Today, we have the privilege of speaking with Olamide Olajide, a highly accomplished 3D generalist and animator with an inspiring success story. Olamide has achieved a significant accomplishment and has become a role model for others who want to join the 3D industry. In this interview, Olamide will share insights into his journey and provide valuable advice for those looking to achieve their own goals. We are excited to learn from his experiences.
Hello Olamide, please can you tell us about yourself, and a bit about your educational background?
My name is Olamide Olajide Emmanuel. I graduated from Covenant University with a Computer Science degree and am from Kwara state in Nigeria. As a professional, I specialize in 3D Generalist and Graphic Design.
You worked as a 3D animator, how did you begin your journey into this career path?
My journey into the 3D industry began during my second semester at 100 level as a computer science student at Covenant University in 2016. It all started when I watched a short animation created by Gbenga Ajetomob, who was working for Orange Vfx Studio at that time. I was immediately drawn to the world of 3D and started watching a lot of tutorial videos. I even downloaded Cinema4D, which was the software I started with.
Fast forward to November 2021, I had the opportunity to train in character acting at Orange Seed for two months, under the guidance of Mr. Obinwa Hillary. After completing my training at Orange Seed, I was offered a staff position at the studio where I continue to learn and grow under the mentorship of experienced professionals.
How did you discover Orange VFX Studios?
I can’t recall the exact date when I discovered Orange VFX, but I do remember watching the Ovie and Wale animation ‘E don show, e never show o’ while I was in secondary school. Around 2017, I became aware of Orange VFX as an animation studio in Nigeria and realized that they made most of the 3D animations I had been watching.
After your training at Orange, who were your mentors, and how did the mentorship impact your growth?
After my training at Orange Seed, I was mentored by Mr. Michael Oboh, and Mr. Richard Oboh, as well as other staff members such as Mr. Chimezie Okeke, Mr. Obinwa Hillary, Mr. Charles Agbo, Mr. John Adeyeye, Mr. Tsombul Samuel, and Mr. Gbolahan Ismail. Their guidance was instrumental in helping me deepen my knowledge and skills in the field of 3D animation, 3D modeling, 3D texturing, and other areas.
How long did you work for the company? And how did working at Orange impact your career?
I was employed at Orange for one year and two months, including a six-month internship. Working at Orange has immensely impacted my career, one that words cannot fully explain. During my time at the company, I had the privilege of learning, working, and networking with talented individuals. These experiences have significantly helped me grow and advance my career.
What can you say was your greatest career strength, and how did you manage your career weaknesses?
My greatest strength is my creativity; my weakness was working with too many people. However, I have learned how to manage it by ensuring that everyone follows the same workflow when working on large projects, which has made working with others easier and more fun.
Let’s talk about the company’s culture and the challenges you faced at Orange VFX. Were there policies in the company that affected your work? How did you manage the tough situations?
I have no comments regarding the company culture and policies as I have not encountered any challenges with them.
What are your next career steps?
For my next career path, I intend to establish a 3D company, and my initial focus will be on developing a mobile 3D game that I have already started working on. In addition, I plan to further education to enhance my skills and knowledge.
What advice will you give those who want to enter this industry? How can they improve themselves in this career path?
I advise those who want to enter the industry to never be after to take risks and never stop learning.