A Day in the Life of an Animator at 7 Frames
I’m Sunita. I work at 7 Frames as an animator, but I wear many hats. I am an amateur gardener commuting to work through Goan alleys amidst a swarm of restless vehicles, hoping for a pleasant morning. In the realm of animation, I’m a lifelong learner. I live by the clock and stick to schedules. You get the drift.
I love the quote of Walt Disney stating that “Animation offers a medium of storytelling and visual entertainment which can bring pleasure and information to people of all ages everywhere in the world.”
Have you ever dreamt of becoming an animator?
Do you see them huddled over a computer, wearing headphones and an oversized hoody in your mind?
There are many sketches, but do you believe animators like me skip meals and reach for a bag of chips anytime we’re hungry? That’s the conventional image of people who work in the arts. Still, our days must be more structured than that to generate high-quality animations, except for skipping meals. Allow me to tell you how my day unfolds!
First and foremost, let me state that I live a very disciplined life; otherwise, how do you think I manage to meet tight deadlines?
My day begins in the mornings, as it undoubtedly does for you; after exchanging pleasantries with my plants while grooming them, I’ll delve into some breakfast (and, of course, coffee! ), which is essential because you can’t accomplish much on an empty stomach!
At the 7frames studio
When I finally arrive at the studio after battling narrow lanes, admiring vast green landscapes, yelling at and being yelled at by fellow drivers, the priority of action is to hold a staff meeting.
The morning meeting is brief, and everyone strives to maintain a light and energizing demeanor to set the tone for the rest of the day. We remind each other of our team’s goals for the day and then confirm our responsibilities.
Despite the relaxed atmosphere, this gathering is critical because we are a team working on projects together. It ensures that we’re all on the same page regarding the videos, meaning that the animation we make flows well and exceeds the client’s expectations.
After that is when the magic begins
We split off and go our separate ways, turning ideas and storyboards into bursts of color and movement on our computers (as you might expect!). Adobe After Effects is our best friend when we’re serious about getting some work done.
Still, as we add movements and transitions, images and designs that illustrators work on before sending them on to us come to life. At the same time, the animation, voice-over, and music must all be coordinated.
Going back and forth between the narrative, storyboard, and video takes time, but trust me when I say it’s incredibly absorbing, to the point where we forget there’s such a thing as a ‘lunch break’ at times!
It’s good to take a break.
It’s always a good idea to take a break every 2 to 3 hours of work to keep your eyes and mind refreshed. However, we can be so devoted at times that we’ll sit at our desks for hours! Sometimes, we need to when tight deadlines are to be met, and it’s inevitable.
On the other side, there are days when you can work leisurely at your own pace and have a free hand over experimenting and exploring. Another perk about being an animator is that it entails a lot of flexibility, and sometimes that can be quite rewarding.
My Scope of Work!
I believe in working diligently! I spend a lot of time in creative meetings with other animators and teams, striving to develop the best idea for animation and ensuring that it meets all of the client’s expectations in terms of appeal, style, and execution.
I’m expected to manage my creative thinking while following specific plans and concepts. While I have to bring it all to life, it usually just has to fit into a screenplay or a scene that the writer has created.
I love to create the basic motion of the skeleton frame into a scene by adding details like texture, color, shadow, light to make the animation come alive. I strongly feel that animators need to be consistent in what they do. There should be uniformity in the character heights, used colors, and attention to minute details. That’s is my scope of work!
How does my day end?
Our team has an evening standup call to brief each other on the work progress and plan for the next day. We use this meeting to exchange our ideas and help each other. After that, it is time to start driving home in peak traffic.
Animators, like everyone else, are more comfortable working at the studio than at home. When I go home, I’m going to make myself a steaming hot dinner and devour it, but not before speaking with my pals!
Do you recall my roommates? My dear plants!! We’ll exchange our sweet nothings once again, and then I’ll sign off for the day and sign in on Instagram to catch up on the latest memes!
As Micheal Palin says, “When in doubt, resort to animation,” and that is what I do.
If you are inspired and want to know more about 7 frames, please visit our website.
