The Wonderful World of Multimedia Artistes and Animators

See something visually stunning that you cannot take your eyes off it? Then you have been mesmerised by the incredible work of multimedia artistes and animators. 

Using their tools electronic tools and media for use in products or creations, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials - these 'magicians' work their magic to do the following:

• Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment.
• Create two-dimensional and three-dimensional images depicting objects in motion or illustrating a process, using computer animation or modeling programs.
• Make objects or characters appear lifelike by manipulating light, color, texture, shadow, and transparency, or manipulating static images to give the illusion of motion.
• Assemble, typeset, scan and produce digital camera-ready art or film negatives and printer's proofs.
• Apply story development, directing, cinematography, and editing to animation to create storyboards that show the flow of the animation and map out key scenes and characters.
• Script, plan, and create animated narrative sequences under tight deadlines, using computer software and hand drawing techniques.
• Create basic designs, drawings, and illustrations for product labels, cartons, direct mail, or television.
• Create pen-and-paper images to be scanned, edited, colored, textured or animated by computer.
• Develop briefings, brochures, multimedia presentations, web pages, promotional products, technical illustrations, and computer artwork for use in products, technical manuals, literature, newsletters and slide shows.
• Use models to simulate the behavior of animated objects in the finished sequence.

So you want to weave a magical piece of your own? Here are a few skills you must possess. 

• Active Listening - — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Time Management - — Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Reading Comprehension - — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Active Learning —- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Judgment and Decision Making -— Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Operations Analysis - — Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
• Speaking -— Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Writing — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Critical Thinking -— Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Learning Strategies -— Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Once you have all these skills, you must also remember to be able to do these:

• Inductive Reasoning -— The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Fluency of Ideas -— The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
• Near Vision -— The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Problem Sensitivity -— The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Visualisation —- The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
• Written Comprehension -— The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Deductive Reasoning -— The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Information Ordering -— The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Oral Comprehension -— The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression -— The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

If you are ready to take the plunge, these will be your responsibilities:

• Thinking Creatively -— Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Getting Information -— Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Interacting With Computers -— Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to programme, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge -— Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work -— Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships —- Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates -— Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People -— Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation -— Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.