Info on Working as an Animator in Toledo, Ohio

The city of Toledo, Ohio supports more than 25,000 businesses and features many local artists landing jobs as professional animators.  Recent technological developments in animated film design have broadened the local opportunities in this creative, high tech field.

Toledo Schools and Training Programs for Animation

Colleges, Universities and other Toledo training centers feature various animation-related programs.  Aspiring animators attending local visual arts colleges usually major in visual communications or graphic arts.  Popular Toledo art colleges with courses in animation design include Davis College, Stautzenberger College and University of Toledo. 

Some Toledo animators acquire professional skills via virtual design schools.  Popular online colleges with animation classes and degree programs include the Academy of Art University, Post University, Full Sail University, Stratford Career Institute, University of Phoenix, The Art Institutes and ITT Tech.  Many online colleges also maintain physical locations near you.

Working as an Animator in Toledo, Ohio

Clusters of commercial businesses in Toledo, Ohio hire local animation professionals.  Toledo companies in need of animators include website consultants, advertisers, online news syndicates, TV stations, software developers, medical facilities, training organizations and many others.  Top Toledo animators land lucrative positions at local animation studios.  Additionally, some local motion picture companies hire their own animators.  Productive Toledo movie makers include Andrew-Martin-Magical-Productions, Keylite-Productions, Showcase-Video-Productions, Video-Post-Productions and Viewpoint-Productions.  Other local animators work for IT corporations focused on computer animation.  Competent Toledo info tech firms include Apitlo, Century-Tel, Data Service Center, eNiche Commerce and Wright Time Studios.

Professional animators residing in Toledo, Ohio and employed by United States businesses earn about $59,000 per year on average, with a mean hourly rate of roughly $29.90.  This data does not reflect the salaries of part timers, freelance professionals or Toledo-based animators employed with offshore businesses. 

Skills of a Professional Animator

Professional animators are extraordinary illustrators with compelling storytelling expertise.  They are easily able to sketch believable scenes and evolving characters from abstract verbalized concepts.  Naturally, this requires massive artistic talent and excellent communication skills.  Animation artists are also completely familiar with relevant software programs like Adobe Illustrator, Photo Shop, Power Point, Action Script and After Effects, as well as Toon Boom Digital Pro or 3D Studio Max.  Most professional animators are also highly skilled photographers, layout artists, prototypers and set designers, not to mention web page builders, interactive media developers and programmers.  Also desirable to most employers are high-level organizational skills and extreme self-motivation.