How to Become an Animator in Syracuse, New York

The city of Syracuse, New York features many local visual artists and as many as 25,000 commercial businesses.  Now that new technologies have simplified visual media production, artists all over Syracuse are pursuing employment in the field of animation.

Syracuse Schools and Training Programs for Animation

Universities, colleges and trade schools in Syracuse, New York feature many various courses and degree programs in animated design.  Aspiring animators attending art schools in Syracuse study fine arts, photography, mass media, computer science and other relevant topics.  Syracuse colleges with animation design programs include Syracuse University, Onondaga Community College and SUNY College of Environmental Science.

Some Syracuse animators acquire skills via virtual design colleges.  Popular accredited online colleges featuring classes in animated design include the Academy of Art University, Post University, Full Sail University, Stratford Career Institute, University of Phoenix, The Art Institutes and ITT Tech.  Quite a few online schools also feature physical locations. 
 

Working as an Animator in Syracuse, New York

Several hundred Syracuse businesses employ local animators.  These include advertisers, game developers, app designers, product manufacturers, engineering firms, medical facilities and many more.  Some Syracuse animators sign with local animation studios.  Others work for local graphics IT corporations.  Successful Syracuse info tech companies include Broadview Networks, Destined Studios, Nysernet, Pro-Active-Internet-Marketing and WIS-International.

Professional animation artists in Syracuse, New York who are employed full time by U.S. companies earn about $66,340 per year on average, with a mean hourly wage of around $33.00.  New York ranks second among states (behind only California) in average incomes paid to professional animators.  This data does apply to part time animators, freelance artists or Syracuse residents employed with foreign businesses. 

Skills of a Professional Animator

Today's animators are exceedingly familiar with both MAC and Windows operating systems, as well as most animation-related software programs.  Currently trending favorite art programs used by professional animators include Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photo Shop, Adobe Premier and Adobe Flash, as well as many other Adobe products.  Professional animated movies with fat budgets are often created with Toon Boom Digital Pro, Maya, or 3D Studio Max.  Among the most highly recommended free, open-source animation software programs are Pencil for 2D animation and Blender for 3D designs.  Additional advanced skills required of professional animators include masterful storytelling, superb illustrative technique, photography, prototyping, model making, video editing, set design and fluency in HTML or other programming languages.