Animator

The artistic people who give life to drawing or models on screen are called animators. They work in different fields, such as television, film, the Internet and video games. They specialise in any of the various animation techniques, which include 2-D computer generated, traditional animation, also known as 2-D hand-drawn, stop-motion, and 3D computer-generated. Animators can work in any or several duties in the four stages of creating animation. These stages include the development, pre-production, production and post-production stages, which cover a variety of works. Animators are involved in smaller projects, usually works on the production stage, such as working on creating personality and movement through the use of computer. It is also possible that animators will cover many of the jobs in the production stages.

In the animation industry, one must offer lots of related skills to have more employment options. A person with excellent drawing skills and computer skills and, if possible, knowledge of animation and graphics software, is fit for this job. Creativity and good imagination are also important. Other personal qualities include the abilities to work in a team and under pressure and to meet deadlines. An animator must also have good communication and presentation skills.

In applying for this job, the person must possess important personal qualities, such as skill in drawing and modelling, and formal training. There are colleges and universities that offer related courses, such as work placement and practical skills, which are very useful in this kind of profession. Employers often look for proof that an applicant is indeed talented. For this reason, one must prepare a DVD that shows one's best animation.

In a year, an animator can earn up to £20,000 as a starting salary. This could increase to £30,000 up to £40,000. There are also other bonuses that are given when a project is completed, especially in the computer games industry. The salary of a freelance animator is given for each project and depends on the type of production and the animator's track record.

In terms of working hours, animators commonly work weekdays, from 9am to 5pm. However, extra hours may be needed to meet deadlines. They are either studio based or office based. Their working conditions depend on the role and animation they handle. For instance, in stop-motion animation, they spend most of their time on feed-adjusting models.

One’s skills in this field are further enhanced by training, where experienced animators teach many things. An animator must also keep abreast of recent developments in the animation industry. Learning software packages, such as Maya, Motionbuilder, action script and 3ds Max, is also useful. Improvement can also be attained by taking short courses related to the profession.

The animation industry opens lots of opportunities to those who have many skills. Some opportunities are found in animation studios. Those who have excellent drawing skills and are computer wizards can look for a job in the fastest growing sector, the 3-D computer-generated industry, or CGI. In this industry, creativity and technology are combined in order to come up with a new form of art.