Staff Writer
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Sequential Art - An Exciting Career Choice If You Love Visual Storytelling
Is a career in Sequential Art a good choice?
Sequential art is a term that is often used interchangeably with comics, although it also encompasses other forms of art. Other areas of art that fall within the umbrella of sequential art include animation, cartooning, webcomics, storyboarding, graphic novels, Manga art, comic strips, children’s book illustration, and game design.
Comic books, graphic novels and comic strips use a combination of sequential imagery in frames along with text to convey narrative. Text can appear throughout the frames, within and without them. The main idea is that they all use images in sequence with text to tell stories or convey information.
Comic books themselves are books that consist of images with text displayed at the bottom of the image, called image captions, or near the characters’ heads in speech bubbles. This form of sequential art was originally designed for entertainment but has become a huge multi-million dollar industry, with enthusiasts buying and trading their comic books and Hollywood movies being produced around their storylines.
What are the requirements to become a Sequential Artist?
While there are short courses and associate degree programs available, entry-level jobs as a professional sequential artist typically require a bachelor’s degree. These degree programs allow students to refine their skills with hands-on learning opportunities that teach them how to create high-quality professional sequential art with the latest technology and techniques.
The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is globally recognized as the leader in art and design education. SCAD offers degree courses in sequential art which are globally recognised for their excellence.
Sequential artists are experts in crafting a visual narrative that engages and draws people into the wondrous worlds they have created be it a comic, a cartoon, a graphic story, film or any other format in sequential art plays a role.
SCAD provides sequential art students with the skills and knowledge to craft powerful narratives under the guidance of the greatest teachers and mentors in the field. SCAD has been called “the Harvard of comics” by Philadelphia Weekly. Because of this, it is featured as one of the top three institutions where Marvel Comics recruits the most editors.
What are the different jobs that a Sequential Artist can do?
Sequential artists can work in multiple roles. Here are some of the areas you could choose to work in and with enough experience become a specialist in the chosen field:
- Animators
- Art consultant
- Video Editor
- Cartoonist
- Cinematographer
- Character designer
- Children’s book artist
- Comic book artist
- Concept artist
- Digital designer
- Fashion designer
- Multimedia designer
- Concept artist
- Web developer
- Manga artists
- Graphic novelist
- Illustrator
- Interior designer
- Production artist
- Storyboard artist
- Toy/figure sculptor
- User interface designer (UI)
- User experience designer (UX)
Who Employs A Sequential Artist?
Here are a few employers who employ sequential artists:
- Marvel Comics
- DC Comics
- Disney
- DreamWorks Animation
- Cartoon Network
- Top Cow Productions
- Floyd County Productions
- Nickelodeon
- Dark Horse Comics
- Vertigo Comics
- Hasbro
- NPR
- Omni Press
- Image Comics
- FX
What are the steps to becoming a Sequential Artist?
This is a dual enrollment process that will require you to make sure your middle School marks meet the CP entry requirements for access to the AISPP and SCAD programme.
You will have to apply to SCAD and enroll in the IB CP programme 2 years before you are due to complete your High School certificate.
After successfully completing your high school diploma, your IB Diploma courses and your CP certificate, you will apply to Universities such as SCAD that accept IBDP Courses and SCAD university credits for acceptance to complete your sequential art bachelor’s degree for your chosen career.
Complete an Internship at a partner company. Participating in a sequential art internship allows students to gain practical sequential art experience. Interns can form professional relationships in the sequential art community which can prove invaluable when seeking a full-time job after graduation.
Find an entry-level job in the area of sequential art you wish to follow and learn and grow your career.
Specialize in a particular area of sequential art whilst working.
AISPP is the best gateway for you to become a Sequential Artist in Cambodia!
SCAD was named “Red Dot Design Rankings” No. 1 university in the U.S. and the No. 2 university in the Americas and Europe for the fourth consecutive year.
Since 2005, the “Red Dot Rankings” have become one of the most sought-after seals of quality for the best design at the professional and academic levels. SCAD’s results are based on its “Red Dot Design Concept Awards” over the past five years, including individual student awards, with the most recent year most heavily weighted.
In 2020, nearly 70 SCAD students representing eight majors won a combined 37 recognitions in the “Red Dot Communication Design” and “Red Dot Design Awards.”
SCAD is the world’s first university to offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees in sequential art, where they explore every style and genre imaginable through a comprehensive curriculum incorporating traditional techniques with advanced technology and specialized digital applications.
Choosing this pathway to jumpstart your career before you have completed high school is a smart choice.
How Much Will it Cost?
The costs of the University can be requested on their website.
What are the next Steps?
Book an appointment with the admissions department to start your dual qualification registration as soon as possible. Your future is in your hands!
