[dagmx]

Computer graphics is based on linear algebra. Behind the artists are lots of engineers and technical director jobs where you're building software tools, render engines or character rigs. Animation is a lovely meld of art and technology, and has been so since the very first animations existed. Its one of the reasons I really enjoy the field.

[JBits]

The application of linear algebra to rendering I can understand. Character animation less so, apart from the physics aspect.

Sounds like a nice field to work in! I didn't realise it used maths to that extent.

Would you have any recommendations for someone of a linear algebra / programming background if they were interested in this field?

[dagmx]

So one caveat I would mention is that you will likely earn more outside of the animation industry with those skills than within it.

With that out of the way, I think there are several avenues to get involved. Picking up a graphics engineering book, or learning OpenGL/Metal/DirectX will make you valuable as a realtime engineer.

But otherwise I would recommend finding an open source project and contributing to it as a way to build up the repertoire that you can use to apply for jobs with. Blender is an excellent place to start, but so are any of the projects under the academy software foundation at https://www.aswf.io

Getting more into the character animation side, you can look into Rigging, which is the process of setting up the armatures that move the characters. There are also things like simulation for cloth/hair etc...

Blender is a good place for a lot of them.

[truckerbill]

What might be a better paying area with that background?

Interesting that you say that technical art roles don’t need a reel always assumed otherwise.

[dagmx]

Anything in tech would pay significantly better with the same skills. Graphics engineers are in high demand at many major tech companies like Meta, Apple, Google.

But film/games will still pay well. Just not as well.

As for needing a role, well it depends. Tech art is a very wide role with very little definition. But also those skills apply to engineering instead of tech art as well.

Engineers don’t need reels. Tech artists would if they’re more on the art side (shaders, characters) but less so on the tools side.

[truckerbill]

You'll need a demo reel.

[dagmx]

Not for an engineering role.