How to get a job in Animation - explained by BAFTA

BAFTA has been working with Creative Skillset to deliver a series of guest lectures at media universities across the country, aiming to bring leading figures in the film, television and games industry together with newly emerging talent, through lectures designed to inspire students to develop their creativity alongside their business and technical skills.

Last year Oli Hyatt, Creative Director at BAFTA-winning animation studio Blue Zoo, talked to students in Edinburgh about his work. BAFTA have just posted some highlights of his lecture on BAFTA Guru. You can also see them at the BAFTA Guru YouTube page.

Here’s a brief summary of some of the things that Oli talked about:

On getting hired:
"If you’ve got a five second clip that will blow our socks off, just put that on [your show reel]". Plus, the importance of starting at the bottom and doing anything to get your foot in the door.

On working in animation:
"You can either be really, really creative or you can still be really, really geeky. In the pipeline of animation there’s a whole breadth of characters in the office."

On working with the right people:
"Make sure you go into business with people whose opinion you implicitly trust."

On his Proudest moment:
"My proudest moment was winning the BAFTA for Best Production Company, which recognised the company as a whole."

(Editor's Note: For more on Blue Zoo, see our article on London's leading TV animation company, and check out what director Adam Shaw has to say about the challenges of getting a new TV series off the ground. For more on what studios look for in a great demo reel, try this link, and take a look at this video by Sony Pictures Animation. You can also watch Alex's ten minute video on creating a great reel, and read this post on the perfect demo reel. Also, check out our guide to animation careers here, and also take a look at this map of digital studios - a great place to start your search for work in the business. Learn the nuts and bolts of freelance life by reading our guide to invoicing clients, and our guide to putting together a great CV.)