Animator

Become an Animator

Do you find that wherever you are, your hand unconsciously picks up a pencil and starts doodling? Or perhaps you rent video games just to study the art direction. If this rings true, consider a career in animation.

Animation in a Nutshell

What does it take to be an animator? To start, you'll have to assess your interests and talents, do some research, and decide what type of animator you want to be. Animators can specialize in everything from traditional cartoon or comic book animation, to creating special effects for movies and music videos, to computer and video game animation.

Education Requirements for Animators

Employers in this highly tech-savvy industry look for a bachelor's degree in such fields as digital animation, 3D animation and video game animation, to name just a few. Earning your degree could mean sketching for hours to learn the basics of figure drawing. Once you've mastered core skills, you can look forward to exploring the latest computer animation technology.

Day in the Life of an Animator

Once you become an animator, you can look forward to a career spent in a snappy, casual office environment—animators often feel that their creativity is constricted in severe suits and ties.

Most likely, your office will be located in California, which employs (by far) the highest number of animators at 7,770, according to the US Department of Labor. Other top animator-friendly states include New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, and finally, Utah (with 350 positions).

Job Growth for Animators

Once you've graduated, the job prospects look great. Employment opportunities for animators are expected to grow 14.13% by 2014, thanks to a thriving entertainment industry, according to a "Best Jobs in America" survey conducted by CNNMoney.com in 2004.

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