Department of Labour Annual Report 2006

Case Study 1 - Living an animated dream

After an initial short-term visit, Nathan Johnson came back to New Zealand to study and has now become a permanent resident.

3D animation is one of the key skills needed to support New Zealand’s burgeoning multimedia, visual effects, film, TV and game development industries.

But becoming a 3D animator isn’t easy. Employers want people with university qualifications in fine arts, graphic design, computer science, software engineering or film and people with experience in multimedia, computer graphics, digital design, computer programming or software development.

While New Zealand is one of the most wired nations in the world and has top class universities and design schools, the huge growth in demand for skilled digital arts workers has outstripped our capacity to train people.

Nathan Johnson, an Auckland-based 3D animator, came to New Zealand from New Mexico, USA.

Nathan first visited New Zealand in 1996 when he spent a term at high school in Nelson. He then went back to New Mexico and earned a fine arts degree before deciding to travel the world while also continuing his education. The Auckland-based Media Design School appealed as a great career move and a chance to live in New Zealand again.

Nathan completed a diploma in 3D animation at the school and then landed a job with a world-class commercial post-production firm based in Auckland. Now his 3D animation work in commercials is screened in New Zealand, Asia, Europe, the United States and Australia.

Nathan started as a visiting student but has become a New Zealand permanent resident. He says he’s “living his dream”.

“Some days, I wake up and just can’t believe I’m really here, in such a beautiful place, working in an exciting international industry,” he says.

“Some days, I wake up and just can’t believe I’m really here, in such a beautiful place, working in an exciting international industry.” NATHAN JOHNSON

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