I just saw a tweet from a super talented artist feeling bummed out about facing job rejection, so I wanted to create a lil thread of insight for those trying to break in to the animation industry! I’m an AD & spend a lot of time looking thru portfolios when looking to hire folks!

It’s worth mentioning that this is just my opinion/approach & every AD/showrunner looks for different things & operates differently!

So there’s the age-old saying of “being at the right place at the right time” & it’s sometimes (frustratingly) true!

Sometimes it just depends on what stage of production a show is in. If it’s the early stages of a season & there’s time to train greener talent, it’s easier to break in then! But if it’s later in a season & I’m too slammed to give extensive notes, I tend to hire experienced folks

This isn’t always the case & isn’t to say I’m not always keeping an eye on greener talent, but if things are simply chaotic, it’s a lot easier to lean on people who I know can hit the ground running at those points in production.

I will say that off the bat, I try to build a time of mixed experience levels! Fresh talent + seasoned pros = beautiful team!! That way everyone can (hopefully) learn from each other & it’s beneficial to have diversity.

So timing is sometimes everything! But there are exceptions to every rule so don’t get too caught up in that— just know it’s a factor!

Another factor is being the right FIT! I’ve seen some jaw-dropping portfolios from people I’d love to work with, but the work isn’t in line with the show’s style. This is why I always always always encourage VARIETY in your portfolio!

Show that you can be an artistic chameleon! Vary up your shape language, color choices, moods, types of characters/locations/props, genres, etc etc. It makes my job easier when I see something that looks somewhat like the show we’re making, cause I know that artist can catch on

Variety in a portfolio also shows that even if there isn’t an *exact* fit in style showcased, that the artist can easily mold into new looks. This is really important for TV production!

A mentor of mine once said “you can’t teach taste, but you can teach technical skill,” and that’s really stuck with me! If an artist naturally gravitates towards the same tastes as a show’s influences: amazing! If perspective is off here or there, that’s easily trainable

I always look for new & interesting ideas in people’s work! Whether that’s adding witty story-driven elements to a background design or using a fresh combination of stylistic choices, that’s a lot harder to come by than someone who knows perfect perspective (for instance)

So build up your arsenal of art influences! Learn about cool architects & classic painters! Take inspiration from old films! Love an anime! Develop your taste buds!

Ok, so there’s timing, there’s talent, there’s breadth in a portfolio.. the last piece is communication & professionalism!

If there’s 2 candidates who are equally incredible assets for a team, I’ll always choose the one who communicates the best. Even a simple email letting us know you’re behind or need something is rlly appreciated! Tv anim goes at a rapid pace so reliable artists are indispensable

But that’s pretty much the sum of it! I believe there’s room for everyone (except assholes, please no prejudiced assholes) in this industry, so please don’t give up if you have a passion for it! Hopefully this thread helps demystify the process a bit