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Animator

Animators bring drawings and computer generated characters to life on screen.

Annual Salary

Working hours

35 to 40

You could work: evenings / weekends; occasionally

What's it all about?

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As an animator, you could:

  • discuss instructions from the storyboard artist and animation director
  • visualise how to animate storyboard and script ideas
  • create characters and scenes by hand or using animation software
  • add lighting, shading, colour, texture and special effects
  • use motion capture methods to create expressions and lifelike movements
  • use stop-motion techniques to film physical 3D models
  • combine several layers of animation to create the final production

Working environment

You could work in a creative studio, in an office or from home.

Entry requirements

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • specialist training courses
University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or a degree in:

  • animation
  • art and design
  • computer games development
  • animation production
  • visual effects

You may have an advantage when looking for jobs if you choose a course that includes a work placement.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
  • university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/
College

You could do a college course to get some of the skills you'll need to become a trainee animator.

Courses include:

  • creative and digital media
  • games, animation and VFX skills
  • creative art and design

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a higher or degree level apprenticeship with a production studio, such as:

  • Junior Animator Level 4
  • Junior VFX Artist or Assistant Technical Director Level 4
  • VFX Artist or Technical Director Level 6
  • Storyboard Artist Level 7

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
Work

You could start as an animation runner with a company and with further training, work your way up to a digital painter, assistant animator, then animator.

Volunteering and work experience

Employers value work experience so it's important to get as much as you can. To find work experience or volunteering opportunities, you could contact:

  • broadcasting companies
  • advertising agencies
  • animation studios
  • computer games companies

You can also find out more about the different ways to get work experience.

Other routes

You could take a training course in animation or animation software to get some practical animation skills.

These courses are usually offered by film schools, regional screen agencies and private training providers.

More information

Career tips

You'll need to create a showreel and animation portfolio to highlight your best work and ideas.

Put your work on your own blog, website or video-sharing website to make it easy to find for employers.

Further information

You can get advice about the different roles in animation and how to get into them from ScreenSkills and Into Games.

Employment by region

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Career path and progression

With experience, you could:become a lead animator or animation director; work for a large animation studio, games developer, interactive media design business or video post-production company; become a freelance animator; open your own animation studio

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

  • knowledge of media production and communication
  • design skills and knowledge
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • the ability to organise your time and workload
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
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