Best Cities for Animators

When pursuing a career in animation, one important consideration is where to find work. While animation jobs are available in many cities around the US and Canada, a higher concentration of career options is found in some major hubs, including Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, and Montreal. This article will take a closer look at some factors that contribute to certain locations being prime spots for Animators to work and live, as well as tips for securing an animation job in these hubs.

What is an Animator? 

Animators bring characters, objects, and scenes to life by placing images in a sequence that suggests movement. They may use hand-drawn or computer-generated images or a combination of both. Animators are often involved in the full scope of a project, from developing new concepts to designing characters and backgrounds and outlining the animation sequence in storyboards. They begin an animation sequence by creating keyframes and the main points of movement, then develop the in-between frames that ensure smooth motion. 

Animators usually report to a Creative Director or Animation Director and might also work closely with writers, other artists, and technical staff. On larger projects, Animators may be part of a team assigned specific roles, such as Character Animation, Background Animation, or Special Effects Animator. Animation is often used in movies, television shows, video games, websites, and other media. In the games industry, animators are known as Computer Graphics (CG) or 3D Animators and may collaborate with programmers and artists. In the animation industry, Animators work from a brief provided by the Director or Animation Director and a storyboard developed by the Storyboard Artist. A Special Effects Supervisor, known as an SFX Supervisor, is usually in charge of the special effects team on a film or television production.

The working environment for Animators can vary greatly, depending on their place of employment and current project. Some Animators work in studios as part of a larger team and collaborate closely with other artists and designers. The team-based environment can be fast-paced, with many brainstorming sessions and group meetings. Freelance Animators work more independently and manage their own schedules and client communications. Being an Animator requires a mix of creativity, technical skills, and attention to detail. Animators need to keep up with the latest animation software and techniques, and they must be able to adapt their style to fit different projects. 

What Makes a City Good for Animators? 

Choosing a location to work as an Animator is an important consideration for professionals. Various factors must be considered while making this decision. The following sections will briefly explore some variables that contribute to a city being a good location for animation careers, including the number of jobs available, the salary ranges, the creativecommunity, and its proximity to other industries and career paths. 

Job Opportunities

One of the main considerations most aspiring Animators will need to weigh when they look for a place to find animation jobs is how many postings there are in that area. It’s a good idea to look up employment outlooks for animation-related careers to determine whether moving to this location will provide more work opportunities than are currently available in other locations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that cities like Seattle and Los Angeles have a much higher concentration of job openings in animation and special effects art than any other US city. This is an important consideration because the cities that have high concentrations of animation jobs don’t always directly correspond to those with the most dense populations. Washington, DC, for example, is typically considered one of the best cities in the US to pursue employment; however, this metro area isn’t particularly promising for career paths in 2D animation. Instead, it may be more useful to be searching for jobs in cities that have well-established TV and film industries.

Personal Preference

Like any other major life decision, personal preference is another important factor that can dictate where you move. Since a job is just one aspect of a person’s life, those who are looking to move to a new city should only consider locations where they actually want to live. For some, this may mean exploring cities that have a vibrant culture and arts scene, such as Boston. Others may prefer locations with more outdoor attractions, such as Denver or San Francisco. Those pursuing long-term careers will likely be living in this location for the foreseeable future, which makes it essential to decide if that city will make them happy. This is a great starting point before considering other factors since even high pay rates cannot offset having to move someplace unappealing. 

High Salaries 

Salary expectation is another important factor to weigh when determining what makes a city a promising location for Animators. When determining what is an appropriate salary to earn in a given place, it’s a good idea to consider the cost of living. Most major metro areas, including New York City and San Francisco, will offer higher pay rates for animation careers than smaller cities that have a lower cost of living. Those weighing the pros and cons of moving to a city with a higher cost of living will need to decide if the additional pay will offset the daily expenses of living in that location. Many of the highest-paying animation carers are on the West Coast in cities like San Jose or Portland, for example. In these locations, Animators may earn even more than they would in LA or NYC, and the cost of living is lower than it would be in those spots. These cities also have fewer positions available than elsewhere in the country, which is another important factor to weigh.

Strong Animation Community

Finding a community of creative-minded individuals is another factor that many Animators will want to consider when contemplating relocating. Being surrounded by like-minded artists and creators isn’t just a great way to connect with others; it’s valuable for networking and collaborating. In fields like 2D animation, it can feel isolating for some individuals to be out on their own with no connections since this career path often requires networking efforts to obtain work. Generally speaking, cities that have well-established TV and film industries, such as Atlanta, NYC, or LA, are good places to connect with other Animators. Additionally, locations like Austin or San Jose, which have well-established artistic and cultural communities, are also good options. Animators may also want to explore cities that have reputable design colleges or arts education programs, such as NYC or Santa Clarita. 

Proximity to Related Industries

Even though this may not be an obvious consideration, aspiring Animators may also wish to look at cities that have strong communities in other creative industries beyond animation. Since animation often overlaps with other fields, including video game design, film, or TV, selecting a city with a robust community of individuals already established in one of these industries may be a smart career move. For example, locations like Chicago or Seattle may be worth considering if you’re looking to break into tech or digital design. Similarly, cities like Austin are prime locations for game development.

Top Cities for Animators

The following sections will take a closer look at some of the best locations in the US and Canada to pursue a career in animation, and why these locations are popular spots to do so.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles is typically considered the number-one location in the US to pursue a career in animation. The city offers many incentives, including a diverse population and year-round sunny weather. Some of the biggest names in animation are located in or near Los Angeles, including Disney, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Dreamworks, 20th Century Fox, and Universal Cartoon Studios. Those who are fortunate enough to secure a position with one of these major studios will enjoy a competitive salary and the opportunity to connect with some of the most important Producers and Animators in the country. In addition to being known for its large entertainment firms, Los Angeles is also well-respected for its top-tier animation college. The top-ranked school for animation in the US is located there, California Institute of Arts. 

New York City 

Aspiring Animators can find many exciting and high-paying animation jobs in New York City. The Big Apple boasts the country’s largest independent film scene and the second-largest film industry. It also has a high concentration of gaming and television career opportunities as well, many of which are open to Animators. While the cost of living in NYC is high, the salaries for Animators are also high, which makes the city a prime spot to secure a creative career. Some of the major animation employers in NYC are Nickelodeon, Viacom, and LOOP Filmworks.

San Francisco

Another popular spot to pursue a career in animation is in San Francisco. The city’s long earned a reputation as a technology hub and appeals to a range of professionals beyond Software Developers and Computer Programmers; it’s also a prime location for Animators to combine their creative skills with technology to create top-tier animation. Animation salaries in animation in the city are competitive, thanks to the prevalence of high-paying tech jobs in this area. Some of the major employers for Animators in or near San Francisco are Lucasfilm, DreamWorks, EA, and Pixar.

Seattle

Some of the most well-known animation studios in the US are located in or near Seattle. The city enjoys a relatively low cost of living in comparison to other major US metros. While this means that pay rates for Animators may be slightly lower than in cities like LA or NYC, they are still higher than the national average for Animators. Major studios like Starfire Animation Studio, The Nomadic Studio, and Straightface Studios are all located in Seattle. Just outside of the city are other places to find animation employment, including Digital Kitchen, Nintendo, and Bungie.

Montreal

Montreal is the second-largest city in Canada and has a population of more than two billion people. It is one of the most popular spots in Canada to pursue an animation career. More than 40 visual effects and animation companies and 500 broadcasting and production companies are located in Montreal. There are approximately 35,000 direct jobs available in the city in cinema and television production, 60 game creation studios, and 50 high-tech sound stages. Many aspiring Animators flock to Montreal to enjoy the 44% tax incentives available on production services.

Why Become an Animator?

If you’re an artistic individual with a flair for creating visually engaging stories, becoming an Animator is an excellent career path. Animation skills are useful in many professional roles that extend well beyond film and TV. These professionals also exercise their creative muscles in roles like Game Developers, VFX Artists, Medical Animators, or Mathematical Animators, where they create 3D moving images. Those with a background in animation can work as Multimedia Animators, which involves using various types of software to design and animate images, as well as how the objects they create should move and how their surrounding environment should change. They may also wish to pursue a career in 3D design in fields like engineering or architecture, where they have the opportunity to transform basic images into colorful 3D designs with lifelike characteristics such as depth. Animation skills are also useful for careers in motion graphics design, which combines 2D and 3D animation skills with graphic design principles.

Animation-related career paths provide an excellent platform for individuals to use their creative license daily. This diverse field presents many opportunities for creative people to pursue a range of artistic projects and endeavors, none of which are the same. Because many professions and industries seek out those with a background in animation, those who know how to work with computer animation tools like After Effects and Premiere Pro have a good amount of job flexibility regarding the types of projects they can explore. Animators may opt for traditional animated entertainment projects, video game design, digital advertising, or VR design. This range of opportunities ensures that Animators with the proper training can always find job opportunities.

How to Find an Animator Job?

It may feel challenging initially to begin the job search for animation careers, especially considering how many entry-level positions are available for those with animation training. When searching for a job in this field, there are several useful tips that can help you streamline the process:

• The job opening you're considering should match your level of experience and your interests. While this may seem obvious, since most job openings today are listed on aggregate sites like LinkedIn or Glassdoor, it’s essential to check the job requirements to ensure the search terms you’re using will help you find a job that fits your needs. It’s also important to check the date the job was posted to ensure it’s not too late to be in the running for the position. 
• After selecting one or more job options, the next step is to begin putting together the necessary materials to apply for the position. This usually includes a strong resume and well-written cover letter, a professional portfolio that includes your most impressive animation projects, and an up-to-date LinkedIn profile. Of these items, the portfolio component is usually the most essential of the materials that will be considered since it shows prospective employers what skills you can bring to the role and the sorts of projects you’ve used these skills to complete.
• Once you secure an interview, you will want to prepare for it. This includes researching the studio or firm where you’ll be interviewing to learn about their professional culture and mission. It also means being prepared to talk about your educational and work background and answer specific questions about how you’ll contribute to their studio if employed. 

Learn the Skills to Become an Animator at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop has several exciting educational opportunities available for aspiring Animators at all levels. In Noble’s Video Editing and Motion Graphics Certificate, participants receive comprehensive hands-on training designed to prepare them to pursue a career in motion graphics or video editing. Instruction is provided on core Adobe apps like Cinema 4D Lite, After Effects, Premiere Pro, and Audition. All participants in this program create a professional demo reel that can be shared with prospective employers. This certificate program includes eight 1-on-1 mentoring sessions. Financing options are available.

Those who want to take their motion graphics skills to the next level can do so in Noble’s Motion Graphics Certificate. This intensive program teaches students to create visual effects and motion graphics using Adobe After Effects. Participants study how to make 3D animations using Cinema 4D Lite. Instruction is provided on how to edit videos with Adobe Premiere Pro. This certificate program teaches students how to develop a project from concept into design and ultimately to fully animated graphics. Graduates of this course leave with a demo reel of motion graphics projects that can be shared with future employers to highlight their skills. Five 1-on-1 mentoring sessions are provided as part of this program.

For those who want to focus their training on a specific Adobe application, Noble offers After Effects Bootcamp. This hands-on program takes students from the basics of animation, such as how to navigate the workplace, up to advanced techniques, including green screen removal and motion tracking. An expert instructor with real-world animation experience teaches this project-based course. Tuition includes a bonus 1-on-1 mentoring session that can be used to drill down on difficult bootcamp concepts or for professional development purposes.

All Noble courses include a free course retake for up to one year. Instruction is provided in person in New York City and live online.