Unit 1. The Industry

In the media industry the animation sector only takes up a small fraction of the overall business. In the production pipeline the studio commissioning the production is at the top with directors these are the client, the ones to please, after that it is the animation house, like VFX, MPC, FrameStore CFC and CineSite. For a large film like one of the ‘Harry Potter’ films there would be more than one animation house doing the work each having different parts to work on, for competition and safety.

Within the animation houses there are seven main departments; these are Data Wrangling, which involves sorting, storing and data management, it is a good way to enter the industry; Prep is the clean up and removal of unwanted modern fixtures like light rigs or tracking makers and Roto-Scoping to separate objects from their background. Match Move is the foundation for all VFX 3D work as it matches and mirrors the live action, this invokes on-set surveys, tracking and taking detail of all aspects of the live action set. The Lighting department is used to create the same effects on the live action set and on the computer generated one, even though it is a technical job there is a certain amount of artistic understanding involved in the way the light behaves in the real world to make them image look real and beautiful. Art Department designs the finished look of for the characters, environment, effect and overall product designs, it also involves matte painting and 2D and 2.5D rendering.


Assets and Building Department is the creation of 3D models based on the concept of artwork or live reference, the asset then has to be rigged with muscles and texture creating the right look with hair, fur and colour. These assets can then be shared with gaming companies. Finally Composting is the last part of the animation process bringing all of the elements together. The original plates are combines with 3D creations, matte plates to give the impression that the imagery was all natural.


Stuart Messigner entered the animation business from school by doing arts course at university, then getting a job as a 2D animator and progressing to be a Special Effects Co-ordinator. Other useful ways of getting into the animation business is by being a Runner, Data Wrangling, Prep and Roto or by being a Match Mover.


Acceptable working practices for someone in the industry should be positive and enthusiastic to all work you are asked to do being creative and cooperative within your field remembering that you have to please the client, what they say is right.