What Degree Do You Need to Become an Animator?

If you’re interested in pursuing a career as an Animator, you may wonder what degree you need to do so. Although not all jobs require that applicants have a degree in an animation-related field, earning this designation is a great way to distinguish yourself from other candidates and show you’ve spent years acquiring technical and creative training. The most common undergraduate degrees for aspiring Animators are in visual design or art. Those who don’t have undergraduate or graduate animation training will need to demonstrate their skills to prospective employers through their demo reel and strong application materials. Read on to learn more about the most common degrees for Animators, as well as how to land a job in this field without having studied this field in college.

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, and 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. 

Do I Need a Degree to Become an Animator?

Although a degree isn’t necessary to pursue a career in animation, most people enter this field with a college degree in art or visual design. These programs provide students with the opportunity to spend several years fully immersed in their studies. Participants not only receive training in basic animation concepts, but they also learn how to work with the technology and software needed to succeed professionally, including Adobe After Effects or Cinema 4D. 

Some of the most popular undergraduate and degree paths held by those interested in working in animation are:

• Associate’s degree in computer animation
• Bachelor’s degree in animation
• Bachelor’s degree in computer animation
• Bachelor’s degree in the fine arts
• Bachelor’s degree in visual design
• Master’s degree in fine arts.

College and graduate study can be a great way to prepare for a career in animation, but it’s not required for all jobs in this field. Those who don’t have formal college training in animation can still apply for many animation careers. They will need to demonstrate to employers that they can work with core animation apps and software like Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects, as well as apply various animation techniques and theories. These skills can be learned through bootcamps or certificates from providers like Noble Desktop. Additionally, those hoping to land an animation job but don’t have a degree will need strong job application material that will convince a hiring manager they’re as qualified for the role as someone with this degree. This means a very strong demo reel, cover letter, resume, and LinkedIn profile. Job experience is also an asset for those applying without degrees. Some individuals may wish to gain industry experience in animation, either through volunteer work or freelance jobs, before they apply for full-time animation roles.

Common Degrees for Animators

There are many educational routes available for those interested in studying animation. The most common is a college or university degree. Schools that offer degrees in animation provide students with well-rounded training in art, including drawing, painting, and sculpting. They also offer coursework in technology-based topics like digital animation, computer graphics, digital drawing, video and sound editing, kinematics, game design, and scripting. Graduates of these programs will have a well-rounded skill set they spent four or more years cultivating, one they can put to use in a range of creative career paths.

The following are several of the most common degrees aspiring Animators hold and the type of training they provide:

• Associate’s degree in computer animation: This type of degree is intended to prepare graduates for an entry-level job in animation. It covers the basic animation skills, tools, and software, and does so in a relatively short time frame. Coursework covers concepts like video game design and special effects, and also offers hands-on training in the field of animation. 
• Bachelor of arts: This interdisciplinary undergraduate degree usually provides students with more flexibility than a bachelor of science program. Students complete less specialized courses as part of a BA, including training in the arts and humanities. After having completed a range of general education classes, students select a major in a specific field, such as fine arts. This well-rounded degree can provide versatile career options for graduates, and prepare them to work in animation or a career closely related to animation. 
• Bachelor of fine arts: This undergraduate degree is intended for those who know they want to put their skills to use in a creative field, such as theater, music, or visual art. These programs are a good match for those looking to put their college training to use in a creative career. These programs can be very selective and sometimes require submitting a portfolio of work or auditioning for admittance. In BFA programs, students interested in animation usually have the chance to work closely with their teachers and devote the majority of their time to specialized training in the art studio.
• Master of arts: This graduate degree usually follows a bachelor’s program and provides students with a more focused form of education than they received during undergraduate coursework. Most MA programs also provide students with the chance to develop marketable professional skills and take their knowledge of a specific discipline even further. 
• Master of fine arts: An MFA is a terminal graduate degree that indicates the student has achieved the height of formal training in a given field. Generally, MFA programs are offered in creative fields like graphic design, photography, creative writing, or visual arts. Graduates of these programs can find jobs as associate professors, designers, or directors, among other roles.

Tips for Starting an Animator Career Without a Degree

If you don’t have a degree in animation from a college or university but still want to begin a career in this field, don’t fret. The following paragraphs will provide some tips that can help you land a job in animation, even without a degree related to this field (or even without a college degree at all).

A good starting place when exploring animation careers is to do some preliminary research into the field and the various positions available. You may wish to look on YouTube for free videos on topics like motion graphics or the tools necessary to create animations, including Adobe After Effects or Toon Boom. This can be a great way to see what sort of training different animation roles entail and which of these skill sets is most in line with your professional aspirations. The more you know about the various career paths available, the easier it will be to narrow your options down. Some prospective job paths are in 2D animation, 3D animation, motion graphics, AI animation, or animation design.

One of the most essential skill sets any Animator needs to succeed is knowledge of different software and applications. Each animation position has its own requirements, but there are several core programs that are good to know when applying for job openings. Some of the most popular animation tools are Adobe After Effects, Cinema 4D, Adobe Premiere Pro, Autodesk Maya, Toon Boom, and Blender. Knowledge of one or more of these programs is one of the most necessary skills you can have. If your prior educational experience didn’t include instruction on these, you can consider attending an in-person or live online course from Noble Desktop, such as the After Effects Bootcamp or Motion Graphics Certificate program.

Perhaps the most important factor when applying for animation jobs is a strong professional portfolio that demonstrates your best work. Regardless of whether you’re interested in part-time work, full-time employment, or freelancing options in animation, a strong portfolio is essential. Employers want to see that the job candidate can work with a range of software, tools, and animation styles. Animation portfolios take many forms; they can be video showreels that display a short video (1-3 minutes long), which include a selection of your best animation pieces like still or moving images, or even websites that are hosted by platforms like Wix, Dribble, Squarespace, or Cargo. One popular tool for creating an animation portfolio is to work with Adobe Portfolio, which is part of Adobe CC and helps users create a full website they can share with prospective employers. It’s important to remember that animation portfolios are not static items. They evolve over time as the individual compiles new projects to add or finds work samples that better demonstrate the range of their skills.

Another piece of advice for those interested in pursuing a career in animation without a degree in this field is to make every effort to network with other professionals. Unlike other professional paths like marketing or web development, in which professionals have conferences they can attend or large online forums that provide a way to connect with others, it can be more challenging to find these connections in animation. Because so much of an Animator’s daily job involves solo work or working directly under a creative director or manager, Animators may need to think outside the box when they look for networking opportunities. Those interested in finding an animation career may wish to explore opportunities where creative-minded individuals can come together, connect, and exchange ideas. Some possible networking opportunities in animation include the SIGGRAPH Conference and the VIEW Conference. The Animation World Network’s website is a great resource for finding events around the globe. Additionally, resources like Meetup or LinkedIn can provide leads on how to find networking opportunities in animation.

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.