Education · 1 of 5

The path

Nobody checks your transcript. They watch 90 seconds of your reel.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 9 to 12

   Draw constantly, take art and film classes, and start animating. Free tools mean you can make finished work at 15.

2. 2

   Learn the craft

   2 to 4 years

   A four-year degree, a two-year program, or a focused online school. What matters is the feedback you get and the work you finish.

3. 3

   Build a demo reel

   Ongoing

   Under two minutes, best shot first, only your strongest work. One weak shot sinks the whole reel.

4. 4

   Internship or first contract

   3 to 12 months

   Studios hire from internships, student film festivals and online portfolios. Los Angeles, Vancouver and Atlanta have the most work.

5. 5

   Specialize

   Years 2 to 5

   Character animation, effects, rigging, lighting or motion graphics. Depth pays better than being broadly okay at everything.