so i have dreams to become an animator, and a really good one, but the problem is that im already 18 and im just starting to practice, while i see others in my age being awesome on the computer and im here like "duuuh photoshop is cool and miku miku dance is hard :( " but yet, i don´t want to give up, i have ambitions, i have dreams, but im afraid that my dreams will remain dreams, i want to become an artist, i have the right mind set, i think outside the box and yes, i have taken the hate for that but im proud to be an artist. the point is that i dont know if i will ever keep it up with others :(

Even if you want your dreams to come true, make sure they aren't empty dreams, and that you actually have a semblance of a plan for how you want to achieve that dream.

It's probably going to take years to start making money off of it though. I'm trying to write a comic/manga and I have the first chapter done. I haven't put it online anywhere because I want to have atleast three to five chapters done before I do it. After some research it sounds like it's going to take 3 years or more to finally start making a buck from it and thats only with publishing consistently and if people like it and are willing to buy merchandise of. Honestly, it might just be way too much effort to do it. Oh and I'm 20 yrs old.

I don't know much about animation, but you are probably going to have to have a college degree nowadays to get hired and payed as one.

You should continue trying to become an animator and work at a job just to earn some money, you know? It will be tiring, but if you really want it, you should not give up :)

Hey annz,

I know exactly what you're going through. Almost.

I'm 20 and going to a school for graphic design.

My professors tell me that "You'll never be one of the artists who are never forgotten unless you started drawing at 5, and never stopped."

Now I know that's not the most productive and optimistic thing to start with, and this wont be either.

I can't remember who exactly it was, but I believe he said it was Stephan King. He said he's not one of the greats because he writes once a day. The man Literally wakes up, writes for 9 hours, and goes back to sleep. He only takes I believe one day off a year. Christmas.

Now what I mean by all that random information, to make sense of it, is that you first, before anything, need to be satisfied with your own skills "now" and understand that you need to improve upon yourself later.

I want to be really good myself. And I believe that if life takes me there or if I really decide it's what I want to do, I will.

As for you, I do not want you to give up on your dreams. And you need to know that dreams and goals are different things. And the difference between them.

A dream is flying.

A goal, is saying "hey, I want to work for DC or Marvel and help with their comics"

They hire interns all the time, and that's how you get in. As long as you apply yourself, and I'm not saying you have to start righting 9 hours a day starting tomorrow, but believe that your "goals" are not dreams.

You are young, and most of us are too. We all have a long way to go, still, before we find out who we really are and want to be.

But what I want you to know is that

"You have to do everything you can, you have to work your hardest, and if you do, if you stay positive, you have a shot at a silver lining."

If you wanna be the best, you can be, as long as you do everything you can do to move forward towards that goal.

I for one, without needing to know anything about you, know that you can do this. Just stay focused and take any negativity that comes your way, and crush it with your heel.

thank you all so much :) i feel like i can do this now, im not giving up. i might not be an animator to be remembered, but i will become an artist and that is my goal!!

I'm sure you will turn an fantastic animator and will be remembered! :)
If one day you post your work on the internet, show me please ;)
Bye bye

Just keep working at it and find an art style that fits you. Once you do, it should be easier to animate.

it's so endearing how much you want to be an animator! I must say there's no easy way out though. I'm around your age and I've been drawing since I was very small and I've improved so much by drawing almost every day. It's good to look at others your age and older and take inspiration from them but everyone progresses at their own pace. something that helps me gain confidence is keeping my works and comparing them a month or even a year or even just a week later! it's crazy the little techniques you dont notice that you learn or little things you improve on. I wish you well and as long as you practice I know you can do it!