How to learn animation while working a nine-to-five

Want to animate your way out of an office job? Here’s how to learn animation alongside a nine-to-five.

So, you've decided you want to learn animation. What next? If you're working a nine-to-five, it can feel like an animation career is out of reach. This is not the case. Here are our top five tips on learning animation while working a full-time job.

1. Learn animation every day

To see improvement as you learn animation, practice it very day. This means setting aside time in your routine to practice. For many people working a nine-to-five, free time is extremely hard to find. Look carefully at your schedule and see if you can find any space. Could you get up an hour earlier? Is there half an hour after work you could spend learning animation? You may even be in the lucky position of being able to change your hours and take on a part time job rather than a nine-to-five.

When learning animation, don’t put pressure on yourself to study for hours at a time. Little and often will produce better results than studying for hours on end.

For a list of some great tutorials to get you started, check out our article on the 10 best animation YouTube channels.

How to learn animation while working a nine-to-five: everyday

To see improvement as you learn animation, practice it very day. This means setting aside time in your routine to practice. For many people working a nine-to-five, free time is extremely hard to find. Look carefully at your schedule and see if you can find any space. Could you get up an hour earlier? Is there half an hour after work you could spend learning animation? You may even be in the lucky position of being able to change your hours and take on a part time job rather than a nine-to-five.

When learning animation, don’t put pressure on yourself to study for hours at a time. Little and often will produce better results than studying for hours on end.

For a list of some great tutorials to get you started, check out our article on the 10 best animation YouTube channels.

2. Learn animation through goals and deadlines

The best way to record progress as you learn animation is to set goals and deadlines. List the animation skills you want to learn. Start simple—you won’t be able to master Toon Boom in one sitting, but you could learn how to make a simple walk cycle. What programs do you want to learn? How will you start learning those programs?

Once you know what you want to learn, plan when (and how) you’re going to learn it. The satisfaction of hitting a target you’ve set yourself is an excellent motivator. It’s also a great way to track your progress. Date all the animation you produce so you can compare the work you’ve made. As you achieve your targets, you’ll be able to see improvements.

How to learn animation while working a nine-to-five: learn through goals and deadlines

3. Learn animation with other animators

Learning animation at the same time as working a nine-to-five can feel isolating. Connecting with other animators is a big encouragement. You’ll learn from others’ experiences, share tips, and discover how to navigate the animation industry.

Engage with some networking events to meet animators and potential clients. See the subheading entitled 'Networking' on this article for a little more information,

Soon, you’ll realise that not every animator has followed a traditional career path. Other animators can also give valuable feedback on your work to help you improve.

How to learn animation while working a nine-to-five: network

Learning animation at the same time as working a nine-to-five can feel isolating. Connecting with other animators is a big encouragement. You’ll learn from others’ experiences, share tips, and discover how to navigate the animation industry.

Engage with some networking events to meet animators and potential clients. See the subheading entitled 'Networking' on this article for a little more information,

Soon, you’ll realise that not every animator has followed a traditional career path. Other animators can also give valuable feedback on your work to help you improve.

4. Practice your drawing skills

Observational drawing skills are crucial for any animator, and they’re easy to practice on the go. Buy a sketchbook and take it to work with you. If you get five minutes during a lunchbreak, practice your sketching. Unlike animation, learning to draw doesn’t require specialised programs or a computer. Learning animation starts with the basics. Build a foundation for your skills by getting to grips with drawing.

For more tips on this, check out our post on how to improve your drawing skills as an animator.

How to learn animation while working a nine-to-five: practice drawing

5. Take on freelance animation projects

When you feel as though you’ve developed your skills as an animator, start searching for clients. Make a website, put your work online, and look for companies who might hire you. Finding a client is the first step towards being an animator full time. As you pick up more clients, you may find you can move away from a nine-to-five job. When you're confident in your skills as a freelance animator, consider moving to a part-time position.

Check out our post on how to be a successful freelance animator, as well as how to use freelance animation projects to build your portfolio.

How to learn animation while working a nine-to-five: freelance

When you feel as though you’ve developed your skills as an animator, start searching for clients. Make a website, put your work online, and look for companies who might hire you. Finding a client is the first step towards being an animator full time. As you pick up more clients, you may find you can move away from a nine-to-five job. When you're confident in your skills as a freelance animator, consider moving to a part-time position.

Check out our post on how to be a successful freelance animator, as well as how to use freelance animation projects to build your portfolio.

Summary: Learn animation while working a nine-to-five

Learning animation at the same time as working a nine-to-five is a challenge, but it’s not impossible. Many successful animators follow a non-traditional career path. If animation is your passion, go for it! It’s never too late to start doing something you love.

For more animation tips, have a browse of our Start A Studio YouTube channel here.