Hot Animators Learn New Skills

EIGHT animators, made redundant from Altrincham-based Hot Animation, have been given a helping hand to find new work by Northwest Vision and Media, which works on behalf of the TV, film, radio and digital content industries.

Hit Entertainment's Hot Animation studio, which produces Bob the Builder, announced in September that it had shed an unspecified amount of roles at the 70-strong studio.

Vision and Media decided to offer all the staff who had been made redundant fully-funded, bespoke, high-tech training in 3D modeling and animation, using Autodesk Maya software.

“It’s still animation, but it’s about as far away from the kind of stop-frame animation they’re been using, as it’s possible to get,” explains Daniel Lance, of digital training company, Cryptic Peach.

“The three days of training they’ve received gives them an introduction to the software, so potential employers will be able to see they’re confident using this kind of technology.”

Trainer Paul Ross, of 3D Productions, led the course. “It’s a lot to take in initially because this is a completely different way of translating their observational skills. But the concept of animation is the same, it’s just the application of the knowledge that’s different,” says Paul.

“There’s a far greater demand for CGI animation at the moment, than the stop-frame animation used by the former HOT employees. So having on your CV that you’re trained in CGI is certainly a plus when looking for new employment,” adds Paul.

Charlotte Day, of Altrincham, is still working at HOT, although she’ll be made redundant in February and is keen to find new work. “I’m still training to be an animator so this is a brilliant opportunity for me to gain new skills,” she says.

Sarah Pereira, of Chorlton, was made redundant in September. “There are definitely more job opportunities in CGI at the moment,” she says. “Stop frame animation might come round again, and I really hope it does, but at the moment computer generated animation is what the market wants.

“That’s why I’m so pleased to be doing this training. It’s great that Vision and Media are supporting us in this way.”

Lynn Kelly, Project Manager at Vision and Media, says she’s delighted the training has proved so popular with the former HOT employees. “We constantly strive to deliver the kind of bespoke training that the current market demands, so I’m thrilled that this course has been so useful,” says Lynn.