Do you like drawing cartoons? Have you tried making some funny comic strips?If you answered yes, then a career in cartoons may be for you!
How do you get started? This is what we found out:
Step 1: First things first - Learn to draw.
Learn the basics of drawing; color and lines, perspective, figures and faces, expressions. Take drawing classes if you need to, and practice!
You can take an on-line studio tour of the Hanna-Barbera Studios and learn how animation is done.
- Cartoon Network Studio Tour - http://www.cartoonnetwork.com.au/asp/scrapbook/Studiotour.asp
Step 2: Get yourself known.
Join an on-line cartoonists ring where you can submit some of your work and get publicity. Join the professional cartoonists societies and organizations. Check out:
- Cartoonists Webring - http://www.webring.com
- National Cartoonists Society - http://www.reuben.org
- Graphic Artists Guild - http://www.gag.org
Step 3: Go for it! - Submit your work.
Start by submitting cartoons to magazines rather than worrying about deadlines for syndicated strips or comic books. Pick the right magazine for your cartoon.
You can find out about newspaper syndicates and their submission guidelines at the
- Syndicate Directory - http://www.reuben.org/syndicate.asp
Another good site is the Cartoonist's Resources, which has a lot of information about conventions, contests, comic book industry addresses, and more.
- Cartoonist's Resources - http://www.cagle.com/prolinks/library/Resources.asp
Tip #1: Find out who the art director is for the company that you're submitting your work to, and send it directly to them.
Tip #2: Be sure to send a Self Addresses Stamped Envelope (SASE) in with your work if you want it back.
Step 4: Apprenticeships - Earn as you learn! One way to get in at a particular cartoon studio is to join their apprentice programs.
Walt Disney Studios has their Walt Disney World College Program, where you can pick the career you would want with them, and take classes and work towards that job.
You can learn about this program and about Walt Disney Studios at
- Walt Disney Studio Careers - http://disney.go.com/disneycareers
- Walt Disney Studio Operations - http://disney.go.com/StudioOperations
You can find out about Warner Brothers Studios:
- Warner Brothers Studio -http://www.galleryc.net/wbcel.html
Now, click on the NEXT sign to check out the cartoons drawn by Student Cartoonists!
