Animator Requirements

This article will provide an overview of the most common requirements needed to land a job as an Animator. While Animator skills and tools will vary from one position to another, several components most employers consider when selecting employees include prior work experience, a strong professional portfolio, a current LinkedIn profile and resume, and a demonstration of hard and soft skills. Read on to learn more about the steps you can take to become a competitive job applicant for animation-related career paths.

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 Do I Need to Pursue a Career in Animation?

The following sections will take a closer look at several requirements that most animation jobs require of applicants. 

Education

Those who are interested in learning animation can opt for several types of training, such as on-demand classes, bootcamps, certificate programs, and college study. The following sections will examine each of these options in more detail so you can choose the learning path that’s best for you.

On-Demand Animation Classes

Some learners who wish to study from home enroll in on-demand animation courses. Providers like Udemy and The Academy of Animated Art provide asynchronous coursework on topics like character animation, pixel art, VFX visual effects, and 2D animation for beginners. Self-paced classes are a good option for those who need to fit their animation studies in with other professional or personal commitments. Since these classes are pre-recorded and placed online, those enrolled can decide when they want to complete their training and how long they’d like to spend doing so. This flexibility allows them to pause or rewind lessons as needed. Course length varies significantly with on-demand animation training; some programs require just a few hours to complete and teach a specific animation skill, whereas other courses are more robust and can take months to graduate. Price points vary depending on course duration. Some providers offer free options, whereas others provide subscription-based services or for-fee individual courses.

In-Person & Live Online Animation Bootcamps & Certificates

Many excellent live online animation classes and in-person Animation bootcamps and certificates are available for learners at all levels. Animation bootcamps provide an accelerated environment with a focus on career development. Most animation bootcamps require just several weeks or months to complete, which is just a fraction of the time of four-year college study. The career support services included with many of these programs are an additional incentive for participants. Bootcamp tuition often includes access to job fairs, job boards, or networking events, or provides students with job interview training or individual mentoring to ensure they’ll be ready to land a job upon graduation. Noble offers several bootcamps for aspiring Animators. Students can learn in-demand tools by enrolling in Cinema 4D in After Effects Bootcamp or Premiere Pro Bootcamp to receive hands-on training from an instructor with industry experience working with these programs.

Students can also opt to enroll in an animation certificate program for more intensive training. These comprehensive learning options provide instruction that’s intended to take participants from beginner-level animation skills into more advanced concepts over several weeks or months, depending on whether the participant opts for part-time or full-time training. Certificates typically cover a range of in-demand motion graphics tools and applications Animators will use on a daily basis, including Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, and Cinema 4D. In addition to learning basic animation concepts and best practices, participants learn how to create 2D and 3D animated objects and compile a professional demo reel that can be shared with prospective employers. Certificates also provide learners with professional development perks like 1-on-1 mentoring sessions or LinkedIn profile critiques to ensure they will be workforce-ready upon graduation.

College or University Study

College or university study is another option some learners select for studying animation. Many traditional four-year colleges or art schools offer BFA degrees in animation. 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. It’s important to consider that college study also requires that participants complete general education classes, which may not be related to animation and can take up a substantial portion of coursework. Currently, the top three undergraduate schools in the US that offer a BFA degree are California Institute of the Arts, Savannah College of Art and Design, and Ringling College of Art and Design.

In addition to college study, some learners opt to enroll in a master’s degree program, such as an MFA in animation, which provides a more specific focus of study. Students in these programs spend an additional several years earning a degree in specializations like 2D or 3D animation.

Experience

Another important factor most employers consider when selecting Animators for a particular role is the experience they bring to the table. Most employers seek job applicants who can demonstrate that they have experience in either 2D or 3D animation, or both. Even though the need for prior work experience varies from one employer to another, most entry-level 2D Animator jobs require that applicants have at least two years of work experience. This may be from internships, volunteer roles, or paid positions. Experience may also be obtained in part from a degree program or certificate in animation. Those seeking higher-ranking animation positions will likely need to demonstrate additional work experience in order to be competitive candidates. This can include entry-level employment. Generally speaking, the higher ranking the job you’re applying for in animation, the more work experience you may need to have to apply. 

Skills

Becoming an Animator requires both soft and hard skills. These individuals must have training in art and technology, as well as the ability to effectively manage projects and timelines. Animators also regularly use drawing and illustration skills to share ideas and create new character designs and scenes. Animators should have well-developed communication skills since they’ll need to work as part of a team and adapt to criticism and feedback. Time-management skills enable Animators to manage projects that face tight deadlines and complete multiple tasks simultaneously. A strong dose of creativity is also essential for coming up with new ideas and developing unique animations. 

Animators should also be well-versed in using animation software like Adobe Animate, Maya, Blender, or Toon Boom. Some animation companies have their own computer software that artists must learn to use, or Animators may write their own computer code to create the desired effects. 

Animation professionals often specialize in a specific medium, like animated movies, video games, or television shows, or they may focus on a particular type of imagery, such as scenery or backgrounds. Video Game Artists focus on creating each video game level’s look, feel, and layout. Animators usually work as part of a team to create their portion of the project, and then the pieces are subsequently joined together in one cohesive animation.

Portfolio

One of the core components of getting a job in animation is having a professional portfolio that showcases your best work. Employers want to see that the job candidate they select 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, such as 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.

The following are some tips to consider when compiling an animation portfolio:

• Choose work that showcases a range of skills rather than one type of animation. 
• Keep in mind that professional portfolios should be well-rounded and indicate competencies in areas such as observational drawing, characters, concept sketching, life drawing, and storyboarding.
• Tailor your portfolio’s content to the type of career you wish to obtain. For example, you can include sculpture or model-making samples if you’re interested in a career in stop-motion animation.
• Highlight your animation process in your portfolio. Most portfolios include more than just animated clips; they also offer a context that posits the creative decisions made and illustrates the process that led to these pieces. For this reason, portfolios may include storyboards. 
• Include only your best work in a portfolio. Brevity is a virtue; rather than choosing 15 pieces that showcase all the work you’ve completed in the past several years, select the 3-5 strongest. Be prepared to speak about each of these samples, as well as the process behind them, at your job interview.
• Customize your portfolio so it stands out from others.
• Select a reliable host if you’re working with an online portfolio.
• Organize the portfolio’s content in a way that makes sense to audience members.
• Proofread to ensure there are no glaring typos that will distract audience members from the content.
• Keep the content in your portfolio updated, and include any newer work when available.

The goal of an effective animation portfolio is to gain an employer’s attention and distinguish yourself from the competition. Since portfolios can make or break your chance at an animation job, it’s essential to devote enough time to compiling a portfolio that’s engaging, specific, clear, and attention-grabbing. It’s always a good idea to seek feedback on your portfolio. Some coursework, such as certificate programs, provide participants with the opportunity to compile a professional portfolio and receive feedback on it. This is a great opportunity to have other perspectives on your work and make any improvements necessary before sharing it with prospective employers. 

Resume & LinkedIn Profile

Two essential components that most employers want from those applying for animation jobs are current resumes and LinkedIn profiles. Resumes typically span one to two pages and include the most essential information about your educational and work experience. While resume content varies depending on the type of animation job you’re applying for, all resumes should include contact information, prior professional experience, skills, awards and achievements, professional references, and any other distinguishing information you feel employers would want to know.

The following are some tips for creating an attention-grabbing resume in 2D animation that will stand out from that of other applicants:

• Rather than burying important information later on in a resume, it’s a good idea to include the most important parts of your educational or work background or professional accomplishments as early as possible in the document. Some individuals begin the resume-writing process by brainstorming the key details that are most essential to include, then structure the resume around them. This ensures they’re highlighted and won’t go unnoticed. Doing so may mean rearranging the document and using a non-chronological approach to formatting.
• Most Hiring Managers will form their first impression of a job candidate based on their resume. This is why it’s essential to use the resume to guide their focus. Strong animation resumes are structured to feature the applicant’s most important qualifications at the foreground, including their most impressive professional accomplishments and or accolades.
• While it may be tempting to create one general resume and use it to submit to all job openings in animation, it’s important to tailor each resume to the specific job to which you’re applying. When tailoring resumes, job candidates should foreground any experiences they have that are directly relevant to the job they are seeking. Individuals who are fluent in a foreign language may not need to mention this in all animation resumes. However, if they’re applying for a job at a major TV studio that often employs Korean animation houses, it would be important to note that they speak fluent Korean.
• The more visually appealing your resume is, the more likely it will be to stand out from hundreds of others. Rather than sending a generic Word document clogged with blocks of text, prospective Animators may wish to use their creative flare to add design features that optimize white space, guide the eye through the document, and provide a visually pleasing experience for readers. It’s important to not overdo a resume with too much design embellishment since it can make it hard for readers to follow the content and can be distracting for them. 
• It’s always good to ask different people to read your resume and give you feedback before you send it to Hiring Managers. You may want to have someone who has industry experience in animation read through it to ensure the content you include is pertinent. Since not everyone has access to professionals in their field, though, some may opt to have mentors from bootcamp programs or certificates review these documents for them. It’s also good to have someone with strong writing skills proofread the document to ensure there are no typos, inconsistencies, or glaring errors present.

Along with a strong resume, most aspiring Animators will need a current LinkedIn profile that prospective employers can view. Each individual will have their own preferences for creating their profile; however, there are several staples that are important to include when pursuing an animation career. A professional cover photo or headshot is one of the first things viewers will see when they look at your profile. The image you select here should attract viewers’ attention and establish the tone for the page. A strong opening statement is another essential component of a strong LinkedIn profile. This briefly details who you are and the sort of animation work that will be included on the page. Since this is the first written contact viewers will see, it’s important to spend time carefully articulating this statement.

A detailed resume is another component some LinkedIn profiles include. Since it’s an online platform, LinkedIn affords additional space that can be used to include any educational or professional experience that may not fit on a standard two-page resume. Hiring Managers who are interested in learning more about a client whose resume they’ve received can then turn to their LinkedIn profile to gain additional details to fill in their full work history and background. Similarly, a longer version of a demo reel can also be linked to on a LinkedIn profile so that Hiring Managers can get a feel for more of the kind of work you do that wasn’t able to be included in the one-to-three-minute reel.

The following are a few tips to help you know what to include (and not to include) on your LinkedIn profile in 2D animation:

• Never share an incomplete LinkedIn profile with employers. Even though it requires a lot of work and effort to create a full profile, it’s important that the one you have is complete and current. Pages that lack core elements like cover photos or have formatting issues will likely be overlooked by those in search of serious candidates.
• One of the main benefits of using LinkedIn is networking. Those who create their profiles with the intention of connecting with readers and clearly communicating their credentials to them will likely attract the notice of other like-minded Animators, which can be a valuable way to network and create a community of colleagues.
• LinkedIn profiles have no page limit. While brevity is a virtue, aspiring Animators can include all the information they wish on their profiles, such as additional details about their work history or professional experience. They can also go into greater depth on this platform about the work they did on a major project or training seminars they attended in the past.
• Most professionals will benefit greatly from having feedback on their LinkedIn profile before they share it with Hiring Managers and others. It’s a good idea to ask established professionals who have worked in animation to take a look at your profile since they may have a better idea of what Hiring Managers are looking for in prospective candidates. Additionally, having a friend or colleague who’s a strong writer proofread the content is also important to ensure it’s clear and doesn’t contain typos or errors. 

References

Professional references are another essential component most employers look for in job applicants. When selecting references to include in your resume, make sure they are people who can speak positively and in-depth about the kind of animation work you do and your work ethic. These individuals don’t necessarily have to be professional Animators, but it can help if they are. Often, references are people who have supervised your work at a prior position or colleagues who have worked closely with you in the past. While it’s okay to include teachers or former instructors as references, it’s never a good idea to use family or friends. It is a good idea to tell the individual that you are listing them as a reference, though, in case they are called or emailed to speak about you to an employer.

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.