As we work towards our goals of becoming a part of the animation pipeline, there’s a question that gnaws at the back of every artist’s mind at least once.
‘Should I become a freelance animator?’
Some know the answer immediately. ‘No, I shouldn’t. The studio space, working as part of a pipeline towards a large project, is where I want to be.’ ‘Yes, I want to freelance. I don’t want to be tied to any specific company.’
For others, though, the answer isn’t so simple. They might not know what kind of environment would suit them best, and weighing both options against one-another can be a daunting prospect. However, thinking through the aspects of both sides is worthwhile, as people may decide to switch from one to the other at some point in their careers.
What is Freelancing?
The Cambridge online dictionary describes the word ‘Freelancer’ as:
“someone who is not employed by any one organization but does particular pieces of work for different organizations”
Freelancers are often hired on a contract to do specific work based on their field. These contracts can come from a variety of people and places, and run for varying lengths of time. A freelancer could be working on a project with a large company for several months on one day, and working with a small indie team for a few weeks on another day. The work is often unpredictable, as you have no way of knowing who might reach out with a contract on any given day.
Freelancing vs Large Studio Work
When deciding between which avenue you might wish to go down in terms of the working world, there are a few things to consider from both sides. Freelancers, generally, have more flexible schedules in exchange for a fluctuating paycheck. They can work hours determined by what suits them best, often from the comfort of their own homes, but in turn may have to wait for weeks or months to finally be paid for their work. Studio-based animators, on the other hand, have more typical in-office working hours. The devices provided to them within the office will be fully dedicated to the studio’s current projects, meaning they will be powerful machines capable of working quickly and efficiently.
Within a studio setting, it is easier to bounce ideas off of your peers and get feedback and updates on the current state of the project. As a freelancer, the speed at which you receive feedback about your work or the current project could differ greatly, depending on how used to contracted workers the organisation is. You are often hired, however, because of the work you presented beforehand, and thus might be given more creative control over aspects of the project than studio workers would be.
Should You Be a Freelance Animator?
Freelancing isn’t easy. The nature of working contract to contract means there is practically no stability at all - you could very suddenly be left high and dry if your client decides to remove you from the project.
A large part of being a freelance animator is networking. You constantly have to be advertising your skills, speaking to potential clients and selling your work to keep your head above water and ensure that money is coming in. You have to maintain a good relationship with employers at all times, even if you don’t work for them anymore, so that if someone asks them for a recommendation, you have a chance to be at the top of their list.
You also have to be in charge of everything to do with your work yourself. You might have a deadline, but the milestones and timeframes for the work you do are entirely yours. You have to self-manage a majority of aspects, including finances.
In an article written by illustrator Christopher Cant, he states:
“Being a freelance artist is not a recipe for an easy life. It is a challenging road, that will push you, and reward you for rising to the challenge, preparing properly and thinking laterally.”
Freelancing is best suited to those who like to have more control of their schedules, and are ready and willing to be at the whims of the tide of the industry. By adapting to every job and situation as and when they occur, freelance artists are afforded a very unique position in the animation pipeline.
Whether you decide to fit nicely into the pipeline or try to go it alone, freelancing is an avenue that remains available to every aspiring animator. The greatest thing about either path, however, is that there is no point where you couldn’t switch from one to the other with enough effort. Anyone currently in the industry could decide to change from one to the other at any time, choosing to leave the studio space in favour of the more flexible working hours, or deciding to hunt for jobs as part of the animation pipeline for a more stable position. Whatever we artists may decide, it’s never too late to give something new a try.