Career options

There is a wide variety of jobs available in the animation industry, some of which are
as follows:

Designer

Audio & video specialist

Visualiser

Graphic designer
A graphic designer is responsible for the layout and presentation of different types of media (such as a poster, a package or a website)

Multimedia author

Web designer
A web designer creates webpages. Web designers use graphic design skills as also tools like Flash, HTML, CSS, etc.

Content developer

Modeler
Modelers facilitate the filming of puppets or any form of 3D models. The puppets are positioned and filmed before being moved slightly and filmed again. This gives the impression that the models are moving. A modeler should have a solid understanding of anatomy, form and volume.


Texture artist
A texture artist applies a surface to the 3D modeled character, object or environment. Coordinates are laid out to give the model an applicable surface for colour and texture.

Rigging artist
A rigging artist takes the modeled, textured 3D character or object and sets it up with a skeletal system or joints (if required). Without this step, the 3D model would not be able to animate, talk or move fluidly and correctly.

2D animator
2D animation involves the creation of a high volume of separate drawings that define a sequence. This technique is widely used in creating characters for animations and cartoon programmes

3D animator
The 3D animator takes the sculpted (or modeled), textured and rigged 3D model and breathes life into it. This is done by putting in order the key frames such that they appear to be in motion.

Compositing artist
compositing consists of layering individual frames of animation on top of one another to create final images. These images are then strung together to create complete shots or mini animated movies.

Editor
An editor assembles various visual and audio components of the film into a coherent and effective whole

Storyboard artist
A storyboard artist creates a series of panels that contains a visual interpretation of the screenplay - much like a comic book

Character animator
A character animator brings characters to life and generally has knowledge of traditional animation, stop-motion animation as well as claymation

Effects artist
Effects artists create a believable world for the action to take place in.

In-between artist
Tweening (short for in-betweening) consists of drawings that are inserted between the 'key' or important drawings to make the first image flow smoothly into the next one.

Image editor

Multimedia developer

Digital post-production artist


Special effects artist
Special effects artists integrate live-action footage with Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) or other elements (such as model work)

Programmer