How to Become an Animator in Oklahoma

The state of Oklahoma oversees more than 300,000 commercial businesses and a great many local artists in search of professional work.  Fortunately, today's interactive gaming culture and recent advances in digital technology have multiplied the economic demand for professional animators.

Oklahoma Schools and Training Programs for Animation

Quite a few colleges and Universities in the state of Oklahoma offer courses related to video animation.  Oklahoma animators enrolled at local art colleges study drawing, digital graphics and visual communications, among other things.  Accredited Oklahoma colleges offering animation degree programs include Oklahoma City University and Oklahoma Technology Institute in Oklahoma City, Tulsa Community College and Oral Roberts University in Tulsa and Vatterott College, which has campuses in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

Some aspiring Oklahoma animators choose virtual classrooms, thanks to the current trend of accredited online schools.  Well-regarded online animation colleges include Stratford Career Institute, Post University, Full Sail University, University of Phoenix, The Art Institutes and ITT Tech, to name a few.  Some online animation schools also feature “brick & mortar” locations for your educational convenience.  University of Phoenix has campuses in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Owasso (near Tulsa).  ITT Tech has training facilities in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

Working as an Animator in Oklahoma

Animated motion pictures are popularly used for cartoons and video games.  However, animation art has other applications as well.  Animation is sometimes spliced into live-action films.  Cartoons are often used for educational videos.  Local governments and community organizations use animation for public messages.  Corporations frequently use animation to promote their products and services.  Hospitals use it for diagnostic imaging and medical training.  Oklahoma companies that hire animation experts include schools, government organizations and community groups, as well as TV stations, game designers, advertising agencies, medical facilities, software developers and more. 

Some local animators work for well-known Oklahoma animation studios like Creative Animation in Broken Arrow, Magical Animation in Okmulgee or Cartoons by Jahraus in Tulsa.  Additionally, Oklahoma movie producers often do their own animation.  A-list Oklahoma film makers include Benefield Productions and This-Is-Your-Life in Oklahoma City, as well as Arielle Studios and VCI Entertainment in Tulsa.  Other Oklahoma animators work for top IT corporations.  Local digital graphics info tech firms include Atlinkwifi and Wavelinx in Oklahoma City, or ACS Image Solutions and Vexis Systems in Tulsa. 

According to data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary of an animation designer living in Oklahoma and employed full time by a U.S. company is about $49,870.  This works out to roughly $24.00 an hour.  However, this data is based on the incomes of  a mere 40 Oklahoma animators employed full time by U.S. companies.  It does not account for freelance professionals, part time animators or Oklahoma artists employed by foreign businesses.

Skills of a Professional Animator

The skills required for professional work as an animator have changed in recent years.  Animation used to be a tedious process involving the hand-drawing of many thousand frames.  Animation still requires good old-fashioned illustrative talent, but today's animators also need proficiency with professional animation software like Toon Boom Digital Pro or 3D Studio Max.  Other applicable skills include lighting technique, photography, web design, programming and interactive media, as well as character development, plot lines and script writing.  Project management skills are also a plus.