3D Animation NooB Looking for help

[jspeck]

Hello,

The last year or so I have been very interested in 3D animation.  I just have a few problems.  First of all, by looking at companies like Pixar and Dreamworks it looks like you don't even need a High School Diploma, let alone a $36,000 Asscociates degree from Full Sail.  I also think I've decided that if I do in fact go to school for it, I will go to Gnomon.

What I'm looking for here is maybe some people that have gone to Gnomon, or are just experienced in 3D animation (working in the industry) to give a little advised on where to start. Right now I just ordered Maya 6 Complete, and the Beginners Trainin DVD's from Gnomon. I think that is a good place to start.
What do you all think?

[fredc]

Sounds like a great way to start. Go through the tutorials, try to develope your own projects from scratch.
I did not go to Gnomon but consider it a a great school, especially for Maya training.

You are right that a degree is not required in most studios, your demo reel/skill is the major factor. However, it is very unlikely that any would hire someone without a highschool diploma.

Urp

[jtk77]

Gnomon's great from what I have heard. Full Sail is great for some folks but the price seems to have gotten a bit insane.
I went there in 96 for film( worked in the industry and didn't like it haha) and back in 98 for graphics. It worked out well for me but both times I went don't even equal CLOSE to what they are charging now.
For something like pixar though, if you can animate , you can aniamte. They will train you if you are that good or what they are looking for. Its for all the other jobs inbetween you need that degree. Recently I had the opperetunitie to do more managment than work art work ,means more money, but I'd have had to have finished off my BA. Not that interested but sometime maybe.
You can't get anywhere past the art chair most times without some papers. So just keep that in the back of your mind. I'd take some community collage classes in general to get a basic AA while going to gnomon. Its usually pretty cheap to do that.

[jspeck]

I just found an Animation degree that I could get online through Westwood College. I could take those courses online while I'm taking classes at Gnomon. That way in 2 years I'll be proficient in Maya and 2 years after that I will have a BA in Animation. I think that would be pretty attractive to the big studios.