Jack of all Trades vs. Specialized Expert?????????

Posted by Andy Linke on May 9, 2008 at 4:03pm

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My semester at AAU is winding down, and with that means finals are being due and professors are giving there last little bits of advice, and it's our last chance to pick our professors brains for that last little bit of information that will get us ahead in our future careers.

This is what I attempted to do the other day after a post from my professor discussing how studios see stacks and stacks of demo reels with walk cycles, lipsynch and knowledge of weight on the film, and that we as students need to set ourselves apart from all that. I agree, but when I asked him for some hints on successful ways to do that I received some very mixed replies. Almost discouraging. He mentioned things like how a lot of animation these days is being outsourced overseas, how breaking into the business is harder than ever at the moment, and things of that nature. I've been keeping up with the business and know that all this is true but it did become frustrating to hear.

One thing that he recommended was to become good at a lot of things, don't just throw all of your eggs in one basket. I had heard this before but have also heard that it's better to specialize in one thing and become really good at it rather than the other way around. I'm really on the fence in my mind on this whole topic, though vastly different in my actions. As we speak I'm quickly becoming the Jack of all trades, now learning a lot about the graphic design industry and soon to be learning things like ActionScript, while still learning things like flash, and focusing most of my schooling on Maya, and Character animation.

As I learn all of these things I can't help but wonder if I'm stretching myself to thin. I may be the Jack of all trades but may not be an expert in any. I guess I'm providing myself with more options, in case one area doesn't work out, and I'm hoping by branching out that I will make myself more valuable to whomever hires me, but I do wonder. I'm afraid that my demo reel won't stack up to those who have focused just on Character Animation, or that my graphic art knowledge won't compare to someone who dedicated themselves to studying it. I feel that by having multiple skills I won't be replaceable by one person, whereas if I did focus on just one aspect someone who also did that could replace me, if that makes any sense.

I just don't want to find myself 10 years down the road looking back at all the hard work I'm putting in now, and not have anything to show for it. I want these experiences as an intern and a student to be fruitful and get me somewhere, and I just don't know which is the best way to approach where I want to be.

Any feedback on anyone else's own experiences or thoughts, advice etc. Is always appreciated even if it does just confuse me even more.

Comment by Russell Huettner on May 9, 2008 at 9:28pm: yer blog posts are hella long

Comment by Andy Linke on May 10, 2008 at 12:18am: I guess I just got lots to say... Here I'll post an abbreviated version for all you all with no time...

Which is better, being good at lots of things or being great at one...

Better???

Comment by Kevin Smith on May 11, 2008 at 5:08pm: I am currently reading Richard Williams' book The Animator's Survival Kit (wonderful book, I would definitely recommend it). In his first chapter, he talks about a telling notice pinned up during the making of Who Framed Roger Rabbit: "Epitaph of an unfortunate artist: He found a formula for drawing comic rabbits. This formula for comic rabbits paid, so in the end he could not change the tragic habits this formula for drawing comic rabbits made."

Comment by Stephen M. Levinson on May 11, 2008 at 8:10pm: I think you may have come to a somewhat false assumption.. learning motion graphics, and action script...

In animation, to me the jack of all trades would be to be a phenomenal character designer, and storyboard artist and animator, and background designer. Not knowing actionscript or other fields like motion graphics. Not that you know every animation program known to man.

Comment by Andy Linke on May 11, 2008 at 9:12pm: Right I know what your saying, but do you think it's better to be just a good character animator, designer, and storyboard artist?? Or do you think it's valuable to know things like actionscript and other applications used in animation?? What makes you more valuable to a potential employer??

Comment by Stephen M. Levinson on May 11, 2008 at 9:49pm: I believe being a good character animator, designer, and storyboard artist etc.. Not once have I had to use actionscript on my own animations or while working on broadcast animations.

Comment by Russell Huettner on May 11, 2008 at 9:52pm: well, of course it would be awesome to know everything. who really knows what employers want. do they even hire people expecting them to work in every area of visual creation. or do they just hire you for one task. answer that and youll have your answer....maybe.....who knows.

Comment by Kevin Smith on May 11, 2008 at 11:31pm: So do you want to be an animator or build websites? If you really want to be an animator, concentrate on the animation part, with characters, layouts, and storyboarding.

Comment by Andy Linke on May 12, 2008 at 12:10am: I'm doing that, for sure, but have gotten the opportunity to expand my artistic skill set in other areas besides just the action script, and what not. The action script thing was probably a bad example. But it goes into doing things like modeling in 3d apps like Maya, doing things other than animation like illustration, or graphic design, heck, you might as well throw in what style of animation. Should you focus on one type like 2d, or should you be experienced good at many like stop motion, cg, flash, etc?? My point wasn't too list particular things to compare, but more ask as a whole whether it's better to focus on one thing (no matter what that is) or branch out and become good at other things as well (again doesn't matter what that is).

I compare the analogy to this, and please feel free to disagree... Compare it to something other than art like say Basketball... Would you rather be a good three point shooter, someone every team needs but can be easily replaced. Or would you rather be a good all around player someone who can shoot, dribble, pass, rebound etc. To me that person is someone who is harder to replace than the three point shooter, but also harder to find.

I hope this is making sense, I just feel like there is so much out there to learn, and that it's difficult to become that good all around player, and wanted to start the debate of if you want to have a job, even a job that is easily replaceable like a three point shooter, or if you should strive to be the all around player even though it is much more difficult to achieve.

Comment by Stephen M. Levinson on May 12, 2008 at 11:48am: Knowing traditional animation will help you in every field of animation.

I think it would be best to focus on 1 particular thing you like doing the best but also work on being a good storybard artist, character designer etc...

Let me give you a better analogy. you can be a good football player, but doesn't mean you will be good at every sport and it would be almost impossible. Sure you can try and be the best at every sport, but shouldn't you be the best all around soccer player? Also animation is funny and doesn't perfectly translates to sports. Flash character animation requires no actionscript by the way.

Who knows one day studios are full of flash animator (let's say that is ur prime focus and talent) and studios are looking for storyboard artists? But you only know flash animation so you can't applyfor the storyboard job. If you're all around within animation, because every animation requires it, you could be boarding for clay or CGI productions.

Studios post jobs looking for either a flash animator, character designer etc..They won't post saying they're looking for a flash animator and have the animator working on every part of production, unless they say that.

I hope I made some sense. All fields of animation require layouts and storyboards and the whole thing, so you should be familiar with that as an animator but also just focus the majority of your time nailing flash character animation, or traditional or CGI or clay. If you like working in flash and clay or clay and cgi then great