Three decades ago, animation used to be pretty bland and simple. Creators used them to make cartoons and sometimes movies. But, with the advancement in technology, animation has shown a spurt of growth.
With better equipment and innovative ideas, animation has improved so much. Improved storylines and enhanced visuals have gathered and attracted a broader audience.
After all, movies like Avatar, Kung Fu Panda, and Finding Nemo are animation movies that have made millions to billions of dollars at the box office.
Besides movies and cartoons, anime, which originated in Japan and utilized a unique animation style, has become a global phenomenon.
Thus, the scope of the animation field has widened drastically. However, the scope for animators may vary from region to region. In some countries, it is still considered novel.
Before discussing the job demand for animators, it is vital to understand what type of jobs are available in the animation market.
If you are taking art lessons to become an animator, then knowing the type of jobs you can attain in the future is mandatory.
To make things more clear, Superprof has covered it all in great lengths below. Read On!
What Kind Of Jobs Do Animators Do?
Thanks to the immense popularity animation has attained, numerous job posts are now available for animators.
However, out of the wide range of such jobs, the following are the notable ones that you can attain after becoming an animator!
Animators Can Choose To Become 2D Animator
One of the viable career fields in the animation sector is to become a 2D animator. It involves creating storyboards, characters, and other related stuff in the 2D format.
These animators are mainly required to build video game characters and create visual effects. This job is rather about dealing with the creative part than mechanical jobs.
Thus, if you know basic drawing but want to become a top-notch 2D animator, you will need to uplift your skills. To that end, consider enrolling in a drawing class for this job.
3D Animation Is A Popular Career Choice For Animators
The task of 3D animators does not involve creativity. It is instead based on technical tasks and includes mechanical handling.
Thus, basic drawing will be more than enough for becoming eligible for this animator job. This job involves giving a shape and 3D structure to the characters and the creative work of a 2D animator.
Indeed, 3D animators are assigned to interpret 3D visualization and create moving images on-screen for animation purposes.
An Animator Can Pursue A Career In Stop Motion Animation
Another viable job that one can opt for in the animation field is as a stop motion animator. This task involves the use of physical objects for creating animation.
A stop motion animator is not required to have basic drawing skills. Instead, it involves mastering objects’ movement to create an aligned animation.
An Animator Can Choose To Become A Keyframe Editor
Keyframe editor is another technical job involved in animation. This job has nothing to do with creativity, as it is all about tech stuff.
A keyframe editor is responsible for adding transitions and creating uniformity between scenes. By doing so, the animation is brought together and looks like a single piece.
If you are one of those people who often ask how to draw for beginners but want to do something in the animation field, this job might be perfect for you.
Animators Can Pursue A Career As A Background Artist
A background artist is concerned with establishing the scene of an animation. Setting up the color schemes and executing different designs for the stage are just some of their tasks.
Nevertheless, this job does not involve creating designs. The 3D animator is instead responsible for executing the aesthetic and styles of a layout artist.
Thus, you must be sufficiently creative for this post and have viable management skills. However, you won’t be required to take up a drawing class to become a background artist in the animation field.
Many Animators Are Choosing To Become Layout Artists
To become a layout artist, you must know how to draw cool stuff using computer software. One has to create visuals, characters, and scenes on the computer in this job.
As such, it is all about creativity. You must also have sufficient expertise in specialized software and drawing with them.
With Enough Experience, Animators Can Opt To Be Compositors
A compositor is assigned the crucial task of putting everything together.
They combine background, animated characters, special effects, and other components in one place, which is then considered as the final product.
Thus, the task of a compositor is significant. The final product may look out of place and distorted without efficient work. In other words, other animators’ success depends on their success.
What Are The Requirements For Becoming An Animator?
Becoming an animator may have some requirements. The type of job you can get will ultimately depend upon your qualifications, expertise, and specialization.
The following points aptly describe the requirements to fulfill as an animator!
- Having a bachelor’s degree in computer graphics, animation, art, or any other related field is obligatory for becoming a professional animator
- If you attained a degree in a field other than arts, you would need to hire an art tutor and gain basic drawing knowledge
- Besides technical jobs like a keyframe editor, you must know beginner aesthetic drawings in easy Some companies might hire you in the tech part of animation without having viable drawing skills
- But if you want to become a highly-paid professional, then having basic drawing may make your portfolio more diverse and accessible
- Animation is a very creative field. That is why many firms consider creative skills a necessary qualification
- Having expertise in animation will undoubtedly perform a key role in landing you your dream animation projects
- To work for an animation movie or cartoons, companies will require you to have sufficient experience
- This experience does not have to be big. You can either work as an intern or do independent projects to add credibility to your portfolio
Demand For Animation Jobs In The US
Since the animation field has risen to prominence in the United States, the number of jobs in this field is also on the rise.
The biggest names in the animation industry like Walt Disney, Warner Bros, and Dreamwork Animations reside in the US.
That is why the demand for animators in the US is fairly high. These companies produce numerous animators’ jobs every year. Besides recruiting animators from the US, they also hire the best talent from around the world.
Thus, if you are good at animation and have taken viable art lessons but do not reside in the US, you can even secure a job there with your skills.
Animators are primarily hired to make movies, cartoons, and anime in the US. Some companies hire animators for creating video games and mobile applications.
But for creating video games, only professional animators are hired due to the significantly more complex task at hand.
Hence, salary-wise, animators for video games earn higher salaries. Nonetheless, if you land on an animation project with big production companies like Walt Disney, Sony, or Pixar, then you might make a fortune.
What Factors Affect The Salary Range And Role Of An Animator In The US
Some factors directly impact animators’ jobs in the US. Out of them, some of the most impactful reasons are listed below!
The Degree You Have Secured As An Animator In The US
Degrees will be the foremost thing your employer will consider when giving you a job. The type of degree you have attained as an animator will directly influence your career as an animator.
If you have attained a Bachelor’s degree, then a candidate with a Master’s degree will ultimately be preferred over you.
Besides, big animation companies only hire highly-qualified animators. Thus, having a viable degree is obligatory if you want to secure a job in one such company.
The Types Of Jobs You Aim For As An Animator In The US
The type of job you will attain as an animator will also impact your career and salary. Some animation jobs are more sought after than others.
For instance, the demand for 3D modelers is higher in the market, and they make more money than 2D animators.
Thus, while you take an art class for becoming a 2D animator, keep in mind that becoming a 3D modeler is a better option.
The following table tells the difference in salaries among various animators. Those with a higher wage ultimately have a higher demand in the market.
| Types Of Animation Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Senior Animator | $110.3k per annum |
| Stop Motion Animator | $72.2k per annum |
| 3D Modeler | $62.7k per annum |
| 2D Animator | $40k to $60k per annum |
| Compositor | $46.6k per annum |
| Background Artist | $44.4k per annum |
As An Animator In The US, How Impressive Are You Drawing Skills
If you want to get hired in the creative animation department, having more than just basic drawing skills is obligatory.
Some companies hire animation creators and layout artists just by analyzing their drawings and creative skills. If you have naturally good drawing skills, then it will aid you a lot in securing an animator’s job.
However, if you are not that professional at drawing, but want to attain a job in the animation industry, hire an art tutor and take a drawing class.
Initially, you might learn only beginner aesthetic drawing easy format, but with time, you will get into it and learn to create advanced animations.
Which Region Do You Belong To In The US? Are Animators Paid Well And In Demand Over There?
Salaries of animators also vary from region to region in the US. The salary and demand for animators are high in those regions where the scope of this industry is better.
Indeed, in California, especially Hollywood, where the entertainment industry resides, the demand for animators is higher. Similarly, in New York, the scope of animation is also high.
Thus, keep the region in mind while getting an animation job in the US. However, it should be noted that besides having a higher salary in these areas, the competition is also relatively high in these places.
Find A Good Art Tutor To Teach You Animation At Superprof
To know more about a drawing class for perfecting your animation or a guide on how to draw for beginners, head over to Superprof.
At Superprof, you’ll find various art tutors that can guide you on how to draw cool stuff and help you perfect the art of animation.
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Very useful information as I wrestle mentally with my daughter on whether or not Graphic Arts (Animation) is a viable/lucrative Course for a Major in the University. She wants to choose this, but we are scared of her being unable to land a high paying career after College. She makes straight A’s in Physic’s and Math, but will not follow our advise and choose Engineering or Computer Science.