TIPS FOR PREPARING FOR THE SELECTION

Animation production requires creativity, visual imagination, technical and organisational skills, a great deal of patience, the ability to accept criticism and direction, a team-working attitude and, above all, the drive and desire to make films and to tell stories to an audience. Compare yourself with this profile: do you see yourself in it?

Try to get to know the industry: animation is a highly varied, international, fascinating and challenging sector. Learn as much as you can about it in order to assess your motivations and aptitudes. Who works in this field, and how does it operate? Try to talk to professionals, follow festivals, visit key websites and channels both in Italy and abroad, and look for interviews with directors, artists and producers.

Watch and analyse films: the ones we suggest — including short films — as well as many others, whether live action or animated, features, shorts, series, VR, games…

Observe and draw from life, experiment with different styles and techniques, colour, cut, sculpt, and use the computer as a creative tool. Practise observational drawing and develop a basic understanding of anatomy and perspective. Put yourself to the test and try animating — even a simple flip-book on paper is a great training ground.

The motivation letter: with your letter, you’ll give the admissions panel a chance to get to know, at least a little, the person behind the portfolio you’ll be submitting: your background, your interests, your motivations and your goals. In the letter, we’d like to see your response to the following questions: why do you want to take this course, and how does this choice connect to your ambitions for the future? What are those ambitions? How do you view your strengths and weaknesses as a creative? Who are your favourite directors and creators, and what are your favourite works (comics, films, games, books…) — and why do they inspire you?

The portfolio and reel: above all, these should showcase your creative personality and potential, as well as your basic technical and artistic skills. Show us what truly represents you. If you’ve made animations, show them — even amateur attempts are useful and meaningful.

Suggested reading:

• Gianni Rondolino, Dario Tomasi, Manuale del film. Linguaggio, racconto, analisi, UTET Università, 2023. ISBN: 9788860089335
• Giaime Alonge, Alessandro Amaducci, Passo uno. L’immagine animata dal cinema al digitale, Lindau, 2007. ISBN: 978887180620
• Luca Raffaelli, Le anime disegnate. Il pensiero nei cartoon da Disney ai giapponesi e oltre, Tunuè, 2018

Suggested websites:

• zippyframes.com
• awn.com
• animation-week.com
• journal.animationstudies.org
• annecy.org
• asifa.net
• asifaitalia.org
• cartoon-media.be