If you’re interested in pursuing computer animation, there are many career opportunities to choose from, including those outside the entertainment industry. Knowing what roles are available, what’s required to pursue each role, and how much they make can help you determine if this career path is right for you. In this article, we explore how different industries employ computer animation professionals and some of the jobs in computer animation you can pursue.
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Industries with computer animation jobs
Here are some fields where you can pursue computer animation professionally:
Engineering
Engineering often involves designing products, machines, or other solutions, and in the development process, engineering professionals may call on computer animators to generate a digital prototype or apply mathematical models to test and revise a prototype. Aerospace engineering commonly requires these computer animation professionals, called mathematical modelers.
Forensic science
Forensic science involves taking evidence from a crime scene and determining what happened during the event in question. A computer animator may work as a forensic animator, who uses evidence to reconstruct a crime scene and show what happened based on different scenarios the evidence provides. They may provide these animated reconstructions to law enforcement, investigators, and lawyers during court proceedings, or they may present the animations during court.
Education
Companies that produce educational materials, like textbooks or training simulations, may employ computer animators to create accompanying animated videos or tools that help students better learn the concepts. They may create animated lessons for elementary school learners, training videos for adult learners, or training simulations for aspiring pilots.
Advertising
Computer animators may work for advertising and product marketing teams or companies, creating an animated mascot that appeals to a certain audience, making stunning graphics for commercials, or designing animated demonstration videos to showcase products to consumers or investors.
Architecture
Architecture firms may use computer animation to create digital 3D designs of their proposed projects to test the design’s integrity or showcase the project to investors.
Video game development
Computer animators can apply their creative and technical skills in the video game industry through many roles, including:
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Character animator: These animation professionals specialize in drawing and creating motion for single characters.
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Compositing artist: These animators polish the final product with consistent coloring, lighting, and other elements.
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3D modeler: They’re responsible for developing 3D characters, including the movements and overall style.
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Effects animator: Effects animators design the look and movement of special effects, like supernatural characteristics.
Film and TV
The film & TV industry has many opportunities for computer animators, including:
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Stop motion animator: These animators move and adjust stop-motion figures during filming.
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Storyboard artist: Storyboard artists draw out basic scenes and moments of a story to showcase what characters do as well as how they interact with their world and each other.
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Concept artist: These animators create concept art, which is a collection of settings, characters, objects, or other elements that showcase the look and feel of a project.
Jobs in computer animation
Here are some of the jobs in computer animation you can pursue:
1. Animator
National average salary: $42,593 per year
Primary duties: An animator is responsible for drawing characters, objects, settings, and other elements of an animated project. They may draw items by hand, convert them to digital assets, use animation software to manipulate the drawings and create different visual effects, facial expressions, and motions.
Requirements: Many employers prefer candidates to have a degree in animation as well as familiarity with industry-standard software, excellent drawing skills, and a portfolio.
2. Motion graphics artist
National average salary: $45,185 per year
Primary duties: Also referred to as motion graphics designers or motion designers, these computer animation professionals create moving objects and elements for a variety of creative assets, including film, TV, commercials, web applications, and software features. They also collaborate with other animators to ensure characters’ and objects’ movements are consistent.
Requirements: Employers may prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree in animation, film production, or a similar field. They may also require previous experience working in motion graphics as well as a portfolio of work.
3. 2D artist
National average salary: $48,221 per year
Primary duties: Also known as a 2D animator, this animation professional designs and draws characters, objects, and scenery using 2D techniques and art styles. They use 2D animation software to bring movement, depth, and expression to drawings, collaborating with motion designers and character animators. In some cases, 2D artists may also work on the storyboard of an animation project, creating simplistic designs to help more advanced animators create the final product.
Requirements: These professionals may find work with years of experience and a portfolio of work. Some employers may prefer candidates to have a degree in animation, fine art, graphic design, or a similar field.
4. Artist
National average salary: $53,493 per year
Primary duties: An animation artist is any specialized animator on a project, such as a texture artist, color key artist, character artist, or scenery artist. These professionals use animation software, digital and manual drawing techniques, and 3D modeling to create characters, objects, scenes, or graphics for an animated project. Specific duties may depend on their role in the project. For example, a texture artist specializes in adding life-like textures to animated objects, while a scenery artist designs the interactive world around the characters.
Requirements: Because of how diverse the role is, employer requirements may vary. However, some common requirements may include an associate or bachelor’s degree in fine arts, animation, or graphic design, advanced skills in drawing and computer animation software as well as a portfolio of professional work.
5. Video game designer
National average salary: $63,750 per year
Primary duties: A video game designer creates the visual style of a video game, including the characters and interactive world. These designers may specialize in one part of the video game design process, such as motion design, character animation, storyboarding, and world-building. Depending on their specialized role, they may create concept art and storyboards to show off characters and story moments, use animation software to create moving characters, and collaborate with programmers to connect code to animated movements.
Requirements: Some video game designers pursue this career by teaching themselves design and development and creating their games, which can then be used as a portfolio to apply for professional roles. Other video game designers pursue an associate’s and bachelor’s degree in animation, video game design, graphic design, or programming.
6. 3D artist
National average salary: $66,751 per year
Primary duties: A 3D artist uses software and techniques to design characters, objects, scenery, and other digital assets in 3D, as opposed to 2D. They may use 3D modeling, collaborate with texture artists and lighting artists to create realistic depth, and partner with motion graphics artists to create dynamic movements. Other 3D artists may specialize in creating 3D models or graphics for product designs and advertising campaigns.
Requirements: These professionals may be required to have a degree in 3D art and animation or a similar field. Other requirements include a portfolio and in-depth knowledge of 3D animation techniques and software.
7. Art director
National average salary: $71,994 per year
Primary duties: An animation art director leads a team of animators in all specialties to create a consistent final animation product. They’re responsible for approving final designs, establishing the visual tone for the project, creating goals and timelines for animation teams, and providing feedback on in-progress animations.
Requirements: As a leadership role, being an art director requires years of animation experience, experience as an animation team leader, a strong portfolio, and advanced knowledge of animation best practices and software. They may also need a bachelor’s degree in animation or a related field.
8. Senior artist
National average salary: $100,695 per year
Primary duties: A senior artist is an experienced animator, often in charge of a specialized animation team. They’re responsible for collaborating with the art director to establish consistent visuals for the project, set and adhere to deadlines, train animators as needed, approve designs from team members, and complete their share of animation work.
Requirements: A senior artist may need to have a degree in fine arts or animation, years of experience in a specialized animation field, and a strong portfolio.
I hope you find this article helpful.
