Came across this neat letter dating back to 1973 from Disney legend Ward Kimball to a young fan who wanted to be an animator.
Some solid no frills advice in there.
A few highlights:
What I am trying to say is that becoming an animator is a growth process that involves basic curiosities for all things, because man, animation is just not making things move, it is THINKING, THINKING, THINKING! You can’t know enough about everything. Curiosity is the key word. See everything! Do everything!
Learn from others, BUT DON’T COPY THEM! Try to retain your individualism while learning the basic rules. Don’t become dogmatic because you’re going to change your mind about what you like and what you dislike hundreds of times before you’re thirty! This will happen if you develope your imagination along with your curiosity.
You can read all the animation books in the world but learning the art has to be done while doing.
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