Here’s a brief list of what Animators do:

• Storyboarding: Creating a sequence of drawings that represent the script and screenplay.

• Character Design: Developing the appearance, personality, and movement style of characters.

• Animation: Bringing characters and scenes to life through movement, typically using software like Adobe Animate, Toon Boom Harmony, or Blender.

• Keyframing: Defining the most important poses and movements within an animation sequence.

• Inbetweening: Filling in the frames between keyframes to create smooth transitions and motion.

• Background Design: Creating the environments and settings in which the animation takes place.

• Editing: Assembling the final animation, including sound effects, music, and dialogue.

Here’s how YOU can become one:

1. Develop your Artistic Skills

• Drawing and Sketching: Practice drawing, sketching, and illustrating to develop strong foundational skills in anatomy, perspective, and character design.

• Animation Principles: Learn the principles of animation, including timing, squash and stretch, anticipation, staging, and exaggeration. These principles form the core of creating believable and expressive animations.

• Experiment with Different Styles: Explore various animation styles such as traditional hand-drawn animation, 2D digital animation, 3D computer animation, stop-motion, and motion graphics.

2. Education and Training:

• Formal Education: Consider pursuing a degree in animation, computer graphics, visual effects, or a related field from an accredited art school, university, or college. Formal education provides structured learning, access to industry-standard software, and opportunities to build a portfolio.

• Online Courses and Tutorials: Supplement your education with online courses, tutorials, and workshops offered by platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning. These resources cover specific animation techniques, software skills (e.g., Autodesk Maya, Adobe After Effects), and industry practices.

3. Build a Strong Portfolio:

• Create Animation Projects: Develop a portfolio showcasing your animation skills and creativity. Include a variety of animation projects such as character animations, motion graphics, visual effects, and short films.

• Showcase Your Range: Demonstrate your ability to animate different types of characters (human, animals, fantasy), emotions, and movements (walking, running, facial expressions) to showcase your versatility.

4. Master Animation Software and Tools

• Industry-Standard Software: Become proficient in animation software such as Autodesk Maya, Blender, Adobe Animate, Toon Boom Harmony, or Adobe After Effects. Familiarity with these tools is essential for creating high-quality animations.

• Storyboarding and Pre-visualization: Learn storyboard techniques and pre-visualization tools to plan and visualize your animations before production.

5. Gain Practical Experience:

• Internships and Entry-Level Positions: Seek internships or entry-level positions at animation studios, production companies, or gaming companies to gain hands-on experience. Practical experience allows you to collaborate with teams, work on real projects, and understand industry workflows.

• Freelance Work: Start freelancing to create animations for clients, educational projects, independent films, or advertising campaigns. Freelancing helps you build a client base, manage projects, and refine your animation skills.

6. Networking and Industry Connections:

• Attend Animation Events: Participate in animation festivals, conferences, workshops, and networking events to connect with industry professionals, animators, directors, recruiters, and potential collaborators.

• Join Animation Communities: Become a member of animation organizations (e.g., ASIFA, Animation Guild) and online communities (e.g., CGSociety, Animation World Network) to access resources, job listings, and industry insights.

  This is a very brief and general plan. To know your specific academic path for this career please talk to an advisor at the college or program you plan on attending!