Animation Jobs

Animation jobs are a great career opportunity for people who are good at art and want to earn their living in a creative environment. Rapidly developing computer technology has led to a wealth of career openings for animators in fields such as video games and web development, and there are also sought–after opportunities in film and television.

This is a competitive field, so if you’d like to make your mark in an animation job having a degree in art may help you find your first placement. Equally, this is a flexible field where your ideas and ability might override the need for qualifications as far as some employers are concerned. Building a strong portfolio is your key to winning an animation job, as it will showcase the qualities you will need. Employers will expect you to demonstrate an eye for detail and colour, visual creativity and your computer proficiency. Since much of the work is computer-based, it’s advisable to keep up with the latest animation software.

At one time all animation was done by hand, involving the creation of thousands of near-identical drawings, shifted to give the illusion of movement. Although most of today’s work is done using computer software, people in animation jobs still need the ability to draw their characters freehand and scan them into the computer.

The animation industry is friendly to freelancers, who may be engaged to carry out a specific project. Web development, a growing field, is where many freelancers can find opportunities and valuable experience. If your work is good and you can meet deadlines, freelancing can be an excellent way to break into the industry.

The average salary for a computer animator is between $40,000 and $60,000 per year. Animators who work in the film industry may earn more.