How to build a career in animation
How to build a career in animation
How to build a career in animation, Career in Animation: The Ultimate Guide.
Want to know how to build a career in animation?
An animation career can be incredibly rewarding and fulfilling, with the opportunity to work on exciting projects.
This guide will tell you everything you need to know about 3D animation careers, including the different roles in 3D animation and some of the key skills you’ll need.
Want to know more? Read on!
What is 3D animation
How to build a career in animation, 3D animation is a graphic technique for digitally creating moving, three-dimensional images. Animators are the people who create these images and bring movement, shadows, and other elements to life.
Animation is a growing field – not just in feature films, but also in television, gaming, advertising, and marketing. What’s more, a growing number of industries, such as architecture, are using animation.
Animation is broad and there are plenty of ways to specialize as an animator. We’ll learn more about the different types of animation below.
But first, let’s take a look at what it means to work in animation.
Working in Animation
As a creative field, if you are a creative person and love using digital tools, animation is a great choice for you. It is a versatile and flexible field.
But are 3D animators in demand? Here is what you need to know.
What is the demand for 3D animation jobs?
Yes, 3D animation is in demand, with many industries looking for talented animators. Animation jobs are expected to grow by 5% per year until 2031.
There are many job opportunities in the entertainment industry, but there are also plenty of jobs in the corporate sector.
For example, I built my career as a 3D lighting artist in the entertainment industry, working on movies like Rio and Ice Age. Today, I work as a creative leader in the Fortune 100. In other words, there are many ways to build your career.
Do 3D animators get paid well?
Overall, 3D animation can be a lucrative career path, especially as you gain more experience. The average salary in the animation industry is $78,790 per year, but salaries vary depending on experience, background, and location. For example, animators in the Northeast and Midwest earn more.
Salaries also vary depending on the type of animation role. Here’s what you need to know about them.
What are the different types of roles in the animation industry?
One of the many benefits of a 3D animation career is that there are many roles within 3D animation that you can explore and develop depending on your interests and skills. The different types of roles in the animation industry include:
Storyboard Artist
How to build a career in animation, A storyboard artist is responsible for bringing a narrative to life through visuals. A storyboard takes the form of a series of panels that show the type of image and the overall visual look, and establishes continuity. This storyboard will serve as the foundation for the animation to progress. As a storyboard artist, you will work with the director to create a vision for the animation using a script.
3D Animator
The next role for a storyboard artist after the production journey is 3D animation. As a 3D animator, you take static visuals from the storyboard and add motion and sound to make the visuals three-dimensional. Again, a variety of techniques and programs can be used to bring the animation from the storyboard to life.
Lighting Artist
Lighting artists play a vital role in the animation process. As a lighting artist, you focus on a specific part of the animation process through various lighting techniques. As part of the animation, lighting artists will use lighting to create mood, atmosphere, tone, and depth in each animated scene. Additionally, lighting artists use the script and story as their guide and add lighting as needed to create the desired effect for the overall narrative.
To learn more, check out my guide on how to become a 3D lighting artist.
Lighting example in the ACES workflow
See the difference between these two images? Lighting can completely change the mood of an image.
Visual Development
3D animation requires the right visuals to bring the story to life and fit the narrative with the visuals. The role of visual development in 3D animation focuses on creating cinematic environments and adding depth to the animation. Visual development will include establishing the tone, mood, and color palette of the animation, and working with other 3D animation roles, such as lighting artists, to pull together the overall vision of each scene.
FX Artist
How to build a career in animation, FX artists are responsible for creating 3D effects and simulations based on animation. FX artists are typically experienced in both realistic and stylized effects, depending on the type of animation, and can incorporate a variety of elements such as particles, fluid collisions, and other dynamic effects.
Game Designer
A game designer is a unique career path for 3D animators, as it requires the same skills and techniques but in a different environment. Game designers are responsible for creating the rules, characters, settings, and narrative for games, and testing early versions of the game. Some game designers may have programming experience and write code for the game, while others may choose to focus on the 3D aspects of the game and its design rather than programming.
Stop Motion Animator
Stop motion is a specialized animation technique that works in some ways like a flip book. The animation technique involves taking pictures of objects in frames, like a flip book, physically manipulating them, and filming each frame in sequence. The resulting effect looks as if the object itself is moving.
Compositing Artist
Compositing artists are needed for the final image of a frame, VFX sequence, or shot. Compositing artists are responsible for combining all computer-generated images and any other footage to create a final, cohesive image.
Environment Artist
Environment artists create a digital 3D environment using concept art, real-world references, and other materials. They essentially create the world for a film or video game, using a variety of references to create an immersive environment.
Background Artist
Background artists use their animation and creative skills to create backgrounds for animation and film. Animation backgrounds focus solely on the background (as opposed to the overall environment and visual storytelling) and create a complete and complete animation shot with the right background elements.
Other roles in the animation and game industries include:
- Character Animator
- Clean Artist
- Digital Ink and Color Artist
- Image Editor
- Keyframe Animator
- Layout Artist
- Rendering Artist
- Rigging Artist
- Storyboard Artist
- Texture Artist
- Art Director
So, now you know what the different roles are. But how do you start a career in animation? Let’s take a look.
How do you become a 3D artist?
How do you start a career in animation? Below, you’ll learn what it takes to build a 3D animation career.
How hard is it to get a job in animation/gaming?
How to build a career in animation, Getting into animation can seem challenging, but there are a few things you can do to set yourself apart. By focusing on a strong demo reel, you’ll be able to showcase your talents and skills and get real examples of what you can create.
Additionally, depending on where the animation studios are located, you may potentially need to relocate to another country or city for a position and/or may need a work visa depending on the location. This only happens occasionally, but preparing in advance and researching different locations can help you identify the best career path for you.
Do you need a 3D animation degree?
An animation degree can be helpful, but it is optional for a 3D animation career. Earning a 3D animation degree can take a long time and can be very expensive in the long run. An animation degree can cost between $15,000 and $50,000 per year.
Another option is to opt for a 3D animation certification. However, a 3D animation certification can take one to two years to complete and is very expensive. The average cost of a 3D animation certificate can be in the thousands and may not be the most affordable option in comparison.
Alternatively, online, self-paced programs like our Lighting course at the Academy of Animated Arts are a great option for building a 3D animation career. These courses allow you to learn at your own pace and develop the most relevant skill sets for a career in animation.
Additionally, the 3D animation programs offered by the Academy of Animated Arts are led by industry experts, giving you valuable insight into the world of animation while also increasing your technical knowledge.
For example, we regularly host community lighting reviews, such as this one:
You can also find us on Discord.
What are the job requirements for a 3D animator?
When it comes to 3D animation job requirements, there are a few different things to consider. There are many different roles in this field, so you’ll need to narrow down your interests.
The best way to identify your requirements is to look at the 3D animator job description, get the appropriate training, and create a demo video that fits the role. For example, learning Maya is a prerequisite for 3D lighting artists, so look for specialized training and create a demo video that showcases your new skills. (Our own “Introduction to Maya” is a good place to start.)
Depending on your chosen career, you may need to learn some of the following:
Blender: Blender is a free and open-source 3D software used for animation and includes features such as motion graphics, modeling, and visual effects.
Game Development Fundamentals: Show that you understand the basic principles of game design and development.
Animation: Your demo video should be able to demonstrate your skills in graphics animation.
3D Rendering: Master the process of creating photorealistic 2D images from 3D models.
Unreal Engine: You will need to demonstrate your skills in 3D creation programs like Unreal Engine.
3D Rigging: You may need to demonstrate your rigging skills, such as skeletal animation, and whether you can add motion and action to your 3D characters.
Motion Graphics: You may be asked about your general knowledge of adding motion to graphics.
Character Modeling: A key requirement for 3D animation jobs is to demonstrate how you transform a character concept into animation.
Do you need 3D animation skills?
The best way to navigate the growing world of 3D animation is to first identify which career in the animation industry is best suited for you. You can narrow down your options by exploring categories like modeling, lighting, shading, and animation. If your interests are more on the development side, roles like technical development (“TD”) may be a good fit.
You’ll find these categories in games and animation, but titles can vary by industry. Narrowing down your search will help you identify the best programs for your 3D career and the specific skills you need.
At a broad level, attention to detail is crucial. Other skills that can be helpful in this area include demonstrating an understanding and importance of basic art principles like color theory and painting. But ultimately, 3D animation skills are about combining your technical skills with your creative talents to create truly unique animations.
If you’re not sure where to start to learn more about the skills of a 3D animator, the best way to start is to look within the industry. Look for people who are currently working in the type of job you’re interested in and their demo videos. This will give you an idea of what recruiters and studios are looking for and what other people have done to get into that position.
Think of it as the foundation for getting hired and the educational program you need.
This way, you’ll get the most out of the techniques you’re taught and will be able to work with your mentor and learn more about the industry.
Build and improve your resume as you gain the necessary skills and experience. Your demo video is an important part of the evaluation process, so try to include your best work. Adding soft skills training and interview practice will help you succeed in the 3D job application process.
Now it's your turn!
How to build a career in animation, Career in Animation: The Ultimate Guide. Now it's your turn! Now you know what it takes to start a career in animation.
You have many options when it comes to deciding what kind of animation career you want to pursue. Understand your strengths, goals, and what you want from your next role, and choose the best 3D animation career for you.