Employment Trends in Animation and Related Fields

Officially nicknamed “The Constitution State” in 1959, Connecticut has its fair share of firsts from the very first cigars made in America to the first color TV. The state produced the nation’s first law school, the first telephone book, the world’s first nuclear powered submarine was built in Groton, the state was the first to issue permanent license plates for cars, and the first commercial U.S. telephone exchange opened in New Haven.

Connecticut is one of the few states that continues to publish more than 144 different newspapers and it runs the oldest newspaper in America—the Hartford, which began as a weekly newspaper in 1764. The state is a leader when it comes to innovation and accepting new ideas, so it’s not surprising that Connecticut is also home to an active film office that offers excellent incentives for digital animation production companies. This attracts productions from all over the U.S., which spells “opportunity” for aspiring animators.

North Dakota is home to more than 4,500 professionals working in Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media (ADESM) occupations. They work in areas ranging from graphic design and editing to film and video production and photography. Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has not determined the number of animators working in North Dakota, the state is home to several production studios and associations that helps locate resources for visiting filmmakers. This helps attract productions to the state, which creates opportunities for animators interested in working in the film and video industry.

Alabama has an art and design scene that highlights art museums such as Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Birmingham Museum of Art, Huntsville Museum of art, and Mobile Museum of Art. The state is also home to dozens of contemporary art galleries, design centers, and performing arts venues, as well as an active film office. The Alabama Film Office offers incentives, easy access to beautiful locations, and an endless amount of resources for filmmakers. This attracts productions of all kinds to the state. Just a few include Selma (2014), Failure to Launch (2006), Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006), and Big Fish (2003). 

With a population of just 935,614 (2014), Delaware is one of the smallest states in the U.S. Still, this tiny territory has big dreams when it comes to attracting creative industries such as filmmaking. In fact, the state legislature recently approved the formation of a Motion Picture and Television Development Commission that will work under the Department of Finance. The state hopes that the move will bring more jobs and money into Delaware. The state is already home to the Delaware Film Office, which is a private non-profit organization that promotes the Video Game, Motion Picture, Television Production, and New Media industries in Delaware. The growth of organizations such as these may lead to growth in the animation and multimedia art industry.