24/11/23
Menna EI-Atroush
Menna EI-Atroush is an Animation Director and Animator mainly using experimental and traditional animation techniques. I have decided to contact her for my career research because of her study experience in character animation as well as her work direction towards stop motion animation which is the area that I am interested in. Also, we have in common with international background.
https://www.behance.net/mennanimates/projects
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Interview with Menna EI-Atroush
Q1: What does it feel like to be a stop motion animator after you graduated? Is it hard to find a job as stop motion animation(or hand drawn) since it is not as trendy and convenient as 2d digital artist and 3d animator.
1- Working in the animation industry generally, is very different from what we expect, and the opportunities are different from one country to the other. Stop motion specifically is the most challenging as you might know. So for me personally because I live in Egypt now, I found it hard to work full time as a puppet animator. However, I managed to do small stop motion tests on my own, and that helped me get freelance opportunities.
As for frame by frame animation it is easier to find than stop motion, but of course it is very competitive. So my suggestion is that you keep working on your skills by doing small animation tests in your preferred animation technique, or mixing both techniques.
Keep posting these tests and your work in progress, in order to grab the attention of people in the industry. You might get full time opportunities or freelance opportunities, both are equally good as long as you’re doing what you like.
Q2: Are you working as more towards to a director role or animator role in stop motion animation? Because I’m more interested in directing my own animation but I don’t mind to work as an animator if it’s for living.
2- I’m like you, I’m working on being a director of animation but also I enjoy animating.
I try to do short films to get better as a director.
Short films take time to develop, but you learn a lot as a director and as an animator. Always try and get feedback from fellow directors and other people as well, their criticism can be important to developing yourself.
Q3: Working as a stop motion animator do you also work on other field? Like a side job to support your creative development. Because I have a BA background as a graphic designer which is something what I’m struggling right now, the trend to become a graphic designer is booming because there’s a huge demand on this role and it’s fairly well paid. However, my artistic dream is not there but to become a 2d hand drawn stop motion artist.
3- I try as much as I can to only work as a frame by frame animator or stop motion animator, but as you might know, it doesn’t always pay enough. That’s why sometimes I get into the commercial field as a digital 2D animator or as a motion graphics animator. This helps build more connections as well as it helps fund my personal projects. So don’t feel bad if there were times where you have to do graphic design for a while. Keep animating anyway on the side, until and opportunity comes.
Reflection after interview:
My goal after my graduated is to become an independent artist as an animator and graphic designer. Either freelancing or working as a studio suites me. What I have heard back from the interview is quite positive. I think what is the most important for me is I will need to find my own art style and techniques. Then just keep practicing on it until I become one of the top in this particular skill filed. By doing tests and experiment will enrich my skills and keep on practicing will make me be more confident of what I am doing. And at the same time, I will need another side to support my art dream for sure.