3D Animation

3D Animation Overview

3-D animators work with computer sketches to create the images for animated commercials, television shows, movies, and computer games. 3-D images are often more realistic than 2-D animation, which involves hand-drawn pictures. Movies such as Toy Story or Wall-E and most computer games employ 3-D animation, while television cartoons and older animated films like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs use 2-D animation.

3-D artists design all aspects of an animated film, often specializing in one particular facet such as characters, character effects, or background. The ultimate goal of many animators is to work in Hollywood on animated films, but jobs in animation are available all over the globe. Animation careers are also available outside the traditional movie and video production track in industries such as advertising and computer software development. Animation is also one of the fastest growing art field, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and studios are increasingly interested in 3-D animation over 2-D animation as viewers tend to favor the emerging medium.

3D Animation Training & Education

A successful 3-D animator does not necessarily need to have a college degree. When making hiring decisions, employers care most about a candidate’s artistic talents and portfolio. However, a degree from an art school or a degree in animation can give an applicant a leg up. If a candidate has a formal education in computer animation, he is probably more familiar with different aspects and styles of animation, something employers and recruiters like.

A few larger studios, such as Sony Imageworks, also have in-house training and artist-development programs. Some of the studio programs are geared toward animation students and offer month-long fellowships. Other studios require all new hires to undergo training before they can work on projects.

3D Animation Career & Salary Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not have a specific breakdown on the earnings of 3-D animators, but the median income for an animator is about $51,000. Animators who work in the movie and video industries generally earn slightly more, about $57,000 on average, and those that work in the advertising industry earn less, around $48,000.

For some jobs, an animator might need to join a local guild, which might have pay scales. In Hollywood, California, for example, the local Animation Guild has negotiated collective bargaining agreements with several studios. If an employee is a member of the guild, the agreement guarantees a minimum level of pay. In 2007, guild animators in Hollywood could earn between $20 and $37 an hour, depending on training and level of experience.

3D Animation Characteristics & Specializations

3-D animators are likely to work for several different employers over the course of their careers. They typically specialize in a particular field but need to a variety of different styles of animation. Many animators also freelance, so the ability to meet deadlines and communicate with employers is key to a successful career.

There are many different specializations within 3-D animation. A character designer, for instance, is an animator that specializes in drawings of people and animals, the main characters of a story. Character designers must be good at drawing faces, bodies, and movement. A sub-specialty of the character designer is a character effects designer draws the secondary aspects of a character, such as the clothes, fur, or skin.

A background designer specializes in creating the background images and settings in animated commercials, shows, and movies.

A storyboard artist sketches the framing and shot composition of the scenes in a film before they are put together. Other artists will use these storyboards as a guide when drawing the different aspects of the film.

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