Animators have a unique combination of artistic ability, creativity and technological ability. With enticing salaries and also the personal freedom it offers, a career in animation might be the proper alternative for you. If you've ever talked to a real live animator—just kidding, they don't really walk among us, they are far too busy working their 14-hour+ days—then you've likely heard the ups and downs of working in the animation industry. Last updated August 15, 2017. E.M. Rawes is a professional writer specializing in business, finance, mathematical and social sciences topics. The Best and Worst Aspects of Working in Animation. We need to shape their expectations to realize the next Pixar or Dreamworks can be created by one single animated film from a new studio doing well at the box office.Paul Kakert,  Effective Digital Presentations The best aspect is that tools today (software and hardware) are so advanced compared to 10 years ago, that we have reached a point where you are limited only by your imagination (it wasn’t always that way as hardware was once a huge hurdle). I want to do something I like which is art but will keep me settle for a bright future, with a house in a nice neighborhood. He is completely financially responsible for his business -- its successes and failures. Like an artist, an animator is paid to express his creativity. He then creates each frame to coordinate movement within his story. You've captivated yourself for hours each movies, video games, The process of transformation of static objects into moving ones is called animation. Is animation a good career? (haha) Is there a lot of competition out there? The worst is, like most crafts in a crass age, aspiring to make high-quality work in a field dominated by garbage. I've been taking a separate art class ever since 1st grade and now I'm in 9th. While salary may be the most important factor to one person, a flexible schedule may be most important to another. Passion for Art and Design? Learn about the education and preparation needed to become an animator. Shopping. I really want to become an animation artist, but is this a bad career choice/field? During her time working in workforce management and as a financial analyst, she reinforced her business and financial know-how. If the animator is creating a nature scene in Africa, for example, he will research African plants and wildlife so that his creation is realistic. An animator creates an extensive series of images that form the animation seen in movies, commercials, television programs, and video games.They typically specialize in one of these media and may further concentrate on a specific area, such as characters, scenery, or background design. Venture capitalists don't see the benefit of films and would rather invest in the latest internet 'thing' than movies. Our degree programs are designed to equip serious artists by combining traditional skills like drawing and sculpting with digital techniques like motion graphics and 3D arts. Full Sail’s accelerated bachelor’s degrees can be completed online in 29 months. Up Next. Then an additional year in computer animation. It’s a conundrum that plagues every aspect of computer design and it is evident as we look back at industries such as desktop publishing, which gave the illusion that anyone with the right software could suddenly produce beautiful graphic designs for print. Four to eight feet will take you about a week. Careers . Technical ability is a must, which means possessing these traits is only the start. The cost of equipment and supplies is covered by the self-employed animator. Cancel. The animator also participates in meetings on a regular basis -- he must collaborate with clients, other animators, designers and directors. Have a look at the below mention pointers and know more about the advantageous field you are about to step in- Freedom To Show Your Creativity – If you are drawing out something you have seen in the dreams, believe me, it’s totally okay. I admire Pixar! Animation might be the perfect career to let you leverage some of your natural qualities in a creative career you can enjoy. Animators create cartoons and other animation by using various computer software, or by hand. Usually contract based work, long hours and quite a bit of pressure, but if you are really good, you can work up to director of animation for feature films. When we watch movies, play video games and watch television, we see the work of animators. Tap to unmute. Once his research is completed, he will generally design characters and draw storyboards. Pick another career - Working in the field of animation is very hard. It's 2015 and You Won't be an Animator Another year is coming to a close. Animators create animation and visual effects for everything from films and video games to television, mobile devices and other forms of media using illustrations and software programs. Also, being a newer, creative, ‘hipper’ profession, people presume work is always fun and therefore don’t always get that this is a job and we need to get paid for it – even if it is a cool animation to produce. The top 10 percent of animators earned upwards of $99,830. Toonz Harlequin, Adobe Flash, CelAction, Anime Studio, Toon Boom Animation, Animaker are some of the software's used for creating 2D animation characters. The worst aspect is that animation and motion graphics has become so commonplace that its value (by clients) is often overlooked, or taken for granted. The animation is one of the multi-billion dollar Industry has built a massive scope for employment and provides career opportunities across a range of profiles- from technology-based jobs such as compositing, scanning, game designing, digital ink and point to creative guts like 3D modellers, visual-effects supervisors and character animators. When it comes to making any kind of major career decision, serious deliberation is in order. He also must obtain his own clients, which can cause unstable pay and stress. Additionally, the job outlook for an animator is about as fast as the average. Get a quick view of the requirements as well as details about degree programs, job duties and career … Sean Hutchinson, 3D Technical Director & Kate Ertmann, Producer at Adi Best: Creating awesome imagery that appeals to your personal taste and style (and the worst is doing the opposite of that). What Does an Animator Do? Animators use computers to create images, give them colour and use special effects to make a film. Ian Johnston, Owner of  Too Many Legs The best aspect of working in animation is of course the fact you are working in animation! However, the popularity of animation as a career has also led many schools to offer animation programs. I really, really want to work with movie animation!! As a part of our Interview Series we asked animation executives around the country what are the best and worst aspects of working in the animation industry—to help paint a realistic picture for our future animator readers, exactly what its like to be an animation professional. Balancing budget and creatively is a fine art. You've spent your life fascinated by movies (Jurassic Park, Toy Story, Lion King). For those of our readers interested in knowing exactly what an animation career entails here is the good, the bad and the ugly from people with more experience in the industry than most of our readers have on this earth: Richard O'Connor, Owner of  Ace and SonThe parties, the women and the non stop excitement--which is to say, the opportunity to constantly engage your imagination and create artificial worlds ranks amongst the best. Animators may have to work long hours, particularly those employed by a company. All Art Schools: Animator Job Description. A lot of these are a bit pessimistic, playing up the image of an animator as a soulless husk of a human, churning out their work long into the night with no social life or time for other hobbies. | Why a career in Animation is the future! A career in animation is one of the most lucrative and most-sought-after courses these days. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the 2016 median annual salary of an animator as $65,300 per year/$31.40 per hour. Career as Animation Animators are artists who draw cartoons and pictures which are used in multimedia productions to entertain, educate or persuade people. Ashish S K, CEO, Reliance Animation tells us why a career in animation is prospective and presents an overview of the trends in the industry in India. It is highly competitive. Sitting in front of a computer, time waiting on computers, explaining technical terms to the layperson, clients who like to noodle things just because it is digital. Arthur Kautz, AnibenThe raising of capital is an entry barrier, particularly for studios that want to produce theatrical content. Weighing advantages and disadvantages is a personal choice as people place different weight on individual factors. How To Identify Animators' Styles in Dragon Ball (and more!) Those in motion picture and software design industries earned median salaries of more than $65,000 per year. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, especially if they are giving quality programs, the sheer number of schools can overwhelm the aspiring animator who is looking for the animation school that would give him the program that would best suit his needs. 10:02. Sometimes the money dictates how creative you get to be. or going downhill Another best is Just about anything is possible, if given the time, budget, and allowance for creative control. Although the computers and the software we use aid in the creation of the animation we produce, they are still simply tools in our tool kit. Their work schedule can exceed 50 hours per week and when deadlines are approaching, night and weekend work often is required to meet a deadline. It is not always essential that the animator hold a college degree if she can prove her talent through a portfolio. Movie animation studios, game developers and many other organisations are always looking for creative and talented animators. I'm an animation major (experimental animation, to be exact) and my professors told me many times that it's a tough, competitive field of work. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Today, specialists provide not only drawn pieces but also use special computer technologies to design and perform an outstanding video. They must conduct research to ensure their design is accurate and consistent. Yes, there is an industry for it, there are animation jobs out there. Animators also create graphics and develop storyboards, drawings, and illustrations. This is a guest contribution by Rusty Gray. Animation scenes are denoted by number of feet, so you're responsible for certain amount of footage. The best is complete control of production in a desktop environment: No rain dates, missing crew, pick up shots, etc. This unintentionally homophobic-seeming piece of poor animation is yet another criticism levied against EX-ARM.At the time of writing, EX-ARM has a 2.25 out of 10 rating on MyAnimeList, based on 6,968 votes.This makes it not only the lowest-rated anime of the season but one of the lowest-rated of all time.. Additionally, self-employment is common for an animator. Clients see so many amazing effects and animation that they undervalue the creative effort that it takes to create something incredible. The cost of equipment and supplies is covered by the self-employed animator. Animation is a unique and distinct career that promises fun, convenience and betterment when it comes to job opportunities. There are costs and benefits associated with any occupation. Video on Animation Computer generated Imagery or 3D animation: 3D or three-dimensional animation, which has more depth and is more realistic, are a series of images/ objects created using computers or any other digital media. Animation Education & Career Paths for Students. One of the worst aspects of being an animator these days is that people assume computers do all the work. Animation Industry. The ideal animator is also a good storyteller. There are a multitude of career opportunities available to graduates of degree programs in animation, video graphics and special effects. Here are t h e top 5 qualities of a good animator:. Written by Robin Wilding. If you are someone who wants to be a character animator watch the credits at the end of an animated movie and compare how many people animate characters to how many do everything else. Why Animation Is A Good Career. However, some employers prefer animators have a bachelor's degree in a program such as computer graphics or animation, particularly employers who specialize in computer animation. 1.Educational Credentials. Autoplay is paused. With attractive salaries and the personal freedom it offers, a career in animation could be the right choice for you. To be an animator, technology skills, artistic talent and communication skills are a must. Design Career Guide Animator. Worst thing is that you pretty much can create anything. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. A few important factors must be kept in mind in becoming an animator. Hire Animation Services. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that between 2014 and 2024, employment of animators will rise by only 6 percent; the average for all occupations is 14 percent. A lot of information somehow needs to be known in advance to become successful in this career. There are various forms of animation, such as Clay Animation, Puppet Animation and two and three Dimensional Animation (responsible for Classics like The Lion King, or the path breaking Stuart little). Animation Industry. Animation is even used in marketing, where characters are created to entice consumers to purchase a product or service. Learn more. Another worst is that clients know anything is possible, but don’t always understand the direct correlation of that to time, budget, and creative control and know-how. I love art and I've always considered going into the animation field. A career in animation is one in all the foremost remunerative and most-sought-after courses recently. … ... What's your best piece of advice for an aspiring animator or creator? CD PROJEKT RED is looking for a talented Animator to join Gwent team. Software and hardware are expensive. He is completely financially responsible for his business -- its successes and failures. A 29-year-old Disney animator describes the best and worst parts of her job. Is the career flourishing? Establishing a career in Animation enables you with various perks. Self-employment has some downsides for animators. The Bureau of Labor Statistics asserts that approximately 50% percent of animators were self- employed in 2014. Animators may have to work long hours, particularly those employed by a company. For some, self-employment provides a sense of independence and freedom, saves money on commuting costs, provides improved quality of life and provides the ability to make adjustments to work schedules. Animation and Popular Careers. The field of multimedia animation is being offered by more and more schools, largely due to an influx of federal, state, and private funding for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) programs. But animation is not a job made of purely soft skills. From high definition CGI images to two-dimensional cartoons, animation is everywhere. Worst: Complete control of production in a desktop environment: We have sole responsibility for delivering compelling visuals from scratch. Proper training should begin with traditional animation techniques, life drawing etc. Their work schedule can exceed 50 hours per week and when deadlines are approaching, night and weekend work often is required to meet a deadline. for 3 to 4 years. We cannot loose site of the creative talent it takes to use the amazing tools available today.Chad Briggs, Creative Director at  Element X CreativeBest aspect is that you can pretty much create anything these days. Know what is Animation, Career Options, Job Prospects, Salary after Animation Courses, Top Colleges, Eligibility Criteria, Recruiting companies and more Both movies, video games, and other forms of media use computer animation. She completed her studies at the University of Maryland, where she earned her Bachelor of Science. If you've ever talked to a real live animator—just kidding, they don't really walk among us, they are far too busy working their 14-hour+ days—then you've likely heard the ups and downs of working in the animation industry. Self-employment has some downsides for animators. Everyone wants to be a character animator, rather than do all of the other nitty gritty work necessary to make an animation. The tools are only as good as the craftsman behind them.”. We are proud to announce our first short animation contest of 2019. If you’re like many moviegoers, you wept during the opening sequence of Pixar’s animated film, Up.Or let out a cheer when Buzz Lightyear demonstrated the ability to fly in Toy Story.. Joe DiDomenico, Applehead Probably the best aspect of working in the animation field is being able to bring things to life. Animation is multi-billion dollar industry has generated great employment scope, and offers career opportunities across a range of profiles - from technology-based jobs such as scanning, compositing, digital ink and paint, and game designing to creative guys like visual-effects supervisors, 3D modellers and character animators. It's been a hard process just to get to my animation specialization (which I find relatively easy) and I'm determined to reach my goal. Career Prospects. But, even with careful consideration, bad decisions still get made. The artists at Applehead Factory take pride in knowing that a little piece of themselves can be found in each project we work on. with the economy down, would a career in computer animation; art be a good idea? He also must obtain his own clients, which can cause unstable p… Animation traverses many forms and is useable in every medium, even audio. Mark PhilippJanuary 18, 2018 All Topics. Animation is being used everywhere, from advertisements to YouTube videos, animation has found a home. Career In Animation: Pros. There are already a slew of articles and forum posts out there about whether animation as a career is worth getting into.