Six Quick Questions About Your Experiances

Hello all,

I've begun my quest to figure out what I want to do with my life, and a career as an animator is one of the few positions that has interested me. I've done a great deal of research into this field, but I would like to hear about the experiences of someone who's already animating. Specifically:

1. How long have you been in this animating, and how did you first become interested?
2. What kind of education or training did you receive, if any?
3. What do you consider to be your greatest achievement in this field? Why?
4. What do you consider to be your greatest failure in this field? Why?
5. Can anyone enter this field, or does on have to have specific talents or predispositions? For example, I'm artistically gifted but not very tech savvy. Could I make it?
6. Do you have any tips or suggestions for someone entering this field?

Thank you all for your help!

JDoe

1. I picked it up as a hobby when I was a kid and just started playing with the programs
2. I was mainly self taught, but tried some formal schooling through http://www.onlinegraphicdesigndegree.com/ but wasn't too fond of it--I felt like a learned much more on my own
3. I think because it's something that's actually fun to do and if you can get paid doing what you love, then that is the best!
4. VERY competitive field...you have to be REALLY talented in order to succeed; only the best will rise to the top while the weak will fall through
5. Yes, totally. Just keep motivated to want to learn more and be very open to different possibilities, methods, and skills
6. http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos092.htm will give you a good rundown of what this career entails if you're willing to go all the way