Are there animation jobs

Here are 13 careers in animation to consider with details about job duties and information of average salaries according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Indeed Salaries:. Primary duties: Animators are professional artists who draw and design for the entertainment industry. An animator may create art for different media, such as film, television, video games, social media and marketing content, like commercials. They use computer software to create motions for characters and background scenes.

Animators also work closely with directors, artists and writers to help create personality traits, choose colors and develop plots for the animation. Related: Learn About Being an Animator. Primary duties: A 3D creative designer is an art design specialist who often works for multimedia companies or advertising firms. They develop design concepts, such as storyboards and character depictions, for artists and animators to create animations.

For 3D and stop motion animation, a creative designer may use computer software or physical materials to create prototype models of their designs. Primary duties: A graphic artist is a professional artist who draws and designs visual material for print or digital media. They meet with clients to gather details about the project and create concept designs using computer software, such as image editing applications, or they may draw the design by hand.

Using design elements such as color, sound, photography, animation, and typography, graphic artists create illustrations and designs for a variety of media. Most employers require a bachelor's in graphic design. Typically, graphic artists specialize in an aspect of design, such as website design, product and packaging design or object arrangement, which is used in animation. Primary duties: 3D modelers are animation specialists who create 3D characters and settings for animators.

To do this, they create textures and surface representations and wrap them around a 2-dimensional digital frame. This career requires a bachelor's degree in areas of study, such as computer design, animation, computer science or game development.

Primary duties: A lighting technician is a design professional who helps create a realistic look in film, video games and other multi-media. They work in the lighting department and create color keys for green screen and layering and help develop light rigs that add shadow and lighting to animated environments.

It is important that they understand lighting design elements such as reflections, shadow, illumination, direct and indirect light as well as contrast and exposure, so they can incorporate the appropriate lighting into a scene. With an associate's in lighting technology or design, you can work as a lighting technician. Most often they receive on-the-job training from employers.

Primary duties: An artist is a design and entertainment professional who illustrates and designs concepts for film, web design, video games, advertisements and print media. They draw characters, settings and objects that animators use to create motion sequences. They may also sculpt characters instead of illustrating them for use of stop motion animation.

Artists collaborate with other artists, writers, directors and animators to design characters and depict story elements in order to create motion pictures and video games. They have computer skills to illustrate or edit graphics with computer software.

Most creative staff will report to the art director. A career path will usually require you to move up from junior roles. Stop-motion animators must set up physical rigs before using special software. Most stop-motion animators are self-taught, honing skills through freelance work. Many attend 3D animation school before getting internships.

This typically involves self-taught knowledge and freelance work. This position includes a lot of responsibility over the final appearance of animations. Though this is not strictly animation, storyboard artists work along with animation and filmmaking teams. A good portfolio and connections help you progress in this field. This is one of the most specialized branches of animation and requires using complex formulae and models. These animators help investigators recreate crime scenes and collect evidence.

Experienced animators sometimes make the transfer to this field. Also known as a data wrangler, these positions require rendering animation down to a format for public consumption.

Texture artists usually have a graphic design school background. Geographic location can have a significant impact — most jobs are in California, although New York and Texas also offer lots of job opportunities. Most animators look for a career in the film and motion picture industry. This career path offers ongoing opportunities for employment and growth. The BLS also projects that positions for multimedia artists and animators will grow from 73, to 79, during this period.

You can advance your skills, and by extension, your marketability by pursuing certifications for industry software. You can also join organizations like:. Be prepared to work long hours and stick to strict deadlines as an animator. Animation students can often prepare for a specific career path by choosing a concentration or focus.

Some programs may offer animation as a concentration within a graphic design, fine arts, or related degree track. Others may offer standalone animation programs that feature specializations like mobile game development and character animation. Four common career focuses related to animation are outlined below. To pursue a career in animation, individuals usually need a sizable portfolio and a bachelor's or master's degree.

Most colleges do not offer an associate degree in this field, but they may offer individual courses that help learners prepare for a four-year university animation program. Creative individuals who possess a bachelor's degree can secure most entry-level animation jobs. However, most employers require some type of industry experience, which is why many programs assist students by providing internship opportunities. Internships often give students a competitive advantage over their peers, allowing them to strengthen their portfolio work ahead of graduation.

Although some high-level roles may require a master's degree, the main advantage of these programs is the ability to specialize. Master's students can advance their skills in areas like 3D character animation, special effects, and stop-motion. Outside of positions that require highly specialized animators, a bachelor's degree generally suffices in this field. Colleges generally do not offer an associate degree in animation.

Instead, students may pursue an associate degree in art and design, fine arts, or graphic arts; these programs may offer students the option to take some animation courses.

An associate degree can also provide an entryway into a bachelor's in animation program, allowing students to complete general education requirements for a four-year degree at a significantly lower cost. While an associate degree provides few job prospects in animation, graduates can work in related fields to gain experience and prepare for a bachelor's program. Production assistants work behind the scenes to support the producers and senior staff of television and radio productions.

They may manage a catalog of digital images, answer phones, work with guests, distribute scripts, and check production schedules. Bigger productions may require these workers to hold a bachelor's, but graduates with an associate degree can find opportunities with smaller productions.

Web developers focus on the design, creation, and maintenance of websites. They work with organizations to ensure sites work at full speed and can handle projected traffic. Many web developers work as self-employed contractors, although others work full time for larger organizations that employ in-house web designers and developers. Many of these workers hold bachelor's degrees, but an associate degree can provide entry into the field.

Animators and other multimedia artists typically hold a bachelor's degree in animation. This degree may qualify graduates for work as video game designers, art directors, and film and video directors. Students can earn a bachelor's degree online on a part-time or full-time basis. The following table describes a few common careers for an animation major. Video game designers develop video games for computers and gaming systems. Some bachelor's in animation programs offer a concentration in gaming that teaches students how to conceptualize and implement game mechanics and develop characters, narrative, sound, and effects.

Students may receive practical experience in a gaming lab or through a practicum. Animators create images and special effects for video games, television, movies, mobile devices, and other media. A bachelor's degree in animation develops students' drawing, painting, and scripting skills.

Students also learn how to use specialized software to animate their creations in 2D or 3D. Film and video editors work at studios, broadcasting companies, advertising agencies, and similar organizations. These editors use specialized software to splice together frames from digital footage as they determine story pacing, sound effects, visual effects, and other characteristics.

Students can cultivate artistic talents and learn related technical skills by earning a bachelor's in animation or a bachelor's in film and video with an animation specialization. Art directors oversee the work of animators, illustrators, graphic designers, and multimedia professionals in television, film, advertising, and related areas.

They need at least a bachelor's degree and a few years of experience. While many art directors possess art degrees, some begin their careers by majoring in graphic design or animation. A master's program teaches animators advanced skill sets, giving them additional experience that can open the door to senior roles in animation.

A major advantage of a master's degree is the opportunity to specialize. The field of animation offers diverse opportunities for animators with specialized skills in areas such as stop-motion and effects animation.

The following table lists career options for animators with a master's degree. Although students can enter many of these roles with a bachelor's degree and experience, a graduate-level degree can help workers stand out from their peers.

Some animators may choose to pursue an online animation master's degree on a part-time basis so they can continue to work while studying. These workers recruit and oversee teams of animators who work in-house or as contractors.

They work as key facilitators in the production process, overseeing schedules, budgets, and deliverables. These positions typically require at least years of animation experience. A master's degree in animation gives animation directors and producers the theoretical and practical expertise needed to succeed in this role. These animators specialize in creating 2D and 3D characters for film, video games, mobile applications, and advertising.

They ensure that characters act realistically within these digital environments. Character animators create models and design environments in which animated characters reside. This senior-level position typically requires at least years of experience. Key animators direct other animators and manage the flow of work. They work with riggers and model makers as part of the preproduction process and collaborate with directors to manage the production lifecycle. These specialists concentrate on special effects in different types of animation.

They work with VFX supervisors, art directors, and other animators to translate conceptual ideas into realistic special effects using their expertise in software tools and interfaces, such as Houdini and Mantra.

While some effects animators work for big companies, like Disney and DreamWorks, many others find work in smaller enterprises. A few master's programs allow students to specialize in this area of animation. Stop-motion animators set up special rigs that involve puppets, miniatures, clay figures, and similar props. The Wallace and Gromit films provide examples of the labor-intensive work of stop-motion animators.

Some schools offer master's programs in stop-motion puppet animation. Once you earn a postsecondary degree in animation, there are a few different ways that you can further develop your skills. While most entry-level roles typically do not require a graduate-level degree, highly specialized roles can lead to higher salary prospects. The only downside is getting your foot through the door in the first place, especially given that the industry — much like any creative profession — is saturated with competition.

All figures correct at time of writing, but should be taken as estimates only. Salary can vary wildly depending on location and experience level. While many industries — from publishing to marketing — employ art directors for any project or campaign that requires heavy visual elements, the role is even more prominent in animation.

An art director holds a very high position on an animation team, and most creative staff involved on a project report directly to him or her. Not only do art directors have the final say on what footage or stills are to be included in the final cut as well as helping to coordinate and shape the entire project , but may also be required to train junior staff and manage budgeting requirements.

Art Director Career Path: Typically working up from more junior roles, with qualifications from an animation school helping accelerate the process. Pros: Being in charge of calling the shots is often the biggest pull for art directors. Cons: Nobody knows pressure like an animation art director, particularly one who also has to manage budgetary issues.

Stop motion animation is a very laborious discipline which takes an incredible amount of skill, attention to detail and, above all, patience. What sets stop motion animators aside from traditional 2D or 3D animators is that they must also set up physical rigs, usually to specification, in which to work with the models and camera equipment before using specialist software to bring it all to life in the editing suite.

Stop Motion Animator Career Path: More often than not, stop motion animators are self-taught and break into the industry gradually having honed their skills through freelance work. Pros: The job satisfaction when you see the finished animation — usually after weeks if not months of painstaking work — is truly off the scale. This is similar to how much somome earns while playing blackjack for a living.