After Unit 3, I started to think more seriously about my future direction. At the moment, I am especially interested in animation effects and visual effects. I am interested in how movement, light, particles, energy, smoke, glow and compositing can make a scene feel more alive. However, I also know that I am still at a very basic level in this area. I am not yet very skilled, and there are many things I need to learn.
In this project, I worked with different parts of the production process, including 2D design, storyboard, animatic, Unreal Engine, After Effects and compositing. These experiences helped me understand that visual effects are not only something added at the end. Good effects need to work with the camera, lighting, colour, space, character movement and story. If the effect does not match the scene, it can look separate from the animation.
Before this project, I thought of effects more simply. For example, I thought about glow, colour changes, small particles or simple compositing. During the project, I realised that effects can be much more complex. In a 3D scene, effects need to follow the space and camera. They also need to match the depth, timing and mood of the shot. This made me feel interested, but also made me realise that my current technical ability is still limited.
I am also interested in action and movement. I like shots where the body movement, camera, timing and effects work together. For example, when a character jumps, falls, reacts or moves quickly, the effect can make the movement feel stronger. Energy, dust, impact, light or motion blur can support the action. I want to learn how to make these effects feel natural instead of just decorative.
At the same time, I know I need to build stronger foundations first. For animation, I need to practise body mechanics, timing, spacing, weight and video reference. For visual effects, I need to learn more about Unreal Engine effects, materials, particles, lighting and post-process. For compositing, I need to improve my After Effects skills, such as layering, glow, colour correction, masks and matching effects with the shot.
I do not want to pretend that I am already good at this area. I think I am still at the beginning stage. But this project helped me find a direction that I want to explore more. I realised that I enjoy the connection between animation movement and visual effects. I like the idea of making a shot feel more emotional, powerful or atmospheric through both character action and effects.
For my next steps, I want to make a simple learning plan. First, I will practise short animation exercises, especially actions with clear body movement, such as jumping, falling, turning, reacting and running. Second, I will create small visual effects tests in Unreal Engine or After Effects, such as glow, energy, smoke, particles and impact effects. Third, I will try to combine animation and effects in short test shots, instead of studying them separately.
I also want to research entry-level roles related to animation and effects. I may not be ready for these roles yet, but researching them can help me understand what skills I need. Possible directions include junior animator, VFX assistant, compositing assistant, Unreal Engine cinematic assistant, or motion graphics assistant. These roles require both creative thinking and technical skills, so I need to keep improving step by step.
In the next few months, I want to update my showreel and portfolio with this direction in mind. I will still include my character design, storyboard and animation work, but I also want to show more process related to effects and compositing. Even simple tests can be useful if they show clear learning and problem-solving.
Overall, Unit 3 helped me understand that I am interested in animation effects and visual effects, but I still need a lot of practice. I want to keep learning patiently and build my skills from the basics. My future goal is to become an animation creator who can connect character movement, visual effects, atmosphere and storytelling in a stronger way.
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