Many people are currently reassessing their career path. Perhaps an interview with Marek Toušek from the Creatoola platform will help them decide on the direction of their future career. He helps with orientation in the computer game development, animation and visual effects industry. He also presents potential and opportunities for professional employment. Creatoola recently conducted a survey among the largest studios, which yielded interesting facts. Animator Honza Švarc portrayed them in an original and playful way in a video, which you can also watch. A small taste of the information: most of the companies contacted saw sales grow even in last year's challenging year. Together, they are looking for more than a hundred new hires and offer very good salary conditions.
Marek Toušek is a producer working in animation since 2007. He is the co-founder of the ANOMALIA educational platform, the 3BOHEMIANS production studio, and the vice-chairman of the Animated Film Association. The internationally recognized ANOMALIA program has been offering courses and creative workshops since 2008 with the participation of lecturers from Pixar, Disney, DreamWorks, Valve, and other studios.
Creatool is a platform that helps with orientation in the world of animation, games and VFX in the Czech Republic. It presents the fields, potential and opportunities for professional employment. It offers detailed descriptions of job positions, presentations of studios and productions, an overview of schools and other educational opportunities, tips and advice on how to start orienting yourself in the fields, as well as job offers. ProThe project is initiated by the Association of Animated Film, in partnership with the Brno Game Cluster, the Anifilm festival and the Game Access conference. ProThe project is supported by the Producers Association in audiovision and the State Cinematography Fund.
What prompted you to do the Animation and Games Market Research 2020?
We were interested in how companies in the industry are doing and what could help them. It turned out that they mainly need reinforcements. We will be very happy if the awareness of the survey also contributes to the fact that more people become interested in these industries, because they are interesting and promising.
What do you personally take away from the survey?
I personally confirmed that I work in a field that is inspiring and has a future.
Did something surprise you there, or did you expect such a result?
I expected a similar result. I have been in the industry for many years, both in production and in professional education within the ANOMALIA educational platform. So I have good contact with the dynamics and trends of the industry not only in the Czech Republic. It is time for the creative industry in the Czech Republic to beonegiven the necessary attention.
How many animation studios operate in the Czech Republic and how many game development studios?
There are around seventy studios dedicated to game development, and their number is growing every year. Large studios with several dozen to hundreds of employeesancThere are up to five of them, and next to them there are many smaller studios with game teams from one to twenty creators.
There are up to ten animation and VFX studios that are dedicated to filmmaking. In film, we distinguish between production, where projects are developed and their financing is secured.ancand animation studios where projects are produced. In addition, there are a number of smaller productions focused on creating simple promotional spots.
How much do these studios collaborate with each other?
You can't quite say that game studios work together to produce their own games. In this, each team goes for itself. Film studios sometimes help out with various service orders. But we all work together within interest organizations, associations and clusters that advocate for the improvement of the environment in which we do business.
What studies were involved in the survey?
A mix of large and smaller players participated in the survey. The result is therefore representative.
When is the ideal time to start with animation and computer games? Can even a middle-aged person begin to devote himself to them professionally if he does not yet have the necessary experience?
Now I'm going to expand a bit on the common knowledge that animated films are made by animators and video games are made by game developers. Of course, simplification is often appropriate. However, the fact is that both games and films are complex projects in which tens to hundreds of creators participate in various technical and artistic positions.
On the website of the Creatoola platform, individual positions are clearly described so that everyone can quickly get an idea. Virtually everyone can choose, regardless of age.
Of course, it's best to start at an early age. But high school girls and boys may not be sure what direction to take professionally. ProGoing to selected art schools is an advantage, but not a requirement. You can start practically at any time. So why not even in middle age!
Pro artistic profession is an advantage if the person in question has graduated in at least a related field. Films and games also offer great employment in IT positions. Perhaps surprisingly, individuals with organizational skills will find employment here in production positions.
If I have a school-age child at home who enjoys graphics and programming, how can I continue to work with him to develop properly?
Most parents cannot imagine that it is possible to make a living from creating games and animation. Therefore, introducing children to the possibility of not only playing but also creating games is a good starting point.
The child's path can then lead to secondary vocational schools with an artistic or IT focus. However, grammar schools are not a dead end either. The doors of higher vocational schools or universities that already offer a focus with application in games and animation are open to everyone, regardless of what kind of secondary school you have. You can find a link to the list of schools on the Creatoola website here . It depends on the individual qualifications of each child. As part of the Creatoola website, we plan to prepare an online guide that would help interested parties, children and adults, to clarify in which area they could best profile themselves.
It is important not to rely solely on school. Self-education is an important prerequisite in our fields to keep up with the rapid development of technology. I tell students that they need to choose an area in which they want to be the best, focus on it and work hard. The craft itself can beoneFinally, you can also learn in online schools that are available with one click. Everyone can come up with their own project that they learn to implement. It will definitely help to contact people who have the same interests, watch video tutorials, try to find a mentor.
Can a child perhaps gain experience in one of the studies? From what age does such a practice make sense?
Internships/internships are mainly offered by larger studios. Interest in people is currently high. On the other hand, it doesn't work that way, anyone can come and say they want an internship and get it. The studios choose who they will devote their time to. It is necessary to already know something, to present your work, even if it is the basics. Experienced creators in the studios are able to reveal even hidden talent. Creatoola also offers practical advice on how to prepare a presentation of your own work, which can then be used to address studios.
