Animators work in shifts. The first shift is from 6 am to 2 pm, the second from 2 pm to 10 pm, and the third from 10 pm to 6 am. But while working on a project, one forgets to keep a tab on time. A typical morning shift goes like this: 4.30am: Wake up 6am: Reach office and get started 10am: Show first draft of the project, which can range from a sketch to a character animation, to the supervisor 11.30am: Take a meal break 1pm: Make changes to the project and hand it over to the supervisor 2 pm: Wrap up and leave for the day

.  Loads of imagination coupled with a love for cartoons
.  Ability to think and create new characters
.  A good sense of colour,proportion and size

.   You get to give free rein to your imagination
.   The characters you create can leave an indelible mark on the audience
.   Work on projects with tight deadlines
.   Long working hours can take their toll on your health, if you don’t take  enough rest
.   The studying never stops, as you have to keep yourself abreast of latest softwares hitting the market

No specific academic qualification needed. If you are good at sketching and have a passion for animation, you can enter the field after taking a degree or diploma in animation
The minimum qualification required for these courses is Class 12 or equivalent. It helps if you have an arts background. However, at the Industrial Design Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, only graduates of architecture, technology and engineering, and fine arts can apply for the PG course.

.   Birla Institute of Technology,  Noida
    www.bitmesra.ac.in 
.   Industrial Design Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai
    www.idc.iitb.ac.in
.  Arena Animation, multiple cities
   www.arena-multimedia.com
.  Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics, multiple cities
   www.maacindia.com
.  Toonz Academy, multiple cities,
   www.toonzacademy.com