Animation degree programs typically cover multimedia design, 3D modeling, animation and character design. Find out about the curricula of these programs, and learn about career options, job growth and salary info for animation graduates.
Animator, graphic designer and art director are three categories of professionals that can get started with a degree in animation. A degree program in animation prepares students with courses in design, modeling and web programming, and allows students to choose specialty tracks and create a work portfolio to show potential employers.
Essential Information
In the digital age, visual storytelling and communication are accomplished through the use of computers to create animated characters, interesting graphics and realistic special effects. Graduates of degree programs in animation, video graphics and special effects often go on to create digital worlds and interactive media as animators, graphic designers or art directors.
Careers Options
There are a multitude of career opportunities available to graduates of degree programs in animation, video graphics and special effects. They may work in advertising, publishing, web design or the movie industry. Many go on to become animators, graphic designers and art directors.
Animators
Animators work in a wide range of industries to express stories or marketing concepts through visual media, animation, digital graphics or special effects. They are generally expected to have freehand art skills as well as the ability to use computers and other technology to create storyboards, 3D models and computer simulations. Animators who work outside the entertainment industry are typically employed by advertising firms or related businesses to communicate promotional messages.
Job Outlook and Salary
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated that the employment of multimedia artists and animators is expected to increase 6% for the decade 2014-2024 (www.bls.gov). These workers earned $70,300 on average, according to the BLS in May of 2015.
Graphic Designers
Graphic designers use a combination of artistic skill and technical abilities to communicate messages through visual media. These workers design advertisements, magazine layouts, fliers, posters, brochures and many other products used by companies and organizations to express messages or reach potential customers. Graphic designers combine knowledge of color, composition, graphics and type to arrange design elements in a variety of print, visual and digital media.
Job Outlook and Salary
The BLS predicted that graphic designer jobs are projected to increase 1% for the years 2014-2024. Graphic designers earned average annual wages of $51,640 in 2015, according to the BLS.
Art Directors
Art directors are usually experienced artists, graphic designers or animators who manage art staff and guide the direction of visual media projects. They work in motion picture or television production companies, advertising agencies, commercial design firms and print media, overseeing the planning, budgeting and production of creative work. Art directors also manage accounts, approve layouts, communicate with creative services staff and work closely with clients during project development.
Job Outlook and Salary
The BLS estimated that art directors are expected to see a 2% increase in employment between 2014 and 2024. In May 2015, art directors earned an average annual wage of $101,990.
Overview of a Degree in Animation, Video Graphics and Special Effects
Degree programs in animation, video graphics and special effects include instruction in a multimedia design, editing and digital communications. These programs may be housed in schools' communications departments, and many offer concentrations or tracks that allow students to choose media specialties. Students learn about subjects like 3D modeling, web programming, character design, animation and multimedia design. Many programs entail completion of final projects or portfolios, which many graduates use to demonstrate proficiency to potential employers.
Animation program graduates can find work in a variety of industries, such as media and communication, and in many different job roles. Animators can work on marketing concepts while graphic designers focus on visual communications. Art directors usually have more experience in the field and oversee teams on media projects.
Top 15 Animation Software
These are the twenty essential programs that every artist needs to consider training in to become the best in their industries.
Basically, Poser tries to solve this problem: “I’ve got 99 assets but an animation ain’t one.” If you want to make a 3D animation, steps 1 through 99 often all involve the advanced and tedious tasks of making the 3D characters, scenes, props, textures, lighting, and plenty of other lengthy dropdown menus that get in your way if all you want to do is animate. Poser gives you all of the 3D supplies you need, and the rest is up to you. While it might not hold immense clout in the various animation industries, if you’re someone who is considering a related career path and don’t want to spend thousands of tuition dollars or hundreds of hours watching tutorials to find out if 3D animation is something you’d actually enjoy, then Poser is absolutely essential.
19. GoAnimate:
19. GoAnimate:
This Web software is a do-it-yourself animation package that has over five million users, and I’d bet half of them don’t even consider themselves “artists” because that’s how damn easy GoAnimate is to use. Sign up to their site and you have access to thousands of character models, scene backdrops, audio recording, lip-syncing features, and art asset props. Some users have become so famous in its community that they can even make a living by selling their art props back to the community for widespread use. Be it YouTube, Vine, or video ad popups, video content continues to rise as a top form of communication on the Internet, and GoAnimate hopes that Internet users – not just “artists” – from all walks of life embrace their tools to join in on the fun.
18. SketchBook Pro.
18. SketchBook Pro.
Yes, Autodesk isn’t just dominating the 3D industry anymore, and with a few SketchBook Pro iterations under their belt in the past few years they’ve quickly assembled a digital drawing and painting application that’s essential for every form of 2D artist. It still needs a few more versions of updates to propel it to the top of the charts against its competition, but it’s well on its way. What it currently lacks in true power, it makes up for in speed. This is a program that really understands that a good artist doesn’t need 50 brushes and menu options to make good art, and that the most important thing for a new concept is to let an artist draw as much as possible as quick as possible. With its simple brush setup, awesome steady stroke tool, and incredibly helpful magnetic shape guiders, it’s hard to believe how much you can accomplish with a limited time budget. Throw as much on the screen as you want without a single stutter. You can zoom all the way in, all the way out, and rotate the entire screen’s canvas exactly how you want in the middle of your workflow without any hiccups. If it can keep up those speeds while continuing to add more presets and tools, SketchBook Pro will quickly be competing for the throne.
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