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College | City | State |
---|---|---|
Carnegie Mellon | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania |
Flashpoint Chicago | Chicago | Illinois |
Gnomon School of Visual Effects and Animation | Los Angeles | California |
Los Angeles Film School | Hollywood | California |
New York Film Academy | Los Angeles | California |
Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah | Georgia |
Sheridan College | Oakville | Ontario |
The DAVE School | Orlando | Florida |
Think Tank Training Centre | Vancouver | British Columbia |
University of Central Florida | Orlando | Florida |
Effects animators are responsible for adding natural or supernatural characters or things to animated films. They work with VFX supervisors to determine the most effective approach to solving effects issues and develop the finished, final product. Effects animators create effects based on concept art and design from art departments. They use 3D lighting and effects as well as compositing tools to achieve the desired look. In addition to VFX supervisors, effects animators work with technical directors, designers, and art directors to create realistic effects.
Effects animators collaborate with other departments on the best approach to improving throughput. This requires thorough knowledge of tools and interfaces. Effects animators are experts with Houdini, Renderman, Mantra, Nuke, and other technology used to create effects.
Effects animators work for animation studios, film and video production studios, gaming companies, web design firms, graphic design firms, and advertising and public relations firms. Many effects animators work independently. This group has the second highest concentration of employment in the industry.
Employment for effects animators (included in the multimedia artists and animators group, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics - BLS) is expected to grow 8% for the 2016-2026 decade. This is as fast as average for all occupations. The projected employment growth for animators and multimedia artists will be the result of increased demand for animation and more realistic visual effects in video games, movies, and television. However, job growth may be slowed by companies hiring artists and animators who work overseas for lower wages. The increasing demand for computer graphics for mobile devices may counter slow growth by creating more job opportunities in the massive mobile industry.
Despite average job growth, competition for job opportunities in animation will remain strong. The BLS says, “Opportunities should be best for those who have a wide range of skills or who specialize in a highly specific type of animation or effect.” Additionally, the U.S. is home to an impressive population of 73,700 multimedia artists and animators, making it one of the largest career fields in the world of art and design.
While job opportunities for animators can be found all over the U.S., five states and five industries have the highest employment levels.
Within the top five states with the highest employment levels for animators, along with several others such as Illinois, Washington, and Massachusetts, are the top 10 metropolitan areas with the highest levels of employment. They include:
Other Animation Schools to Consider:
The median annual wage for animators is $72,520 per year. The mean annual wage is $78,230. The lowest average salary (for less than 10% of the animation population) is $40,870. The highest 10% earn more than $124,310. At $86,080, multimedia artists and animators working in the motion picture and video industries have the highest annual wage of the top five industries with the highest employment levels for animators.
However, the top five highest paying industries for animators are:
It is important to note that salaries for animators also vary by experience, type and size of company, and even geographic location. For example, Connecticut-based animators average $102,630 per year—the nation’s highest average salary for this profession—while South Carolina-based artists average $36,270—the lowest salary for this profession.
In addition to Connecticut, the top five highest paying states for animators are Washington ($90,700), District of Columbia ($89,210), California ($87,960), and New York ($86,490).
Today’s employer’s prefer to hire animators with at least a bachelor’s degree. Popular programs include a BA, BFA, or BS in Animation, Animation/Illustration, Animation & Digital Arts/Digital Arts & Animation, Media Arts & Animation, Computer Animation, Computer Graphics, Media Arts & Science, Fine Art, and Computer Science (with an Emphasis in Animation). Courses common to these programs include Drawing, 2D Animation Production, 3D Animation Production, and Stop Motion.
Aspiring effects animators will also take a number of as Visual Effects (VFX) courses and they will master high-end software such as Maya, Zbrush, Cinema4D, and Houdini.
In addition to a 4-year degree and advanced software skills, many employers look for at least two years’ experience in the industry. Entry-level positions may require only a degree and experience through an internship or other support position. Senior level positions may require at least five to seven years’ professional experience in the industry and possibly an advanced degree. In fact, more schools than ever before now offer MA or MFA degrees in Animation, Animation & Visual Effects, Animation & Digital Arts, and more.
Some schools in the U.S., and many in Europe and Asia, even offer PhD programs in Digital Arts & Animation, Multimedia & Animation, Computer Science with an Animation Emphasis and many others. The Bureau reports that in addition to years of experience and/or advanced degree, animators who show strong teamwork and time-management skills can advance to supervisory positions, where they are responsible for one aspect of a visual effects team. Some effects artists might advance to leadership or directorial positions, such as art director, producer, or director.
While many colleges and universities offer graduate programs for aspiring effects animators, just about every school offers undergraduate programs. Aspiring effects animators just starting out should review curriculums carefully to determine which programs would most closely support their focus area.
Awesome Animation Fact: Animation has been around for a lot longer than you might think. According to Computer Science for Fun (published by Queen Mary, University of London), a 5,200-year old bowl found in Iran features an early precursor of animation. Along the bowl's side are five drawings that, when viewed in a sequence, depict a wild goat leaping up to eat leaves off a tree.