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• My Future as an Animator

  2008-11-13 10:13PM / 標準BLOG / 會員可以看
  

  The following are excerpts from the Animation Mentor's report on current trends within the animation industry.
  The chinese version is from chihmingchang's blog.
  Download the full report here (English PDF).
  
  職業動畫師工作前景與薪資狀況
  Professional Animator's Job Satisfaction, Career Outlook, and Salary Survey Report
  
  
  要討論動畫師的工作前景的話，那麼應該先提提業界的狀況，目前全球的媒體產業每年將以6.6%成長，預計在2012年時達到2.2 trillion(兆)美元的產值。
  
  A look at animators’ career paths and job growth opportunities should begin with a brief overview of the industry in which they work. The worldwide media industry will grow an average of 6.6% annually to reach $2.2 trillion by 2012.
  
  
  所以大致說來，動畫工業或是娛樂事業目前的狀況非常地好，根據MPAA資料，全球影片票房在2007年時破紀錄地達到美金26.7 billion的金額，比2006年增加了4.9%，光在美國就破紀錄地佔了美金9.6個billion，而且在2007年時，票房冠軍的前20名影片 中，超過一半的影片不是電腦動畫成分佔了大部分，就是全部都是動畫製作。
  
  The animation industry, and the entertainment industry in general, has never been healthier. The international box office reached an all-time high of $26.7 billion in 2007 according to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), a 4.9% increase over 2006’s numbers. It reached a record $9.6 billion in the U.S. alone. More than half of the top 20 grossing movies in 2007 were partially or totally animated.
  
  
  根據The Hollywood Reporter，在2011年時，全世界遊戲市場將價值美金$48.9 billion，5年期間的年均複合成長率將達到9.1%，對我們動畫師有何影響呢，就是意謂著更多的工作機會。在美國的廣告界，今年則 預計會有2.4%的成長，達到美金217.6 billion的產值，從2007到2012年的年均複合成長率將達到4.3%，其他國家像是印度，它的動畫，遊戲和特效行業在2007年時成長了幾乎 27個百分比，預計在2012年時將到達美金1個billion，年均複合成長率25%。
  
  According to The Hollywood Reporter:
  "The advertising industry is expected to increase 2.4% this year in the U.S. to $217.6 billion and its compound annual growth rate from 2007-2012 will be 4.3%"
  "By 2011, the worldwide gaming market will be worth $48.9 billion at a compound annual growth rate of 9.1% during the five-year period"
  "India’s animation, gaming and visual FX industry grew by almost 27% in 2007 to $325 million. The business is projected to reach  $1 billion by 2012, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 25%"
  
  業 界的兩個狀況將對動畫師造成相當的影響，分別是全球化(Globalization)與跨國外包(outsource)，製片片場常常因此移到那些可以花 較少的錢，同時作一樣多(或更多)事情的地方，位在雪梨或是倫敦的公司這時將同時與位在新加坡或印度的公司一起合作製作影片。
  
  Globalization and outsourcing are two key trends that are shaping the careers of animators.  Studios are expanding into locations where they can do more for less, such as London, Sydney and Wellington, New Zealand, to low-cost vendors in India and Singapore. Some animators foresee pursuing project-based opportunities around the globe.
  
  
  下面是幾個業界中工作的動畫師對這些趨勢的想法：
  "動畫產業似乎會一直不斷成長下去，也因此帶來更多工作機會，我最近在Yahoo上看到一則訊息，它說動畫師是20名成長最快的職業之一。"
  
  An animator commented:
  "I feel like the animation industry is only going to continue growing and growing, opening up more jobs for animators all over the world.  I recently saw on Yahoo!® that an animator is one of the top 20 growing jobs"
  
  
  另一個趨勢是跨國外包，目前動畫長片只有少數是在美國境外製作，大部分都還是在美國境內生產，不過當那些承包的國家裡，動畫師的技術愈來愈好之後，他們很有可能取代許多原本在美國境內執行的工作。雖 然說產業成長能夠增加更多就業機會，不過許多人擔心這些成長都跑到那些開發中國家的低廉勞力上頭，他們擔心薪資削減，競爭增加，並且很有可能變成隨著案子 在全世界漂泊的遊牧民族。
  
  While many animators see a bright future for the industry with a growing need for more animators, some worry that the growth will go to low-cost labor in developing countries. They are concerned with falling pay rates, increased competition, and the possibility of leading a nomadic lifestyle pursuing project-based productions around the globe.
  
  
  也有許多人預期更多2D手繪動畫的製作，因為大家可能對老是看到電腦動畫感到疲乏，另外有個現象是業界中 整體技術均往上提升，一方面可能是科技的關係，愈來愈多動畫師對新科技更能掌握，進而影響到電腦動畫所能表現的水準。普遍的看法是，2D不會死亡，而3D也還沒有完全展現它的潛力，3D遲早也會跟手繪動畫一樣有彈性並且風格多樣化，也會出現更多2D與3D混合的影片。
  
  Although 3D tools and technology will continue to evolve allowing animators to take more risks, many professionals see a return to traditional 2D animation as a future trend. Others see a convergence of the two art forms as 2D and 3D are used together, borrowing techniques and ideas from one another in order to push the art form even further. Eventually 3D may be just as flexible and diverse as 2D can be.
  
  
  動畫師一般在這四大類領域中工作：
  1. 遊戲動畫
  2. 動畫長片中的角色動畫
  3. 廣告中的動畫
  4. 動畫電視影集
  
  THE TOP FOUR SECTORS ANIMATORS WORK IN:
  01. Computer and video games
  02. Feature film character animation
  03. Advertising/commercials
  04. TV shows
  
  至於動畫師的薪資狀況呢：根 據受訪者資料顯示，超過一半的動畫師預期今年大概可以賺美金$40,000到$80,000之間，而只有低於30%的受訪者估計今年只會賺不到美 金$40,000，至於在不同領域工作的動畫師中，動畫長片的動畫師與特效公司的動畫師，他們的薪資水平比其他領域的動畫師來得高。
  
  51% of professional animators among surveyed respondents expect to earn between $40,000 and $80,000 in 2008. Animators’ outlook for 2008 brightened in terms of total earnings with less than 30% anticipating earning below $40,000.  Overall, feature film animators and special effects experts tend to be the highest earners.
  
  
  跟美國賺最多錢的職業相比，動畫師的薪資水平算是中間偏上，根據salary.com， 大約50%的動畫師年薪在美金$47,041(月薪台幣$128,000)到$61,391(月薪台幣$168,000)之間，而美國勞工局2006年的 統計，美國所有勞工的平均年薪大約是美金$33,634(月薪台幣$92,000)，管理階級的平均年薪大約是美金$74,616(月薪台 幣$204,000)，警察或是消防員這些人年薪大約美金$34,043，教職的年薪大約美金$44,975，至於藝術類的設計師，媒體從業者以及運動相 關的平均年薪則是美金$43,512(月薪台幣$119,000)。
  
  Compared to the highest-paying jobs in the U.S., animators rank respectably in the mid to upper bracket ranges. The 2006 Bureau of Labor Statistics National Compensation Survey showed that the median pay rate for all workers in the U.S. was $33,634 per year. For management, the median was $74,616. Protective service occupations, such as police and firefighters, had a median salary of $34,043, while educators looked at a median salary of $44,975. According to Salary.comTM, the middle 50 percent of cartoonists and animators earn between $47,041 and $61,391. Arts, design, media, sports and entertainment occupations have a median salary of $43,512
  
  
  所以我們可以看到動畫師在美國的薪水是比一般勞工的平均薪水高，不過根據我們的調查，從這些受訪者的回覆中，我們發現大多數動畫師是因為工作的樂趣和創意的表現才喜歡這個工作，而非金錢而選擇這個行業。
  
  Average animator earnings are higher than the mean earned by U.S. workers, and there remain excellent opportunities for career development and earnings growth. However, according to our survey, most animators were more motivated by fun and creative expression than they were by money.
  
  "Nothing beats getting paid for doing what I love: working with awesome talent, seeing my work on the big screen, and watching how people react" (ME TOO! If only I get paid more than I'm getting now... sigh..   this salary report currently doesn't apply to me.)
  
  
  在 工作滿意度上，根據調查，59%的受訪動畫師非常喜歡他們的工作，並且為他們所作的工作趕到驕傲，在芝加哥大學2007年針對不同職業對自己工作的滿意度 調查，動畫師這個職銜的排名非常前面，這些排名前面的職銜都跟幫助他人，或是科技專業，以及創意類有關，最快樂的職銜是神職人員，有67.2%覺得非常快 樂，接下來是消防員的57.2%，根據我們自己的調查顯示，動畫師裡大概有59%左右的人覺得非常快樂。
  
  According to our survey, 59% of professional animators enjoy their work and are proud of what they do. According to University of Chicago findings, the occupation with the happiest people was the clergy with 67.2% as “very happy”, followed by firefighters with 57.2%. Our independent survey would have placed animators right between the two as the second happiest occupation with 59%.
  
  
  這些受訪者通常認為身為動畫師，最有意義的是下面這些因素：
  
  1. 能夠作自己喜歡作的事，而且還能靠這個賺錢
  2. 發揮創意，並且賦予角色生命
  3. 在一個創意的環境中與其他創意人一起工作
  4. 用影片來娛樂大眾，感動人心
  5. 看自己的東西在大銀幕上呈現的喜悅感
  6. 團體合作
  7. 觀眾的贊賞
  8. 解決創意問題所帶來的刺激與滿足感，學習新事務並且成長
  
  Professional animators’ comments on what they found most rewarding about their jobs included:
  1. Doing what they love and getting paid for it
  2. Creativity – the ability to bring characters to life
  3. Working in a creative environment with creative people
  4. Entertaining others with their work – touching them emotionally
  5. Joy of seeing their work onscreen and their name in the credits
  6. Teamwork
  7. Audience appreciation
  8. The excitement and challenge of solving creative problems, learning new things and growing in their career
  
  
  我們也請教受訪的專業動畫師，給想要成為動畫師的建議為何，超過一半的意見都是準備一個非常棒的demo reel，他們也認為一位成功的動畫師所需要的元素有下面這一些
  
  A high quality demo reel is highly recommended for those entering the animation industry. The following are factors considered to be important as an animator:
  
  結論：
  整 個動畫產業的前景可期，動畫師這個職業的未來也相當光明，動畫這個媒介在科技的推動下將會有重大的變化，目前而言動畫師對自己工作的滿意度相當高，畢竟動 畫牽涉到團體工作，創意與問題解決的能力，當產業不斷成長，科技不段進步的同時，也讓動畫藝術家能夠更突破自己，用更創新的方式來說故事。
  
  Conclusion:
  The future for animators looks bright. The industry is evolving and expanding into exciting new areas. Technology is becoming more powerful and user-friendly, and coupled with the steady growth of the entertainment industry such as the feature film and gaming markets, indicates that the art form seems poised on the brink of a breakthrough. It appears there will
  continue to be high demand for skilled animators and increased earnings for industry professionals. As a whole, animators are extremely happy with the work they do.