Animation Degree Jobs – Animator

Animators are the lifeblood of any animation studio. Animation degree students are mostly aspiring to become the next big animator in the industry and it makes sense. Animators are the ones who put in the hours of work to bring a project to life. Animators are the unsung heroes behind television shows, big-budget movies, and video games. For the most part, their names go unheard but their work is what is remembered most.

Animation is nothing without the animator.

If you are a student looking for a new major, a student looking for their major, or even someone looking to get back into the arts, read on to find out what you can do as an animator.

Animators have a number of jobs, depending on the project. Usually, an animator will be responsible for a certain scene from a film/cartoon/game’s storyboard. They will take it from start to finish, animating the characters and landscape in the scene before handing it off for approval from the director.

Animators work in teams, with each member of the team being responsible for animating a certain segment of the animation. These pieces are then put together to create one cohesive animation.

An animator’s responsibilities change with the format. Film and TV animation is more about character animation and is on the whole a more scene-based experience. Animation in video games is more focused on level design, and with the interactive medium, game animators are responsible for animating an entire explorable world.

2D and 3D animation are two entirely different worlds, as animation degree students are aware. Animators in both fields utilize various pieces of software to create these scenes. Most animation studios have their own proprietary software that works towards their individual goals. Animation degree students should become familiar with as many pieces of software as possible.

It will make the transition process into bigger studios that much easier.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that over the next seven years, most of the jobs in animation will be in the gaming industry. All told, the job market for animators will see an 8% increase between now and 2020, which is slightly slower than average. The rise of mobile devices will also affect the animation industry, but there is some concern with the outsourcing of animation.

The median pay, according to the site, is right around $58,510 a year. They report that acquiring a degree is necessary for getting a job in animation these days as well.

Glassdoor.com has the average salary of animators at around $60,051 a year, with the high somewhere around $79,000. Animation studios are always hiring but the rise of smaller independent companies also should be on the radar for young animators with an animation degree.

Get information on animation degrees using the form on this page. School representatives will guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have about the various programs that are available to help you earn your animation degree.

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