Do Animators Have Above And Below Positions
Blitheness Careers
by Staff Writer
Published on August 19, 2020 · Updated on January 21, 2022
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A degree in animation prepares students for careers in animation, entertainment, art and blueprint, advertising, and other industries that crave multimedia artists. While opportunities vary depending on an individual's portfolio work and pedagogy level, many employers crave a minimum of a bachelor's degree. Students should begin developing their portfolio and gaining experience early to position themselves for success in this competitive industry.
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Why Pursue a Career in Animation?
Animation can lead to lucrative chore opportunities in many industries. Art directors, for instance, typically earn over $ninety,000 per yr. Animators often enjoy the creative aspects of their task as well, constantly engaging with their imagination and seeing the materialization of their concepts and designs. Every bit with most creative industries, this field is highly competitive, and learners should begin strengthening their portfolio early on in their college career.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects multimedia artist and animator jobs to abound 4% from 2018 and 2028 -- similar to the average growth rate for all U.S. occupations. Those looking to pursue a career in animation should possess strong artistic abilities, good time-direction skills, and computer competencies.
Animation Career Outlook
Salary outlook for animators depends on their professional person experience, job type, and degree. While the industry is steadily growing, the number of students entering the occupation is besides rising, making animation a competitive field.
The BLS reports that 71,600 current jobs exist for multimedia artists and animators, and the industry is projected to add near 3,000 new openings from 2018-2028. Employment opportunities are not limited to ane geographical location, although the West Coast and Northeast regions of the U.S. typically offer higher salaries.
As indicated by the table below, a worker's earning potential is largely dependent upon their job type and manufacture feel.
| Job Title | Entry-Level (0-12 months) | Early Career (1-4 Years) | Midcareer (5-9 Years) | Experienced (10-19 Years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animator | $49,270 | $51,230 | $63,170 | $67,230 |
| Graphic Designer | $38,890 | $42,870 | $48,710 | $50,610 |
| Production Artist | $35,130 | $41,520 | $49,650 | $54,260 |
| Art Director | $49,270 | $56,560 | $68,590 | $75,090 |
Source: PayScale
Skills Gained With an Animation Degree
When animators enter the chore market, they need educational qualifications, skills, and a portfolio that demonstrates their talent. A higher animation programme cultivates learners' raw artistic talent and develops proficiency in the use of 2nd and 3D computer applications. As students larn hands-on experience, they develop other skills essential to the animation business, such as those related to communication, teamwork, and applied mathematics. The post-obit listing reviews common skills of a successful animator.
Animators often begin developing their projects on a storyboard. Storyboards involve sketches and still images brought to life with reckoner applications. Students must master the use of color, light, and texture. College programs develop these skills with fine art classes that focus on drawing, illustration, blueprint, colour theory, and typography.
In order to animate their ideas, students learn computer applications such equally Autodesk Maya, Adobe Animate, and Adobe After Furnishings. These programs aid animators brand realistic characters, movement, and backgrounds from a flat storyboard of drawings and designs. second and 3D designs require using different software and designers must know the differences to obtain the desired furnishings.
Animators tin can use practical math skills to develop more innovative animations. For instance, knowledge of trigonometry helps animators move characters around, while algebra and integral calculus help animators create more than defined special effects and scenery. Even if students do not need to complete advanced math courses as part of their curriculum, they can choose constituent coursework to accelerate their practical math competencies.
Animators work total time or part fourth dimension for an employer or customer who establishes project goals and specifications. Animators require constructive communication skills to empathise client needs and relay necessary information about problems similar timelines and budgets. Animation programs assist students develop these soft skills, which are crucial when working with others.
Many animators work in a team of designers tasked with developing a project. Given the challenges that typically ascend when working with others, animators must master the art of navigating various personalities, communication styles, and project visions to ensure successful collaboration. Faculty often require that college students complete blitheness projects in teams, which gives them practical experience as role of a group.
Animation Career Paths
Animation students can ofttimes set up 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 rail. Others may offer standalone animation programs that feature specializations like mobile game evolution and character animation. Four common career focuses related to animation are outlined below.
- Mobile Game Development: Video games require the artistic and technical talents of animators to pattern, image, and produce engaging amusement. Students comport research; learn about graphic symbol sketches and story development; and use game product tools, such every bit Adobe Animate, to develop games for computer and mobile applications.
- Grapheme Blitheness: Developing memorable and realistic characters is crucial for animators to connect with their audiences. Character animation focuses on the artistic and technical training needed to develop sophisticated characters and their environments. Students learn how to build characters and alternate realities by taking courses like life drawing, visual design, dialogue, and audio furnishings.
- Visual Effects: Students develop expertise in creating illusions and simulated events with the utilize of software programs like Adobe After Effects. They learn to turn digital imagery into conceivable live-activeness footage. Courses cover topics such equally storytelling, 3D layers in Afterwards Effects, compositing in Subsequently Effects, and creating and controlling 3D particle systems.
- Advertising: Learners preparing for this field develop the theoretical and technical expertise needed to create digital advertisement campaigns. Students learn about social media strategies; digital branding; and multimedia storytelling for print, television, and other ad channels.
How to First Your Career in Animation
To pursue a career in blitheness, individuals usually need a sizable portfolio and a bachelor'southward or master's degree. Most colleges do not offer an associate degree in this field, but they may offer private courses that help learners prepare for a four-yr university animation program.
Creative individuals who possess a bachelor's degree tin can secure nigh entry-level animation jobs. Nonetheless, most employers crave some type of industry experience, which is why many programs assist students by providing internship opportunities. Internships frequently give students a competitive advantage over their peers, allowing them to strengthen their portfolio piece of work alee of graduation.
Although some high-level roles may require a master'south degree, the chief advantage of these programs is the ability to specialize. Chief's students can advance their skills in areas similar 3D character blitheness, special effects, and stop-motion. Outside of positions that require highly specialized animators, a available's caste more often than not suffices in this field.
Associate Caste in Blitheness
Colleges generally do not offering an associate degree in animation. Instead, students may pursue an acquaintance degree in art and design, fine arts, or graphic arts; these programs may offer students the option to have some animation courses. An acquaintance degree can also provide an entryway into a bachelor's in animation program, allowing students to complete general instruction requirements for a four-yr degree at a significantly lower toll.
While an associate caste provides few job prospects in animation, graduates can work in related fields to gain experience and prepare for a bachelor's program.
What Can Yous Do With an Associate in Animation?
Production assistants work behind the scenes to back up the producers and senior staff of television and radio productions. They may manage a itemize of digital images, answer phones, piece of work with guests, distribute scripts, and check production schedules. Bigger productions may crave these workers to hold a bachelor'southward, only graduates with an acquaintance degree tin can observe opportunities with smaller productions.
Salary: $37,610
Web developers focus on the pattern, creation, and maintenance of websites. They work with organizations to ensure sites work at full speed and can handle projected traffic. Many web developers piece of work every bit self-employed contractors, although others work full time for larger organizations that utilise in-business firm web designers and developers. Many of these workers hold bachelor'south degrees, only an associate degree tin can provide entry into the field.
Salary: $73,760
Bachelor's Caste in Blitheness
Animators and other multimedia artists typically concur a available'southward caste in animation. This caste may qualify graduates for piece of work equally video game designers, art directors, and motion picture and video directors. Students tin earn a bachelor's caste online on a part-time or full-time basis. The following tabular array describes a few common careers for an animation major.
What Tin can You Do With a Bachelor's in Animation?
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 applied experience in a gaming lab or through a practicum.
Salary: $65,040
Animators create images and special effects for video games, television, movies, mobile devices, and other media. A bachelor's degree in blitheness develops students' cartoon, painting, and scripting skills. Students as well acquire how to use specialized software to breathing their creations in second or 3D.
Salary: $75,270
Movie and video editors work at studios, broadcasting companies, advertising agencies, and like organizations. These editors use specialized software to splice together frames from digital footage as they determine story pacing, audio furnishings, visual furnishings, and other characteristics. Students can cultivate artistic talents and learn related technical skills by earning a bachelor's in blitheness or a bachelor'due south in film and video with an animation specialization.
Salary: $63,780
Art directors oversee the piece of 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 fine art degrees, some begin their careers past majoring in graphic pattern or animation.
Salary: $94,220
Main's Degree in Animation
A primary's program teaches animators advanced skill sets, giving them boosted feel that tin can open the door to senior roles in blitheness. A major advantage of a master's degree is the opportunity to specialize. The field of animation offers various opportunities for animators with specialized skills in areas such as terminate-movement and furnishings animation.
The following table lists career options for animators with a master's degree. Although students tin can enter many of these roles with a available's degree and experience, a graduate-level degree can help workers stand up out from their peers. Some animators may cull to pursue an online blitheness chief's degree on a part-time footing so they can continue to work while studying.
What Can You Do With a Master'due south in Animation?
These workers recruit and oversee teams of animators who work in-house or every bit contractors. They work equally key facilitators in the production procedure, overseeing schedules, budgets, and deliverables. These positions typically crave at least 3-five years of animation feel. A master'southward degree in animation gives blitheness directors and producers the theoretical and practical expertise needed to succeed in this role.
Salary: $74,420
These animators specialize in creating 2d and 3D characters for film, video games, mobile applications, and advertising. They ensure that characters deed realistically within these digital environments. Character animators create models and design environments in which animated characters reside.
Salary: $75,270
This senior-level position typically requires at least 3-five years of experience. Key animators directly other animators and manage the flow of work. They work with riggers and model makers as function of the preproduction procedure and interact with directors to manage the production lifecycle.
Salary: $75,270
These specialists concentrate on special effects in different types of animation. They work with VFX supervisors, fine art directors, and other animators to interpret conceptual ideas into realistic special effects using their expertise in software tools and interfaces, such every bit Houdini and Mantra. While some effects animators work for big companies, like Disney and DreamWorks, many others find piece of work in smaller enterprises. A few master's programs allow students to specialize in this area of blitheness.
Salary: $75,270
Stop-motion animators set upwards special rigs that involve puppets, miniatures, clay figures, and like props. The Wallace and Gromit films provide examples of the labor-intensive work of terminate-motion animators. Some schools offer principal'due south programs in cease-motion puppet blitheness.
Salary: $75,270
How to Advance Your Career in Animation
Once yous earn a postsecondary caste in blitheness, there are a few dissimilar ways that you can further develop your skills. While nigh entry-level roles typically exercise not require a graduate-level caste, highly specialized roles tin can lead to higher salary prospects. One way to obtain these positions is by pursuing a master'due south degree, which allows learners to pursue specializations that enable them to work as art directors, 3D graphic symbol animators, and effects specialists.
Earning certifications can likewise atomic number 82 to greater earning potential and more task responsibilities. Equally new blitheness software becomes available, individuals can enroll in online programs to certify new proficiencies, which tin can as well lead to new career opportunities.
Certifications
Gaining certification in programs like Adobe Breathing and Terminal Cut Pro X can lead to more job opportunities and increased bacon prospects. Upon completion of plan requirements, users take exams to certify their new proficiencies, farther strengthening their employability. Seasoned animators can also pursue certificates to stay beside of the latest software releases and upgrades.
Standing Pedagogy
Another style to advance your cognition and blitheness proficiencies is by enrolling in continuing teaching programs (CEUs), such every bit workshops, seminars, and online classes. Several schools offer these programs with specialized focuses, such as cease-move animation. Other schools feature programs that include software training for products like Adobe Animate. These software skills are oftentimes sought after by employers and can pb to greater bacon prospects.
While these classes provide enough of value for animators looking to develop new proficiencies, they mostly just embrace the fundamentals and may non directly lead to career advancement. For highly specialized positions in blitheness, industry feel and advanced degrees tend to provide you with the greatest advantage over your peers.
Adjacent Steps
For current animators, completing online CEU courses can assistance develop new proficiencies and skills. These courses tin can be helpful for professionals looking to stay electric current with certain software. Notwithstanding, if you are looking for ways to accelerate your career, edifice connections across the industry can have you a long way.
In a competitive field similar blitheness, networking is often crucial for professional growth. In the entertainment and arts manufacture especially, having an experienced mentor to connect you with distinguished artists can position you for time to come career success. While these relationships oft develop naturally as y'all spend time working in the industry, you can proactively seek advice from members in established organizations.
Many professional organizations are defended to helping and connecting artists within the blitheness community. While joining these groups may not directly lead to advancements in your current role, organizations offer many valuable resources for current and aspiring animators. Additionally, you tin can encounter and acquire from prominent artists with advanced styles and techniques, allowing you to strengthen your own portfolio piece of work.
How to Switch Your Career to Animation
A career in animation by and large requires a available'southward degree in animation or a related field. Additionally, as with virtually careers in art, demonstrating stiff portfolio work is an essential component to securing a job.
Many colleges oversee online bachelor'due south in animation programs. These distance options often offering lower tuition rates, flexible scheduling, and scholarships. You may also be able to go along working while earning your caste.
Individuals who already possess an art degree may find the transition into animation easier if they take a preexisting body of work and industry feel. These individuals tin take online courses to strengthen their animation skills and potentially earn certifications.
Where Can Y'all Work every bit an Animation Professional?
Several factors impact employment prospects for animators, including their pedagogy, experience, industry, and location. The following sections provide an overview of the locations and industries that offering some of the strongest animation career prospects.
IndustriesMany animators seek careers in the motion pic and moving-picture show industry, merely fields such as advertising and software publishing likewise offer lucrative career options. Additionally, animators who work as freelance and independent artists enjoy greater flexibility in terms of the projects and clients they work with. The post-obit tabular array reviews 5 of the meridian industries that use animators.
Animators find employment at studios that produce feature films and television set programs. California stands as a global hub for entertainment, with Hollywood providing many opportunities for talented animators and others skilled in digital filmmaking.
Average Salary: $100,910
Animators tin find lucrative careers in advertisement, public relations, and marketing in metropolitan areas beyond the nation. Many companies seek second and 3D animators to produce memorable digital campaigns.
Boilerplate Salary: $74,530
Freelancers can work in a diversity of industries, choosing the projects and clients that interest them. They also enjoy flexibility with regard to location -- many freelancers work from home or anywhere with an internet connection.
Average Bacon: $86,670
Animators and multimedia artists piece of work in this field as spider web developers, graphic designers, and flash animators. They tin can create 2d and 3D content for websites, games, and other digital materials.
Average Salary: $73,320
The popularity of video games provides a stiff marketplace for publishers who specialize in game software for consoles, mobile devices, and personal computers. Animators piece of work with game designers to create memorable characters and digital worlds for consumer audiences.
Average Salary: $84,150
Source: BLS
Locations
While a worker's teaching and manufacture greatly impact their salary prospects and career opportunities, geographic location also plays a significant role. When deciding upon a location, students should consider the number of available jobs and cost of living.
California, for example, sees the largest number of employment in animation, largely due to companies like DreamWorks and Pixar; yet, animators who reside in the land also experience a loftier price of living. States similar Texas and Georgia as well provide plentiful task opportunities in blitheness, only with a lower price of living.
Generally, jobs in multimedia and blitheness can exist institute beyond the land, particularly if y'all are seeking positions with advertising and marketing companies. The map beneath details average animator salaries for each state.
Interview With a Professional in Animation
James Chambers
James Chambers is a designer, developer, and entrepreneur living in London. He co-founded and is a director of Animade -- a London-based animation studio -- and is CEO of Boords, an online storyboard creator. He has a BA in interactive blueprint from London Higher of Communication and an MA in blueprint interactions from the Royal College of Art.
I've always loved making things. There is something magical about movement and its ability to evoke emotion. Animation brings craft and emotion together in a unique and wonderful way.
All great blitheness has one thing in common: character. Realizing that the principles of character could be practical across linear blitheness was a real turning betoken for me. Wherever things move -- robotics, games, user interface pattern -- animation principles are nowadays. It'south all around us and something I love being a part of.
Animation, like many creative endeavors, requires a lot of motivation. Class fourth dimension is really just a affect point to keep you on the right path. Successful students accept an unrelenting bulldoze to create the best work possible. This oftentimes means long hours.
Animation is, to some extent, subjective. You lot have to learn which advice to mind to and which to ignore. This can be hard when y'all get conflicting opinions from different professors. Risking the ire of a respected elder is never a fun prospect. Being able to back upwardly your decisions is a cardinal skill for a creative career.
We started our studio correct subsequently graduation. Nosotros had both been freelancing during our degrees, and so afterward graduation day we emailed our contacts and hoped for the best!
We started the studio in 2010 when the economy wasn't in smashing shape. Because nosotros were so modest, our costs were obviously lower than some more established studios. In our case, being minor was a real advantage.
I've ever wanted to piece of work for myself. The freedom and the sense of achievement when things become well are fantastic. The flip side, of form, is that when things go poorly, the cadet stops with y'all.
Freelancing or starting a small studio is very common in the creative industry. Both are a not bad mode of working on varied projects. The trade-off is the lack of financial stability from working at a large company.
Having an idea and being able to see information technology come to life. There's cipher else like it. Balancing creative time with business organization logistics is always challenging and requires subject. The flip side is the practicalities of running a business. Keeping the two in residual is an ongoing struggle!
Make noise virtually work you dearest -- both other people's and your own. This could be starting a portfolio, a newsletter, or an animation blog. The blitheness world is full of incredible work and wonderful people -- become involved!
Resources for Animation Majors
Organizations and educational resource can help multimedia students better empathise the history of animation and proceeds a competitive reward over their peers. The lists beneath detail online professional groups, education courses, and publication resources bachelor to aspiring multimedia and animation artists.
The International Animated Film Society: Established to advance the field of animation, ASIFA-Hollywood allows members to network with professionals through special events such as workshops, shows, and social network meetings. Animation students receive a membership discount.
CGSociety: This site is a professional development and networking platform for digital artists. Animators can learn nigh developments in the field, receive information near workshops and programs, and participate in forums to discuss software and other tools of the trade.
Blitheness Globe Network: This online resources provides news, blogs, a job lath, and lists of networking events. ANIMATIONWorld magazine gives members a first wait at upcoming projects from large and minor studios, highlights awards programs, and offers a section on recruiting and similar topics.
International Game Developers Association: Blitheness majors interested in the video game market place tin join IGDA -- an international community of writers, designers, artists, programmers, and producers. Members gain access to networking events, IGDA student chapters and special interest groups, and discounts on events and programs.
American Institute of Graphic Arts: AIGA represents design professionals. Members gain access to local and national events and programs. AIGA also lists job opportunities and offers professional development resources. Members receive health insurance enrollment assist and do good from disbelieve programs, such every bit savings on Apple products and accessories.
The Animation Guild: This club represents animation and visual effects artists. Information technology serves primarily as a labor organization that negotiates wages and working conditions for its members. The order as well offers pension and health benefits to members and mediates disputes between employees and employers.
Graphic Artists Social club: Graphic and interactive designers, illustrators, and animators tin can join this guild. Members receive access to virtual and in-person educational and social events, a teleclass archive, a news weblog, and an due east-book serial.
Freelancers Union: This union advocates for its nearly 500,000 members and offers free membership. Membership benefits include admission to healthcare, dental, disability, and liability insurance. The organization also operates a web log and manages local communities for freelancers across the United states.
Entertainment Software Association: ESA serves as a vocalization for the video gaming manufacture. While the organization does not offer educatee memberships, animation majors can still access a wealth of information on ESA's website, including news on developments and facts near the computer and video game industry.
SIGCHI: SIGCHI is the globe's largest organisation of professionals who work in fields that use man-computer interaction (HCI), including graphic designers, interaction designers, multimedia designers, and software engineers. Members gain access to local chapters, networks of HCI professionals, publications in the ACM Digital Library, and sponsored conferences and speaker series.
Character Design for Video Games - California Constitute of the Arts: Led by three studio designers, this class teaches students the foundational concepts of graphic symbol design, including motion, expression, and technical limitations. Over the grade of four weeks, learners discover the processes of these designers and have the opportunity to test out concepts on their own designs.
Algorithms for Calculator Animation - MIT: Targeting students interested in machine learning and scientific computing, this class explores the processes that make animation possible, including optimization, motion capture, and inverse kinematics. Learners study the methods of specific effects and computer graphics, while as well assessing the limitations of animation tools. This free online form is taught at the graduate level and may crave an advanced understanding of information science.
Introduction to Programming and Animation with Alice - Duke University: This form provides students with an introduction to blitheness using the virtual programming tool Alice. Emphasizing 3D blitheness, this course teaches students how to set up scenes, move photographic camera angles, and rotate digital objects. Additionally, learners explore programming concepts that teach them the skills needed to build their ain 3D game.
Pixel Fine art for Video Games - Michigan State University: In this course, students explore the foundations of making art for video games with Unity -- a cross-platform game engine used to develop interactive 3D content. Designed for art novices, this course teaches foundational and technical skills to help learners develop their creative designs into games. Classes are divided into a series of video lessons over the class of four weeks.
The Animator'south Survival Kit - Richard Eastward. Williams: Widely regarded as the seminal animation book, The Animator'due south Survival Kit covers virtually every principle of animation. From staging to timing and movement, this volume explains how drawings can demonstrate animated action. Williams too illustrates means to develop blithe characters with personality and feeling.
Cartoon Animation - Preston Blair: Across five capacity, this book teaches the fundamentals of animation. Blair starts by covering the foundations of drawing, explaining how to construct drawing characters with personality and human being mannerisms. Over the next three chapters, he explores means to create character movement, poses, and expressions. The final chapter focuses on technical animation topics, similar spacing, camera movements, and timing.
Timing for Animation - Harold Whitaker and John Halas: This book serves as vital text for aspiring animators. Equally its title indicates, this book conveys the importance of timing and how it makes blithe characters appear realistic. Whitaker and Halas explain how space and length are essential components to creating dramatic effects for characters and objects. The revised 2nd edition as well includes timing for digital production, storyboarding, and after effects.
The Illusion of Life: Disney Blitheness - Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas: Written past two of Disney's most prominent animators, this volume explains the processes of character animation. Through thousands of illustrations, Johnston and Thomas describe everything from storyboarding to animation sequences. The beginning volume to feature Disney'due south philosophies, The Illusion of Life incorporates all 12 bones principles of blitheness.
The Art of 3D Computer Blitheness and Effect - Isaac Kerlow: In this book on computer animation technology, Kerlow explores techniques and styles used to create 3D animation and visual furnishings. He covers the entire animation process, from the creation and preproduction phases to the finished composition. The fourth edition includes the latest calculator animation techniques.
Frequently Asked Questions
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