So, you are creative, love art and have an active imagination. You may be wondering if you can turn those traits into a career and the answer is a resounding yes. If you possess these traits, you may want to consider a career in animation. Animation is not only the business of making cartoons. Animators are involved in almost every facet of the entertainment and publishing industry. Animation is a very competitive field, so attending one of the computer animation colleges is critical to your success. If you are a non-traditional applicant, research colleges that offer online or video courses. If you are serious about becoming an animator, you must be trained and learn the ins and outs of the industry.

If you watch television, go to the movies, or read books and magazines, chances are you have witnessed the work of an animator or animation team. Animation can be done through computer animation, clay animation, 2-D or 3-D animation. Animation is a rapidly changing field and only those with formal training are taken seriously in the business. Art, graphic design, illustration, photography and editing are all a part of an animator's toolkit, therefore one of the many computer animation colleges will be able to teach you the necessary skills to succeed.

ITT Technical Institute and DeVry are just two of the many computer animation colleges in the country. You can earn an associates, bachelors or masters degree in animation. Some schools will offer specialties such as game design, computer animation, or animation software. As a prospective animator, you want to be as diverse as possible in your skill set. This diversity will make you more of a hot commodity in the job market. Taking classes in texture, video effects, lighting, digital film, and clay modeling will make you a valuable employee to a prospective design or film studio.  

The best computer animation colleges will not only develop your skills but also allow you to grow as a creator. Your job as an animator is to tell stories that move people. If you do not have a love for storytelling or using your imagination, an animation career is probably not right for you. A love of art and drawing are also essential in making up a good animator. Practice your drawing skills and pay attention to animators that you admire in the business to see how the business is evolving.    

Regardless of which of the computer animation colleges you decide to attend, you will find that the animation field is very competitive. You will have to learn to deal with rejection of your work as you make your way through the ranks. There will always be applicants with more experience or more education than you. The thing to remember is that your imagination and creativity are unique to you. No one else has lived your life or will be able to see or tell a story exactly the way you can. If you can persevere through the tough times and low entry-level salary, you may just make an animation career that even Charles Schulz would be proud of.