animator

The work

Animators make drawings or models come to life on screen. Their work is used in animated short and full-length films, television cartoons, adverts, computer games, websites and film special effects.

They specialise in one of four animation techniques:

• 2-D hand-drawn, or traditional
• 2-D computer-generated
• 3-D computer-generated (known as ‘CGI')
• stop-frame, stop-motion or model animation.

There are many stages involved in producing an animation, from generating ideas to building models and final editing. Each stage can involve several specific jobs.

Development – directors and producers create ideas, plan the project and find funding.

Pre-Production – production designers create the look; storyboard artists take the script or ideas and show the story in a visual way; and layout artists draw how each shot will look.

Production – digital painters touch up colours; animators and modellers follow the storyboard and use computer or stop-frame animation to create movement and personality.

Post-production – compositors join the different layers of animation (backgrounds, special effects, characters and graphics); editors produce the finished piece.

On large or long-running productions, several animators and assistants can work on one stage for several weeks, months or even years. Animators working on smaller projects might cover several jobs.

See Skillset’s website for detailed information about animation job roles (details in Further Information).

Hours and Environment

As an animator your working hours can vary. For many jobs you will often work 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday, but may sometimes need to work long, unsocial hours and overtime to meet deadlines.

The work can be office- or studio-based, depending on your role and the type of animation.

You may spend most of your time sitting at a computer or drawing board. In stop-motion animation you may spend a lot of time on your feet adjusting models.

Skills and Interests

To be an animator, you need:

• creativity and imagination
• good drawing or modelling skills
• patience and concentration
• accuracy and attention to detail
• good computer skills, preferably including graphics and animation software
• communication and presentation skills
• the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• good teamworking skills.

Entry

To become an animator, you will usually need an art-related HND or degree.

Several colleges and universities offer foundation degrees, HNDs, degrees and postgraduate courses in animation. You could also get into the industry with other relevant subjects like:

• illustration
• graphic design
• computer programming
• model making or sculpture
• 3-D design
• multimedia design.

The most useful courses include practical skills and work placements. See Skillset’s website for a list of industry-endorsed animation courses.

Please check with colleges and universities about course content and entry requirements.

You will often begin as a studio runner, then progress to junior roles like storyboard assistant, digital painter or assistant animator. You do not need any qualifications to be a runner, although in practice many people who start at this level are graduates.

Employers always want to see proof of your talent and creativity, so you will need a ‘show-reel’ of your best animation work to show to companies and studios.

You could also show commitment to joining the industry by entering animation competitions and festivals, and sending short animated films or ideas to broadcasters.

Contact Skillset Careers for more advice about breaking into the animation industry.

Training

You will normally train on the job, learning from more experienced animators.

You should keep up-to-date with developments in the animation industry throughout your career. It will be useful to learn more software packages that are relevant to your job, for example:

• 3ds Max
• Motionbuilder
• Lightwave 3D
• After Effects.

Many other packages are available, and some companies also create software to meet their own needs. Your employer may organise some courses for you, or you may be responsible for your own training and development.

Short courses in a wide range of animation software packages and techniques are available at several film schools, universities and private training companies.

Skillset and the British Film Institute jointly provide a database of media courses - see Skillset’s website for this, and for information about how to fund your training as a freelance animator.

Opportunities

As an animator, you could work for:

• large or small animation studios
• computer games developers
• interactive media designers
• post-production houses (producing animated film and TV titles and credits).

The main centres for animation in the UK are in London, Bristol, Cardiff, Dundee and Manchester.

Jobs are sometimes advertised in the national press and specialist animation magazines and websites. However, many jobs are not advertised, so it is common to get work through networking and contacts.

You will often work freelance on fixed-term contracts. There is strong competition for jobs.

CGI is the fastest-growing sector of animation, but there is still a demand for people with good drawing skills. The more skills you can offer, the more employment options you will have.

With experience, you can progress from junior roles to become an animator, lead animator and animation director.

Annual Income

Freelance animators are usually paid a fee per contract or project.

Rates within the media vary widely and may be calculated on a daily or weekly basis. You could negotiate your own fees based on your experience and track record, the type of production and the budget available, or you may be paid according to Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU) guidelines.

See BECTU’s website for details of current minimum rates.

You may also earn a bonus at the end of a project, particularly in the computer games industry.

Further information

Prospect House
80-110 New Oxford Street
London
WC1A 1HB
Tel: 08080 300 900 for England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Tel: 0808 100 8094 for Scotland
21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN
Tel: 020 7255 1444

373-377 Clapham Road London SW9 9BT
http://www.bectu.org.uk

249 West George Street
Glasgow
G2 4QE
Tel: 0141 302 1700

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