Santos writes:

"so look i hear people talking about autocad like its not a 3d program but it makes 3d models and that kind of stuff, right? so whys it not like other 3d software? how come its different from stuff like maya and blender and 3dsmax?"

The main difference is in functionality, and in capabilities. You can look at AutoCAD as just another 3D program - but it's a highly specialized 3d program with the tools and functionality necessary to optimize it for very specific purposes.

George asks:

"I've been working as a freelancer for a while, and I'm getting to the point where I'm self-sufficient and taxes are becoming a problem. I know as a self-employed animator I have to handle all my tax expenses myself, but what if I register as an LLC or some other type of corporation? I've heard you can save a lot of money that way."

That can be true in some instances - but it really depends on your circumstances, and whether the benefits of registering as a corporation really outweigh the costs.

The purpose of a light table is fairly straightforward - but many times beginners don't have the experience to know the multiple ways a light table can be useful for animators, beyond the obvious. It's key to every step of the traditional animation process, and can drastically reduce the effort involved in producing clean, professional-quality animations.

While it's not fair to say that all animations that follow the standard rules look alike, every once in a while something comes along that breaks the rules so brilliantly that it leaves an indelible mark. It can be something as drastic as combining two animation methods in a unique way, or something as simple as changing the art style in a way that's distinctive enough to bring an entirely new character to the piece. There are a few ways you can experiment with your own style until you find your niche - so why not take a look at these tricks for a distinctive style, or use them as fuel to come up with your own?