Special Effects Veteran Specializes in Procedural Animation

by Kirk Bangstad
kirk.bangstad@careertrainingdirectory.com
Career Training Directory Columnist

In a recent article in the American Chronicle, a veteran special effects animator talked about the work he did on a number of recent blockbuster motion pictures. Eyal Erez has been in the special effects animation business working for Sony Imageworks for about ten years. Before that, he worked on game animation for Sony Playstation. Over the last few years, Erez has contributed to motion picture hits like “The Matrix Revolutions,” “The Aviator,” and “Spiderman 2,” among others. His specialty is procedural animation for particle systems. In Layman’s terms, he creates animated rain, snow, a flock of birds or geese, destruction, or other types of animation that involve multiple objects all moving at once.

Computer Animation Programs Provide Necessary Hi-Tech Skills

In the interview, Erez mentioned that he often needed 40 computers running at the same time to speed up the creation of his effects. Learning to animate using a network of computers running on Linux or some other operating system is not easy. Most successful animators in Erez’s field learned their trade by enrolling in reputable computer animation programs. In most quality animation programs, students learn procedural animation along with other 3d animation techniques, as well as the more traditional 2d animation techniques used frequently in cartoons.

Online Animation Programs Enable Students to Balance Work and School

If you want to work in the animation or special effects field, you’ll increase your chances of success by enrolling in a 3d computer animation program. If you don’t think you can find the time to leave your job and enroll in a fulltime animation program, there are a number of great animation programs offered online. These days, because it is possible to operate state-of-the-art animation software remotely, online animation students are able to enjoy most of the same educational tools as more traditional students.

About the Author

Kirk Bangstad holds a B.A. in government from Harvard University and is a regular columnist on career training.