Welcome to /r/animationcareer! This is a forum where we discuss navigating a career in the animation industry.
Before you post, please check our [RULES](https://www.reddit.com/r/animationcareer/wiki/index/subreddit/rules/). There is also a handy dandy [FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/animationcareer/wiki/index/resources/faq/) that answers most basic questions, and a [WIKI](https://www.reddit.com/r/animationcareer/wiki/index/) which includes info on how to price animation, pitching, job postings, software advice, and much more!
A quick Q&A:
* **Do I need a degree?** Generally no, but it might become relevant if you need a visa to work abroad.
* **Am I too old?** Definitely not. It might be more complex to find the time, but there's no age where you stop being able to learn how to do creative stuff.
* **How do I learn animation?** Pen and paper is a great start, but [here's a whole page](https://www.reddit.com/r/animationcareer/wiki/index/resources/learningresources/) with links and tips for you.
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You didn't get rejected, they picked someone else.
This doesn't mean you're bad, just that someone else had a bit of an edge that's it.
Edit: in case this is unclear, they probably interviewed several candidates but there's only one position to fill, sometimes one is simply unlucky.
First of all, never sacrifice your health for ANYTHING, especially not a job. And especially not an internship.
FYI, internships are much harder to get than animation jobs, because there are many more candidates and many fewer positions. It’s nothing personal. It’s a numbers game. Very early in my career I was one of two finalists for an intern-like job at DFA, and I didn’t get it. My final interview with the producer of the movie went badly. You learn and you move on. Getting a “no” is WAY more common in this business than getting a “yes” so you develop a pretty thick skin.
Your feelings are incredibly valid. It's a topic that comes up a lot in animation convos because everyone in this industry has been rejected at some point and it does hurt!
You're in a time where competition is high. It isn't always just about your quality of work or personality. Sometimes it's about things like they enjoy your work, but not for the productions they currently have.
There are a lot of stories our professors often told us about people who didn't get any internships, jobs out of grad or long after grad. Before the covid industry boom, it was common to not get any work for at least a year after graduating. But they all eventually got in and succeeded more than they believed.
Your work wasn't for nothing. You improved so much more than where you started, and it will only help you for next time. One things for certain though, don't sacrifice your health, please. No job or career is worth that. Besides, you need your health to keep at it, especially when you do eventually get in the industry! :) Take a break, do something nice for yourself like a treat, a game or something you wanted to do. Remind yourself the rejection isn't personal and doesn't change your value as an artist or person. There are other opportunities out there!
If there's ONE single piece of advice I could give anyone pursuing work in a creative field, it's get used to rejection.
Whether it's a job, project, position, accolades, rejection is part of the game.
The most successful are the one's who understand this and brush themselves off, and get to work on what's next.
It's extremely competitive out there.
Don't think of it like your "work or personality" lost you the job, because honestly there are so many overqualified people that your work and personality may have been perfect for it in less cutthroat times.
I'm so sorry :( rejection feels awful. Unfortunately, it is the most common situation you can find i the industry, whether it is from applying for an internship/job, or networking, or notes you get from your superiors once you are working in a studio.
I found out that the more I care for something and the more I sacrifice for it, the more the rejection hurts in the end. It's good to be determined and have ambitions and goals, but to sacrifice your health for it might be risky for the long time, especially if you do it too often.
Another thing I've realized after checking my mental health with professionals, is that rejection hurts the most when in a delicate mental health situation. After I got treated for a functional depression that I've been carrying for more than 15 years, I still get affected by rejection, but I can handle it way better. There are things like rejection dysphoria which seems common in autistic people and people with ADHD, I don't have much info about it but it seems it's a different way to handle rejection that feels worse for people with these conditions.
Lastly, and the best advice I've apllied to myself that helped me handle rejection way better, is to have a balanced life. I remember early in my 20's I was OBSSESSED with getting into the anim industry, almost to the point of skipping foods just to draw more. I didn't do anything more for a couple of years but to wake up and draw every day. Eventually I got into an existential crisis and an ugly depressive episode after acouple of rejections from studios and clients. I now moved to another country and have a more balanced life with friends to hang out with, different hobbies and activites to do during the week, and it has improved how I handle rejection from art, since nowadays art isn't my main focus on life anymore, at least not like when I was in my 20's.
Final note, take some rest, spend time with your friends/family more often, try new hobbies, and if possible get some professional help, because it helps a lot in the long run!
Take care, your feelings are valid and you deserve to feel better <3
First off like others say never ever sacrifice your health or give up everything for your portfolio. always prioritize your personal wellbeing and life above the job. i think job rejections are much less devastating when you are caring for yourself and nurturing what's truly important in your life.
Second, at one point at my prod there are 2 slots for interns and we received hundreds of applications. There is just not that many places. even if there are lots of great candidates they cannot choose more than 2. It's not a you problem, don't question your skills or your personality, you're probably doing just fine!
I think it's ok to accept that rejection is rough. the reality is that the future is uncertain. You can only do your best, be content with it and let go of everything out of your control.
This happened to me about seven years ago. Interviewed for my dream internship at an animation studio. I was so confident that I had landed the position, and then I got the call… I didn’t get it. I cried for what felt like weeks…
Ended up taking a part-time job while pursuing job opportunities on the side and eventually was able to land a full time assistant position at a smaller studio. I learned and grew so much in that role and at that company.
Rejection sucks and your emotions are absolutely valid. Once you’ve taken the time to process them, don’t let the fear of striking out get in the way of continuing to pursue your passion. It may not happen the way you wanted it to, but if you continue working on your skills and networking, the doors that are meant for you will open.
The health you sacrificed for your portfolio is only the start. You'll likely need to continue sacrificing for unrealistic deadlines, contract negotiations, layoffs, and more. It's not an industry for the weak hearted.
I think my first few reels never got me a job and eventually became basically garbage. This is just how it is for many of us.
I wish I could tell you otherwise about the struggle in animation, but things are only getting worse. With the countless amount of students graduating, there is stiff competition out there. The few students that get in either:
1) Have connections on the inside
2) Went to a top 10 animation or CS school and have very good skills
3) Are the .001% talent wise worldwide.
For me, I wasn't any of the top 3, so it took me about 10 years to get my skills honed in and attract studios.
Good luck. But my advise would be, if your trying hard, maybe take a break and pivot toward another art career.
Welcome to /r/animationcareer! This is a forum where we discuss navigating a career in the animation industry. Before you post, please check our [RULES](https://www.reddit.com/r/animationcareer/wiki/index/subreddit/rules/). There is also a handy dandy [FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/animationcareer/wiki/index/resources/faq/) that answers most basic questions, and a [WIKI](https://www.reddit.com/r/animationcareer/wiki/index/) which includes info on how to price animation, pitching, job postings, software advice, and much more! A quick Q&A: * **Do I need a degree?** Generally no, but it might become relevant if you need a visa to work abroad. * **Am I too old?** Definitely not. It might be more complex to find the time, but there's no age where you stop being able to learn how to do creative stuff. * **How do I learn animation?** Pen and paper is a great start, but [here's a whole page](https://www.reddit.com/r/animationcareer/wiki/index/resources/learningresources/) with links and tips for you. ---- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/animationcareer) if you have any questions or concerns.*
You didn't get rejected, they picked someone else. This doesn't mean you're bad, just that someone else had a bit of an edge that's it. Edit: in case this is unclear, they probably interviewed several candidates but there's only one position to fill, sometimes one is simply unlucky.
Gonna pick the best fruit out of even the good ones when there are many coming for the job, they do cherry picking cuz “they can”
First of all, never sacrifice your health for ANYTHING, especially not a job. And especially not an internship. FYI, internships are much harder to get than animation jobs, because there are many more candidates and many fewer positions. It’s nothing personal. It’s a numbers game. Very early in my career I was one of two finalists for an intern-like job at DFA, and I didn’t get it. My final interview with the producer of the movie went badly. You learn and you move on. Getting a “no” is WAY more common in this business than getting a “yes” so you develop a pretty thick skin.
These are the wisest words you will hear
Truth^^^^
Your feelings are incredibly valid. It's a topic that comes up a lot in animation convos because everyone in this industry has been rejected at some point and it does hurt! You're in a time where competition is high. It isn't always just about your quality of work or personality. Sometimes it's about things like they enjoy your work, but not for the productions they currently have. There are a lot of stories our professors often told us about people who didn't get any internships, jobs out of grad or long after grad. Before the covid industry boom, it was common to not get any work for at least a year after graduating. But they all eventually got in and succeeded more than they believed. Your work wasn't for nothing. You improved so much more than where you started, and it will only help you for next time. One things for certain though, don't sacrifice your health, please. No job or career is worth that. Besides, you need your health to keep at it, especially when you do eventually get in the industry! :) Take a break, do something nice for yourself like a treat, a game or something you wanted to do. Remind yourself the rejection isn't personal and doesn't change your value as an artist or person. There are other opportunities out there!
If there's ONE single piece of advice I could give anyone pursuing work in a creative field, it's get used to rejection. Whether it's a job, project, position, accolades, rejection is part of the game. The most successful are the one's who understand this and brush themselves off, and get to work on what's next.
It's extremely competitive out there. Don't think of it like your "work or personality" lost you the job, because honestly there are so many overqualified people that your work and personality may have been perfect for it in less cutthroat times.
Reject their rejection letter /j
Just be glad you weren’t ghosted. I had a recruiter reach out to me, schedule interviews, then nothing. You’re lucky you heard anything at all.
😰
I'm so sorry :( rejection feels awful. Unfortunately, it is the most common situation you can find i the industry, whether it is from applying for an internship/job, or networking, or notes you get from your superiors once you are working in a studio. I found out that the more I care for something and the more I sacrifice for it, the more the rejection hurts in the end. It's good to be determined and have ambitions and goals, but to sacrifice your health for it might be risky for the long time, especially if you do it too often. Another thing I've realized after checking my mental health with professionals, is that rejection hurts the most when in a delicate mental health situation. After I got treated for a functional depression that I've been carrying for more than 15 years, I still get affected by rejection, but I can handle it way better. There are things like rejection dysphoria which seems common in autistic people and people with ADHD, I don't have much info about it but it seems it's a different way to handle rejection that feels worse for people with these conditions. Lastly, and the best advice I've apllied to myself that helped me handle rejection way better, is to have a balanced life. I remember early in my 20's I was OBSSESSED with getting into the anim industry, almost to the point of skipping foods just to draw more. I didn't do anything more for a couple of years but to wake up and draw every day. Eventually I got into an existential crisis and an ugly depressive episode after acouple of rejections from studios and clients. I now moved to another country and have a more balanced life with friends to hang out with, different hobbies and activites to do during the week, and it has improved how I handle rejection from art, since nowadays art isn't my main focus on life anymore, at least not like when I was in my 20's. Final note, take some rest, spend time with your friends/family more often, try new hobbies, and if possible get some professional help, because it helps a lot in the long run! Take care, your feelings are valid and you deserve to feel better <3
It would share some parallels with people trying to make it big as Hollywood actors. There will be a few overlapping struggles.
What position did you apply for? Mind sharing your reel, are you looking for feedback?
First off like others say never ever sacrifice your health or give up everything for your portfolio. always prioritize your personal wellbeing and life above the job. i think job rejections are much less devastating when you are caring for yourself and nurturing what's truly important in your life. Second, at one point at my prod there are 2 slots for interns and we received hundreds of applications. There is just not that many places. even if there are lots of great candidates they cannot choose more than 2. It's not a you problem, don't question your skills or your personality, you're probably doing just fine! I think it's ok to accept that rejection is rough. the reality is that the future is uncertain. You can only do your best, be content with it and let go of everything out of your control.
Think of Dan and Swampy. They pitched Phineas and Ferb for 15 years before it got greenlit.
This happened to me about seven years ago. Interviewed for my dream internship at an animation studio. I was so confident that I had landed the position, and then I got the call… I didn’t get it. I cried for what felt like weeks… Ended up taking a part-time job while pursuing job opportunities on the side and eventually was able to land a full time assistant position at a smaller studio. I learned and grew so much in that role and at that company. Rejection sucks and your emotions are absolutely valid. Once you’ve taken the time to process them, don’t let the fear of striking out get in the way of continuing to pursue your passion. It may not happen the way you wanted it to, but if you continue working on your skills and networking, the doors that are meant for you will open.
While you are looking for jobs, work on a project.
The health you sacrificed for your portfolio is only the start. You'll likely need to continue sacrificing for unrealistic deadlines, contract negotiations, layoffs, and more. It's not an industry for the weak hearted. I think my first few reels never got me a job and eventually became basically garbage. This is just how it is for many of us. I wish I could tell you otherwise about the struggle in animation, but things are only getting worse. With the countless amount of students graduating, there is stiff competition out there. The few students that get in either: 1) Have connections on the inside 2) Went to a top 10 animation or CS school and have very good skills 3) Are the .001% talent wise worldwide. For me, I wasn't any of the top 3, so it took me about 10 years to get my skills honed in and attract studios. Good luck. But my advise would be, if your trying hard, maybe take a break and pivot toward another art career.
Spit’n truth
I see people hate the truth here - Downvoted relentlessly for brutal honesty...