I first knew this was my goal when I was 11 years old, I was in grade 6 and my dad rented a movie called SPIRITED AWAY(A MIYASAKI FILM FROM STUDIO GHIBLI)and i thought it was awesome, the story and the style of art (got me inspired). I started drawing pictures from the spirited away film. I made friends later in grade 7 Chandler park middle school when I was 12. My friends were into anime and knew more about it than me and taught me more about it. I Just thought it was awesome, everything about it, style, shows, books, stories, and world. I joined the anime club which was at lunch and that's where people drew anime. I drew anime at the anime club. Other activities happened there even a professional anime artist came in and helped us once. I knew i wanted to be a anime artist since then. I made being a anime art not just my goal but my pleasure.
I told my family and friends and they all encouraged me especially my friends who were into it as much as me. I remember the proffessional artist who came in discouraged me by looking at my artwork and saying I wouldn't become a anime artist. I never really cared what he said because I loved doing it and kept at it, and never gave up. My friend who was there when the pro artist discouraged me said " don't listen to him you're a great artist, you can make it " and she was really uplifting. Now it's kind of funny because me and my friend who encouraged me the most is the only one still into anime from that group and the ones the pro artist said were good artist's and would make it aren't and i'm the only one who wants it as a career still, to think the one person who the pro artist said wouldn't make it, did.
When I found out that the job of being a anime artist doesn't pay high always I told my friend they just said that I have a chance at getting a decent salary if not a high salary from working as a anime artist and won't abandon trying to get the career. I saw a letter on the internet saying anyone trying to become a anime artist should find a different career because if you're not Japanese it's impossible to get into it and too much competition and they wrote about why you shouldn't bother with it but I just thought about Miyasaki and how he became famous and that his film Spirited away was the first animated film to ever win a oscar and a academy award, that if he could do it, why not I, I can do it, Miyasaki got discouraged but kept going and look where it got him. I thought I want this career with all my heart and don't care about what others say or think, it won't stop me.
I had to think about what mattered most at one point and face the fact that if I couldn't make a decent salary from that career I would also do something else but I wouldn't give up being a anime artistand I have help. But I realised this because my aunt Lucie told me never give it up because a career that you like is better than a career you dislike and don't enjoy that pays well, I agree. I know i must discipline myself always to become a better artist and storymaker. I also have the skill of computer animation to help my career, I must never give up. The obstacles in me are that I must enhance my imajination in storymaking, art, and digital arts. My advice to others with such plans are to never give up, nomatter how hard, confusing or impossible it may seem just don't lett anything get you discouraged and study the skills needed for the career and practice dilligently, seek constantly to improve in your errors and be thankful for your talents.
