Tips on Becoming an Animator in Houston, Texas

They say everything's big in Texas, and the city of Houston truly drives the point home.  Houston is the state's largest city, and the fourth largest city in America.  Featuring no less than 320,000 commercial businesses, Houston's creative, high tech economy is ideal for local artists pursuing careers as professional animators.

Houston Schools and Training Programs for Animation

Universities, colleges and art schools in Houston, Texas offer many various courses and degree programs in animation art.  Popular Houston design colleges include Rice University, Bradford School, Everest Institute, Texas Southern University and American Intercontinental University.

Nowadays, hoards of Houston artists are earning professional degrees via online training programs.  Popular accredited virtual colleges with animation courses include University of Phoenix, ITT Tech, The Art Institutes, National University, DeVry and Stratford Career Institute.  Many cyber design schools feature supplemental local resource facilities.  National University, ITT Tech, University of Phoenix and The Art Institute all have campuses in Houston.

Working as an Animator in Houston, Texas

Businesses in Houston, Texas that hire local animation artists include game designers, TV stations, medical animation companies, advertisers, real estate agents, legal service providers and many more.  Some Houston artists are hired by local animation studios like 3D-Motif, Illusions Studio or Starz Media, for example.  Other Houston animators land jobs with local film producers who feature their own animation.  Hot Houston motion picture makers include Cacti Broadcast Productions, JLP Service, Locke-Bryan Productions, Stage Directions and Tech Avenue.  Other Houston-based animation artists do technical work for graphics IT corporations.  High-revenue Houston info tech teams include Hi-Fi Graphic, Manzanita Services, Schipul, TIC-International and Web Specialists, to name just a handful. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that full time animators living in Houston, Texas average about $58,000 per year, with a mean hourly wage of around $28.00.  Animators hired in major cities like Houston earn higher incomes (on average) than animators employed in more rural Texas regions.  

Skills of a Professional Animator

Professional animators are skilled illustrators, experienced in many different drawing methods and styles.  Animation artists are able to rapidly render recognizable visual forms and facial expressions, often from verbalized, abstract conceptual ideas.  Animators are also entirely proficient with related software applications, and consistently create compelling, innovative works of digital art.  Also essential is a solid grasp of photographic technique, as well as layout, lighting, set design and prototyping.  Finally, professional animators are highly capable communication experts with a great gift for storytelling.