Do you still love to see cartoon characters? Yes, we all do. But now we can also create cartoon characters depicting sarcastic titles about politicians, and film stars in magazines or newspapers as a cartoonist in the Cartoon Art Industry. Not only in paper media, but Cartoons are also popular in all kinds of digital media such as TV shows, Games, Entertaining videos, etc.
Cartoons are considered to be one of the most effective ways to convey a message or story with a pinch of humor and lots of colors. Children are the first audience to catch sight of any cartoon pictures in a book, newspaper, or magazine. In simple words, a Cartoon Artist is a professional artist who draws or sketches cartoon characters for a publishing house or digital media. Cartoonist also adds details to the characters like colors, animation, and graphics to convey the message more connecting to the audience.
How to Become a Cartoonist?
To become a professional cartoonist, you need to follow some basic steps as a beginner-
First Complete your 10+2 education.
Qualify for the entrance examination to get into your desired college. There are a few top entrance exams accepted by almost every college in India.
They are-
1.NATA
2. NID
3. AIEED
4. CEED
5. NIFT
6. Pursue a bachelor’s and masters degree in any of the following specializations below-
- 1. Fine Arts and VFX
- 2. Visual Arts
- 3. Fine Arts and Multimedia
- 4. Visual Communication
- 5. Fine Arts and Gaming
- 6. Get an internship and have some work experience.
- 7. Curate an impressive portfolio along with your certifications, achievements, and skills.
- 8. Apply for the Cartoonist job in various multimedia or publishing houses.
Skills preferred in a Cartoonist-
A cartoonist must possess some of the most basic skills to uplift their career from a beginner to a professional cartoonist. Here are some of the basic skills-
- 1. Patience– Be patient with your work and job.
- 2. Creativity– Be creative in every possible way. Create and get inspired by other cartoonists.
- 3. Drawing skills- Upscale your drawing and sketching skills.
- 4. Technical skills– Get some basic digital animation and computer software knowledge to enhance your designs and drawings.
- 5. Color Theory- This is the most fundamental skill to develop as an artist and cartoonist. Knowing the color theory will help you create more attractive drawings and characters in cartoons.
Types of Cartoonists-
There is not just one but many other types of cartoonists in the Cartoon Art Industry. Such as-
| Type of Cartoonist | Average Salary |
| Editorial Cartoonist | Rs 4-5 LPA |
| Digital Cartoonist | Rs 3-4 LPA |
| Comic Writer | Rs 3-4 LPA |
| Illustrator | Rs 4-5 LPA |
| Animator | Rs 5-6 LPA |
Top 5 Colleges for Cartoonists in India-
| Name of College | Average Fees (INR) |
| Arena Animation, Bangalore | 50,000 |
| Loyola College, Chennai | 23,000 |
| IIT, Bombay | 32,000 |
| Sacred Heart College, Ernakulam | 1,03,000 |
| Vellore Institute of Technology, Jaipur | 2,93,000 |
Top Recruiters of Cartoonists in India
- Cartoon Network
- The Indian Express
- Amar Chitra Katha
- Times of India
- Crest Animation Studios
FAQs
Q. Is Cartoon Art a good career?
A. A cartoonist earns an average salary of Rs 2-3 LPA.
Q. Is it difficult to become a Cartoonist?
A. Not at all. You just need to have good drawing and sketching skills with attention to detail.
Q. How can I enter the Cartoon Art Industry after the 12th?
A. First of all, you need to pursue a bachelor’s or master’s degree to get into the Cartoon Art Industry.
Q. Is animation needed in Cartoon Art Industry?
A. Animation is an optional skill for a cartoonist but if known it helps you in becoming a more prominent cartoonist.
