetarily rewarding as well!

Who says watching cartoons isn’t productive?

3D animation is perhaps the most versatile branch of animation. Not only do these artists create tear-inducing animation features, but they also work in game design and other niche departments like forensic modelling. Unlike 2D animation, 3D animation uses 3-dimensional space to bring visuals to life. The added dimension helps animators bring realistic depth to the sequences, making masterpieces like The Adventures of Tintin Possible.

Animation is an up-and-coming field in India, the popularity of which will see immense growth in coming years. If you are interested in animation and want to communicate with your audience effectively, a foundation course will offer you the right kickstart. Pursue your choice of communication design bachelors course, particularly from top-notch institutes like the Pearl Academy, and become a principle-driven and visionary animator.