why I 'quit' my dreams of working in animation

Came across this video today. This is by far one of the best videos I've watched, and in touches on so many things that are left unspoken. I've been dealing with all of the things you listed here, and you sharing your perspective has really helped me. It definitely has me thinking, and revisiting my goals, but also understanding that it's ok to adapt too. Thank you Anoosha!

Thank you so much! That‘s all I have to say. Thank you for everything you said. :)

This was a great video! If I'd seen this before hand I probably wouldn't have bothered created my version. :)

I loved this video (also I used to work at a bookstore and recognized ur style right away! how cool is that!) Anyway! Im so thankful you mentioned getting older. Im 25 - Ive never been to art school, and i havent even finished my associates yet, which is in english as part of a “former” dream in working in the publishing industry. Even “worse”, I did not start taking art seriously until I was 20 or so. I constantly feel this dread that time is running out, that I lost the chance to get into the industry or even go to art school, that Im so far behind. So many of the artists I look up to talk about seeing cartoons straight out of the womb and knowing right away that animation was where they wanted to go. I feel sometimes like I dont GET to have that aspiration because I havent pined for it for so long. Listening to your struggles really made me feel less alone. Good luck to you and your journey! Take care !! :-)

You could just do freelance animation

I have watched this video before, but now rewatching it in my illustation graduation year I feel more alright about critically examining my own dream and goals. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and advice. ✨

Great video. You are a great storyteller. Dreams evolve. You should make am illustrated book about it, it's a great message to share.

I find myself coming back to this video from time to time. It makes me feel relived and less stressed to hear that it is okay to let go of your dream. I get anxiety when thinking about my future self. I am so worry about getting my dream job to the point of thinking about it as life or death. Thank you for sharing your experience! Make me feel like I am not alone.

So much insight and wisdom in this video. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. 💜

When someone says the words 'follow your passion' , reply yeah that's cute , I'd rather make money!
Do your research , re-evaluate your strengths and figure out which industry has the financial scope in the coming years?

Omg— Someone else who had their world changed by tangled!!! I was 100% an anime girl before that movie.

i don’t know how to properly explain my thoughts but your video has so much meaning and value for me, i’m on my way to my work and i’m so emotional from everything that you’ve said, thank you hundred times, Anoosha🤍🥹🥰

wow im late but this video is amazing. so honest and inspirational. thank you for this!!

thanks for making this video, lately i've been asking myself, "do i really want this" or "maybe im really not good enough i should just stop doing this" but ever since i was a kid i LOVE drawing, im a fan of disney animated films, watching cartoons almost everyday, anime. It all inspired me to pursue a career for animation but now i always compare myself to other artists work, even though some of my friends and peers telling me im doing good with art, i just always think maybe theyre just being nice to me... so many negative thoughts lol, anyways this video reminded me a lot of things,thanks for sharing your story.

This reminds me of the movie, Kiki's delivery service, whereas she dream to be a known-talented witch in a glamorous town. But as she reach there, she didn't expect the independence she had to put into, almost losing her powers. But as later, she found herself again as she set foot as a new person, accepted the fact that she isn't talented as she thought, and accepting her new fate with what she have and was praised for.

Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing your story! You’re oozing with so much wisdom and your story is so refreshing, validating, and encouraging.

omg tangled is the reason why i learned animation too!!!

I’ll be 25 next year…and I’ve been trying to build my own art career as I suffered through jobs that make me miserable…and I’m just getting closer and closer to giving up art altogether because I felt like it was a useless skill. I used to wish I liked math or enjoyed putting things together, it feels like a curse…and this video feels like it was speaking directly to me.

the exact video I needed to hear. I've worked in animation and (stylized) games, but originally started in and went to school for illustration for most of the same reasons you mentioned, change out a few minor details. Even though halfway through school I started to realize what I liked and the way my brain worked were better suited for games/concept art vs illustration or more painterly animation jobs (I know someone's going to say it: while concept art and vizdev are technically very similar/"the same" job, they both have their differences and tend to attract people with different interests or approaches). I clung to the idea of being an illustrator for WAY too long and it really held me back...when the things I liked about even the more illustrationy vizdev work I was doing were all processes and finished work that were a little more appropriate for a games portfolio from someone who clearly had a little more of a "games" way of thinking.

When I got that first games job I was stunned how much more fun I had and how I felt like I fit in with the team so much better than prior jobs or illustration crowds, even though the writing was on the wall for a LONG time. OTL

...and why we all somehow internalize a lateral move as a "failure" instead of just varied success is beyond me. I know so many artists with similar stories, but don't meet many in other industries/types of work that consider a career change or a lateral-ish career change as a "failure".

Even though it's a year later of me watching this video thank you so much I really needed to hear this from someone. I just graduated and am already and older student now 29. Although I loved my animation study I am unsure if it's carreer path for me to take because of all the cons that come with freelancing, jumping from project to project and not wanting to hate art at the end of the day it's something I really love and want to keep doing. But if my job is gonna burn me out so much from drawing i don't know if it's right for me. I still prefer a carrier with creative aspects but there are many jobs who can offer that and be able to keep doing art on the side.

Dreaming is ok. High goals are good.
Just make sure you have a safety net for when it doesn't work out.
Not the "if I plan for failing I will surely fail" safety net, but the "I will push on to get my dream, and at the same time, I will make sure I have something to fall back on so that unforeseen events don't ruin my mental health or life stability" kind. You might find that your goals change if you get your dream anyway. People do get disillusioned at Pixar/Disney too, as reality might be different than what you dream up, so it pays off to have a second set of goals or a second set of dreams too, or maybe just distil your dream "I dream of working in -insert name here-" to "I want to do this skill in this way for as long as I can and get paid well for it".

Your video was eye opening and took me by surprise! It started playing in my feed automatically after another video and I decided to give it a chance and listen to what you had to say and hear your experiences. I could not believe how much it lines up with things I’ve struggled with! Could you give me a little light and help me with my freelance by giving some advice on how to get clients for freelance? Thanks for your video and sharing!

I used to have dreams but I don’t anymore. When we dream, we are asleep. And when we’re asleep, we’re not living in present reality, which is the only place we know is real. It’s the place where life actually takes place. Everything else like the past or the future is a mental concept. And when we live in mental concepts, we aren’t alive because we’re somewhere else. Another way to put it, is that when we dream, we are dead. Life passes us by. I’m enjoying being in this reality every day and being alive.

Wonderful video about the industry, I work in Toronto animation in layout so I fully understand where your coming from and whats impotent to you. Thank you for making this video. TBH I'm sad your not in ani anymore cuz it would have been fun to work with you ;)

This was a great video, thank you!

I'm not watching this video, just wanted to let you know how much seeing this thumbnail scared me and upset me. I know life isn't worth living and all of that, how dreams are only made to crush us into the slow crushing depression of reality. but for someone to actually come out and not only encourage but embrace giving up is genuinely terrifying.

you are either the most courageous person I know to advertise this message of giving up on it all, or it's a kink thing. either way, you scare me

Your voice is good on ears , lower background music please.

17;45

Thank you for being so honest about your negative emotions you experienced when you were looking for job, I really needed to hear this, I felt so relieved especially the part you talked about rapidly evolving dreams

My dream has always been to create a cartoon show. But now it has evolved into a serious type of anime that deals more with the story but that’s OK. It took me eight years to develop by myself, and some help by my friends. But I’m not sure which direction to take to make it real.

wow... thank you so freaking much for your video. i resonated so hard to your journey. i have been struggling similarly for a long time... i even got to hating art lol. it's self-infliction of pain, in a way. thank you again.

I was misleaded by my thoughts, I thought to myself I wouldn't make it up!. My passion for art is way too much. And I want to be a animator at Pixar. And I was so sad. I don't know what to be

I grew up wanting to be a ballet dancer and went to proffesionel baller school. But that didnt work out for me. Since then i have been an extra in films and tv, ran pubs, worked in a bank, did charity fundraising, planted forests, became a proffesionel viking educator, become a paedagog, wrote and had published a book about spirituality and have worked as a life coach and mentor in a university for the last 7 years. And now at 45 I want to revisit my dream post ballet school of going to art school.I did some univericourses but couldn't afford the education's in the 90s and in the 2000. And having a roof over my head was always most important. have no idea how to 'do something ' with my art. I don't know Photoshop, I have never even drawn on a tablet. And the only educations available to me that I can afford to do is animation or graphic illustration. I am petrified of applying as a student 20years older than everyone else, my limited knowledge and just the idea of going all in. I found you whilst trying to figure out what I want to do. And tbh although your journey and story is so inspiring, it's left me wondering have I just missed the boat. And should keep my art as my lonely hobby or if I should fight for it even though it means changing everything in my life and will mean i have to deal with my massive imposter syndrome and doubts about my own skills. Very confused. Loved your video though

this video was so good to listen to while drawing

👏👏👏

I also dreamed of becoming an animator as a kid, especially when I went to high school because of the influence of anime (more specifically Naruto). I used to hate it, but when Shippuden came and he became more mature and inspirational, that's what inspired me to draw, and I thought I wanted to be in that industry too.

But I lived in a place where 2D animations aren't much appreciated, and my parents wanted me to become a doctor or an engineer instead. Because I hated both paths, I chose the architecture course instead. I thought, well, there's drawing too, so why not?

But man, I only enjoyed it up to my third year. The fourth and fifth years were worse because we had to use AutoCAD and Revit for designing plans. We had to use software where you don't really get to draw. By then, I knew it was a mistake.

I'd already given up on animation, so I tried to focus on my course instead. My field in architecture was more inclined to BIM modeling. While it's true that there is animation here, it's definitely not close to anime.

After six years of working in the architecture industry, I never once loved doing it. I only did it because I needed income to support myself. Even after working for that long, I took the bar exam three times but never passed it. I also tried freelancing as a BIM modeler but got terminated three times.

Now that I don't have a job, I'm currently at a loss. I'm trying to regain my skill for drawing since I stopped doing it after I graduated. I'm glad I stumbled upon your video. This really helped me realize that I'm not alone in this fight, along with the other commenters. I hope I will be able to do what I love too.

I have the same past and experience as you. I was so scared of drawing for the past years and i'm in the process of quitting trying to fit in animation profession. It shook me to destruction and took me so much time to recover and grow into a new mentality. I'm still scared of my decision and my problems, and in dire need of confirmation of my new perceptions, and you did it. I love how this video is necessarily so long and so detail. You are a very wise and helpful female mentor in this field (sorry but i've been looking for one for so long and they're really rare, so i'm assuming you're one to myself because you did help a lot of people through this).

by the time i hit age 40 i got my first 2D animation job at a local business and I-just graduated college just a couple years ago. and my friend that I went to school with in animation mentor and other animation classes got her job at pixar. and shes only like 5 years younger than me. so its never too late. to be honest theres nothing to dress to impress . i'm content that I have a job. I even have younger friends in their early 20's getting animation jobs, but i dont mind. the older you get the more wiser you become. it's like looking my nieces and nephews when they come up to me they ask me how to do this for art. it made me have courage that there is hope as well.

Thank you.. i feel less alone… i was studying postgraduate on animation and have a really big guilt and even being anxious of art too much… i thought i was defective..

I just wanted to say thank you so much for this video. It was so healing for me. The world needs to hear this message.

I was never able to go to art school, as my parents believed the same thing as yours (not a valid career path, go to school for something that will get you a real job! Parents are all the same no matter where you go). When I was older, I paid for an entire online animation course, only to discover that I absolutely hated every minute of it. The computer work was too involved, and I just wanted to draw! I'm a traditional artist, not a computer person. Then I tried fine art, and that failed (I didn't give it enough time and didn't make enough money at it, and I couldn't stand drawing someone else's pictures all day), so I gave up the dream and got an actual job and just stopped drawing for a couple of years. It took a long time to get my desire to draw back. Now, I'll be 40 in a couple of years and I have four kids and I'm trying to teach myself to become an illustrator, which is what I should have been doing all along. I refuse to accept that it's too late and I'm too old. PS I also deal with anxiety and panic attacks, which makes working outside the home really hard. You aren't alone out there!

Thank you for this. I’ve been a mess for a while now trying to find my place. I’ve always wanted to be in animation ever since I knew what a job was. But I gave up on my dreams so many years ago. My mom passed way in 2021 and I started getting back into art. I started making rugs but got tired of it and then I was producing music but it felt hopeless and forced. Finally, I picked up a pencil again and I’ve been drawing for hours every day for 2 months. I’m tearing up typing this because I’m so scared of not making it, but I want to try to be an illustrator. It feels right in my soul. I hope I’m not lying to myself.

Thank you very much for sharing! It was just on time for me right now, especially the part about rejections and jealousy. It means a lot to feel not alone experiencing these troubles. Thanks!

If you haven't already, you should write a children's book about this. I wish I could have read something like this as a child.

Ok I’m half way through this and I’m a little bit mad on your behalf.
I went to college for animation, never made it past a year, but the first thing we learned is how a detailed illustration drawing style doesn’t work with animation. It can, technically, but the simpler the better. I’m upset that none of your friends/recruiters/anybody who’s in the industry wouldn’t mention that to you upon seeing your portfolio. And I’m not talking about ripping it apart or being mean, just a simple “hey, have you considered changing up your illustration style? It seems very illustration heavy.”

I’m probably not the right person to comment since I never made it past one year of animation in college before tucking my legs and hightailing it back home afraid of more debt but I’m so glad you found something that suits you more. I ended up in an industry that’s not artistic and just pays the bills. And I’ve basically abandoned art all together.

Thank you so much for posting this. It takes great courage to talk about what you view as failure at the time.

I am blown away by the response on this video, thank you guys so so much! And thank you for leaving all your comments and sharing your story with me. I can’t reply to all of them but just know I read every single one!! ❤️
Also, I would really recommend reading through these comments just to remind yourself that you’re not alone in this :)