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Career Colleges    » Virginia    » Communication and Multimedia     » Animation and Video Graphics

Virginia Animation and Video Graphics Degrees

Animation and Video Graphics Degrees: Virginia Colleges

Looking for accredited career colleges, technical schools, and universities in Virginia offering Animation and Video Graphics degrees. Animation offers careers in film, computer animation, special effects, sound and engineering, or computer assisted art.

Virginia is a great state in which to go to college. Virginia college students enjoy close proximity to Washington, D.C., but also the opportunity to live in a more rural or suburban setting. Virginia is home to many colleges and universities. Virginia is still a surprisingly rural state, with tobacco as the primary cash crop. It was the birthplace of our nation, as the very first European settlement in North America was established at Jamestown in 1607. Virginia is a state of contrasts: not only do you have historic Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg, you also find the home of the Pentagon and of Mae East, the major East Coast internet hub. Whether you enjoy hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, wandering along its beaches, or enjoying a quiet dinner in its many fine restaurants, you are likely to find attending college in Virginia to be an excellent choice.

Virginia Colleges: Animation and Video Graphics Degrees

Prior to the 90's it was rare to see a collection of such seemingly separate jobs like Interactive Technologies, Video Graphics, Animation, and Special Effects blended together in a career description. Modern day computers and software changed all that with the advent of sophisticated editing programs that allow the same technologies to be used to do very different jobs. Currently, most images and sounds are edited or in some way produced by computers and computer software. These new technologies turned Animation and Special effects from what was once limited and laborious to a process that is fast, detailed, and virtually limitless.

The area you specialize in will determine your job duties. First and foremost, you will need to be creative day in and day out. Creativity and cutting edge projects are what drive the entertainment and graphics industries so this skill is at a premium. Besides being creative you will also need to plan, layout, edit, transfer, and manipulate data using computers and computer software to bring about the desired effect. People involved in Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, Animation and Special effects must meet with production managers and assistant directors to ensure that the project is meeting the standards set up by the individual heading the projects. If the individual works on smaller projects, they will most likely meet with individual clients to discuss the progress and logistics of the project.

Most individuals involved in Interactive Technologies, Video Graphics, Animation, and Special Effects have developed strong artistic skills early in their careers. Many have experience in drawing and painting, sculpture, and color theory. In addition to the art skills they build, they also learn strong computer skills with intimate knowledge of computer graphics, computer science, and computing systems. To sharpen or hone these skills individuals will most often enter an Interactive Technologies training program. These programs can be found in a variety of schools including colleges, universities, technical schools, or art schools. The programs focus on topics like Ad design, Animation and Motion Studies, Business Management, Cartooning, Color Theory, Drawing, Film Editing, Visual Theory, and Computing systems. The degree programs can last anywhere from one to seven years, allowing an individual to gain certificates, bachelor degrees, and even master's degrees.

Once the individual has completed an Interactive Technologies training program, he or she will usually graduate with a degree but more importantly a portfolio will have been completed. The portfolio as it is most often requested by employers and shows a wide range of abilities. It plays the most important role in acquiring a position. Career options are limitless for a talented individual. Depending upon their expertise, they can work with film, computer animation, special effects, sound and engineering, or computer assisted art.

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