How to Become an Animator in Jersey City, New Jersey

The city of Jersey City, New Jersey features many occupational opportunities in high tech industries.  Due to global technological developments in digital media, many Jersey City artists are lately pursuing lucrative careers as animators, in response to the multiplied economic demand for local professionals in the field.

Jersey City Schools and Training Programs for Animation

Jersey City colleges, Universities and other professional training organizations offer various animation-related design programs.  Aspiring animators attending local colleges can major in computer science, communications design, photography or visual arts.  Jersey City animation students who study at local schools typically attend St. Peter's College.  Some Jersey City artists enroll at elite animation schools in New York City, a mere 30-minute commute from Jersey City.

Some Jersey City artists attend virtual art schools.  Among the new generation of accredited online colleges with animation degree programs are Stratford Career Institute, University of Phoenix, The Art Institutes, Academy of Art University, Post University, Full Sail University and ITT Tech, among others.  Some cyber animation schools also have local campuses, probably near you.  University of Phoenix has a location in Jersey City.

Working as an Animator in Jersey City, New Jersey

Companies all over Jersey City (and beyond) hire local animators to assist in the production of cartoons and interactive games, as well as educational and training videos, websites, medical images, engineering designs, mobile apps and more.  Jersey City businesses that hire animation professionals include schools, hospitals, real estate agents, product manufacturers, online news syndicates, websites, software developers and many others. 

Some Jersey City animators work for state-based animation studios like IDT Telecom in Newark, Carbon Productions in Roseland and Felix The Cat Productions in Hamburg.  Other resident artists work for noteworthy New York City animation studios like Asterisk Animation, Big Bad Boo Productions, Nathan Love and Flicker Lab, for instance. 

Some local animators team up with Jersey City motion picture producers who do their own animation.  Major movie makers in Jersey City include Redone Productions, Sleepy Girl Productions, Queendom Productions, Tyme-Bye-Tunes and Swag.  Other animation professionals work for Jersey City digital information technology firms.  Top graphic info tech corporations in Jersey City include Broadridge Financial Solutions, Datapipe, Fiserv, Princeton Information and Telargo, to name a few.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a professional animator living in Jersey City and employed full time by a U.S. company averages about $61,000 per year, with a mean hourly wage of roughly $30.00.  However, this estimate does not apply to the incomes of part timers, freelancers and New Jersey animators employed by offshore businesses. 

Skills of a Professional Animator

The production of successful animated films requires visual-mechanical talent, above all.  Professional animators are gifted illustrators, especially regarding humanoid characterizations and things in motion.  Animators are completely familiar with animation-related software packages such as 3D Studio Max and Toon Boom Digital Pro.  Other essential skills relevant to animation design are photography, sculptural technique, lighting, layout and set design.  Also helpful are website construction, interactive digital design and fluency in basic programming languages.  Lastly, project management potential is appreciated.