Herzing Blog

Junesoo Lee always knew he wanted a creative career. He liked the idea of bringing new products to life, so industrial design seemed like the way to go. He earned his degree and got a few temporary jobs under his belt. But the work wasn’t as fulfilling as he’d hoped.

What he really wanted to do was focus on anime and animation. But the thought of several more years in school didn’t appeal to him at all.

Then he discovered the 2D animation program at Herzing College. It was exactly what he was looking for: only one year long, with a heavy focus on industry-standard software, and an included internship with a major studio.

Today, Junesoo is a junior animator at the very same studio where he did his internship. We caught up with him recently to get his thoughts about his time at Herzing and how the training helped him get on the right path.

Here’s his story.

If you think you might want to pursue a career in 2D animation, one of the most important things you need to learn is how to use industry-standard animation software. And in the 2D world, that means Toon Boom Harmony.

Harmony is a favourite among professional animators because it’s like having an entire digital animation studio in a single program. The program streamlines complex tasks and integrates easily with other pro tools, making the entire animation process flow smoothly.

In this post, we explore the reasons why Toon Boom Harmony is the preferred software for leading animation studios and how learning it at Herzing College can provide you with a competitive edge.

Read on to find out why you should learn animation with Toon Boom.

While animated movies and TV shows can be made in several different ways, they all follow a series of steps in order to make the most efficient use of time and resources.

The 2D animation pipeline is made up of three parts: pre-production, production, and post-production. If you’re hoping to launch a career in this field, you need to understand what’s involved in each stage and how they relate to each other.

In this post, we’re focusing on puppet animation, since that’s what the vast majority of entry-level jobs in the industry are about. Keep reading to see how the 2D animation process typically unfolds.

Updated December 2023

Animated content has become increasingly popular in recent years—especially when pandemic restrictions forced the shutdown of live-action productions.

But if you’re interested in launching a career in this field, you may be wondering about the differences between 2D and 3D animation.

Obviously, 2D only deals with length and height, while 3D adds depth as well. But what’s involved in each type of animation? What is each used for, and what skills do they require?

In this post, we answer all of those questions and more.

Trying to decide between 2D vs. 3D animation? Here’s what you need to know.

Updated December 2023

Think you might want to become a 2D animator? Concerned that a lack of experience will hold you back?

Not to worry. The demand for animators is so strong that it's a great time for newcomers to break into the field.

So how can a total beginner take advantage of that demand?

In this post, we take you through the basic steps you can follow to become an animator, even if you have little or no experience.

Here’s how to position yourself for success in Canada's hot animation job market.

Updated November 2023

If you're considering a career in 2D animation, you're probably wondering about your job options after training. Where can you get hired straight out of school?

Many people think 2D animators only work in film or television. But there are definitely other career paths you can pursue with quality training and a strong portfolio.

In this post, we'll walk you through three popular 2D animation careers.

What kinds of opportunities are available for talented, ambitious 2D animators? Let's take a look.

Updated December 2023

You probably already know what an animation career is all about: bringing characters and stories to life in films, TV shows, video games, and more.

But do you know what life on the job is really like?

No job is perfect. Before you embark on an animation career, you need to have a full understanding of what to expect—both the good and the bad.

In this post, we take you through the pros and cons of becoming an animator and provide valuable advice from industry insiders.

Get a realistic picture of the role and see if it's a good choice for you.

Photo: A.J. Cote (right) with Big Jump co-founder Cory Morrison (left) in an interview with CTV News about the Ottawa animation industry.

This week, we talked with the creator of Herzing's 2D Animation program, the amazingly talented (and generally awesome) A.J. Cote.

We wanted to learn about the alleged "job boom" for animators in Ottawa, and find out what's driving this trend.

A.J. has worked as an animator in Ottawa for decades, so he definitely has his finger on the pulse of hiring trends and the industry as a whole.

He also helped develop Herzing's animation program, which he says was designed to produce grads for local studios to hire.

In this interview, A.J. explains what's going on with Ottawa's animation scene, why there's a shortage of talent, and how Herzing is filling that gap.

Considering a career in animation? Here's what you need to know.

Updated December 2023

Think you might want to pursue a career in 2D animation? Now is an excellent time to get started.

Even before the pandemic, there was so much animation work flowing through Canadian cities that studios couldn't find enough qualified people to meet production needs.

And when live-action productions were forced to shut down, the demand for animated content really took off.

That's where Herzing College's accelerated 2D animation course comes in. Our mission is to expand the local animation scene by producing skilled graduates who can fill those available studio jobs.

This program teaches the software and real animation skills you need to get hired—in just 12 months of training.

What makes Herzing's 2D animation course so unique? Here's what you can expect in class.

Photo: Megan Winters, 2D animation graduate, Herzing College Ottawa

Wondering what it's like to take an 2D animation course? Have questions about breaking into the animation industry?

Megan Winters is the perfect person to talk to.

She got into 2D animation a bit later in life, after putting several years into an office job. She tried out some different animation schools but struggled to find the right fit.

She even landed a few animation gigs, but needed more advanced software skills to really get her career off the ground.

Fast-forward a few years and Megan's just about finished the 2D animation course at Herzing. The best part? She has already been hired by a major Ottawa animation studio.

We interviewed Megan to get her opinion of the 2D program, and learn more about her career plans after graduation.

Find out what to expect in class and if this training might be right for you.