Key Animator - Career Profile

What Does a Key Animator Do? 

After working as an animator for at least three years, some animators may advance to key animator—a senior level position. Also called “senior animator,” key animators typically advance to even higher level positions after holding this title for several years. Becoming a successful senior animator is the final test before being promoted to director. Although higher ranking than an animator, the key animator still does his fair share of creative work, in addition to more management and directing than an intermediate animation position.

In addition to helping develop main characters, key animators guide junior crew members through pre-production. They manage pre-production by determining how animation will be executed by working with riggers and model makers to make sure models and puppets are rigged properly for action scenes. Once pre-production is complete and production begins, the key animator helps manage the entire production by working with the director to complete the project on time and within budget.

Where Do Key Animators Work?

Key animators work primarily for animation studios and motion picture and video production companies, as well as gaming companies. Some may work for advertising or marketing firms.

What is the Job Outlook for Key Animators?

Employment for key animators (part of the broader multimedia artists and animators group) 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.

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Despite average job growth, competition for job opportunities in animation will remain strong. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (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.

States with the Highest Employment Levels for Animators

1. California
2. Texas
3. New York
4. Georgia
5. Florida

Industries with the Highest Employment Levels for Animators

1. Motion Picture and Video Industries
2. Computer Systems Design and Related Services
3. Software Publishers
4. Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services
5. Other Information Services

Industries with the Highest Concentration of Employment for Animators

1. Motion Picture and Video Industries
2. Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers
3. Software Publishers
4. Specialized Design Services
5. Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services

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:

1. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
2. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
3. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY
4. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
5. Austin-Round Rock, TX
6. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
7. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX     
8. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
9. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA      
10. Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH

Schools to Consider:

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Academy of Art University

Selected Campus Locations:

• San Francisco & Online

Selected Programs: 

• Animation
• Game Development
• Graphic Design
• Illustration
• Interaction & UI/UX Design
• Visual Effects

Animation Career Review Rankings: 

• Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#15) - 2023
• Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#36) - 2023
• Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#40) - 2023
• Top 50 Nationally for Illustration (#20) - 2023
• Top 25 Nationally for Visual Effects (#5) - 2023

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Full Sail University

Selected Campus Locations:

• Winter Park, FL & Online

Selected Programs: 

• Computer Animation - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
• Game Programs - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
• Graphic Design & Digital Arts - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
• Film & Digital Cinematography - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
• Simulation & Visualization - Bachelor's - Campus
• Game Business & Esports Bachelor’s of Science - Online & Campus
• User Experience Bachelor's Degree – Online

Animation Career Review Rankings: 

• Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#14) - 2023
• Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#8) - 2023
• Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#28) - 2023

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Southern New Hampshire University

Selected Campus Locations:

• Online

Selected Programs: 

• BA in Game Art & Development
• BS in Game Programming & Development
• BA in Graphic Design
• BA in Graphic Design & Web Design

Animation Career Review Rankings: 

• Top 50 Private Graphic Design Schools in the US (#36) - 2023

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CG Spectrum College of Digital Art & Animation

Selected Campus Locations:

• Online

Selected Programs: 

• 2D Animation
• 3D Animation
• 3D Modeling
• Concept Art
• Digital Illustration
• Game Art & Animation
• Game Design
• Game Programming
• VFX Compositing and FX
• Real-time 3D & Virtual Production
• Game Development - Programming, Design, Game Art & Animation, Real-time 3D & Virtual Production

Animation Career Review Rankings: 

• Top 25 International Animation Training Programs (#16) - 2023

How Much Do Key Animators Make?

The median annual wage for animators is $72,520. 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. Because key animator is an advanced level position, professionals in this field will be at the higher end of the pay scale.  

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.

1. Motion Picture and Video Industries - $86,080
2. Computer Systems Design and Related Services - $78,850
3. Software Publishers - $85,270
4. Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services - $73,780
5. Other Information Services - $80,070

However, the top five highest paying industries for animators are:

1. Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers - $99,790
2. Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing - $90,960
3. Motion Picture and Video Industries - $86,080
4. Software Publishers - $85,270
5. Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing - $83,050

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).

The highest paying metro areas for animators are:

• Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT - $115,070
• San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA - $91,850
• San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward - $91,840
• Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA - $91,010
• New York-Newark-Jersey City - $87,320
• Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA - $86,240
• Savannah, GA - $82,880
• Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA - $80,230
• Raleigh, NC - $79,070
• North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL - $78,980

How Do I Become a Key Animator?

The path to becoming a key animator begins with the right degree. Common paths include a BA, BFA or BS in Animation, Animation & Digital Arts, Media Arts & Animation, Computer Animation, Computer Graphics, Media Arts & Science, Fine Art, and even Computer Science (with an Emphasis in Animation). Some aspiring key animators may study business management if they want to become directors down the road.

In addition to a minimum 4-year degree, employers look for at least three years’ experience and advanced tech skills. However, many top studios prefer candidates with five to seven years’ professional experience in the industry, business management and leadership skills, and even an advanced degree. Fortunately, more schools than ever before now offer 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 more. 

Which Schools Offer Programs for Aspiring Key Animators?

Some of the top schools for key animators include:

• ArtCenter College of Design, BS Entertainment Design, Animation or Concept Track
• Brigham Young University, BFA Animation, BS Computer Science, Animation Emphasis
• California Institute of the Arts, BFA Character Animation, Experimental Animation, MFA Experimental Animation
• California State University-Long Beach, BFA, Option Illustration/Animation, Animation or Illustration Track         
• Carnegie Mellon University, BFA Electronic and Time-Based Media, Focus Animation, BFA Integrative Design, Arts & Technology (IDeATe), Concentration Animation & Special Effects, Minor Animation & Special Effects
• DePaul University, BA, BFA, MA, MFA Animation   
• Drexel University, BS, Minor Animation & Visual Effects, MS, PhD Digital Media, Minors in Animation & Digital Arts, 3-D Animation in Cinematic Arts, and Game Animation
• Pratt Institute, BFA Digital Arts and Animation, Emphasis Digital Animation and Motion Arts, Interactive Arts, Concentrations 2-D Animation, 3-D Animation and Motion Arts, Interactive Arts; MFA Digital Animation and Motion Arts
• Purdue University – Purdue Polytechnic Institute, BS Computer Graphics Technology (CGT), Major Animation, BS CGT, Major Visual Effects Compositing (combines animation, visual effect, video), MS CGT, Focus Computer Animation, Video Production and Visual Effects, Computational Art, Virtual and Augmented Reality, PhD CGT, Specialization that covers Animation, Game Studies, Human Centered Design and Development, Virtual Product Integration, and Web Programming and Design; Dual BS CGT/MS Technology, Specialization in CGT
• Rhode Island School of Design Providence, BFA Film/Animation/Video (FAV)  
• Ringling College of Art and Design, BFA Computer Animation, Motion Design    
• Rochester Institute of Technology, BFA, MFA Film and Animation      
• San Jose State University, BFA Animation/Illustration
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago, BFA, MFA Studio, Concentration Animation
• School of Visual Arts, BFA Animation, Computer Art, Computer Animation and Visual Effects, Cartooning; MFA Computer Arts, Concentrations Animation, Motion Graphics, Fine Art Savannah College of Art and Design, BFA, MA, MFA Animation, Minors Animation, Animated Illustration and Publication Design
• The Ohio State University, BFA, MFA Art, Emphasis Art and Technology, MFA Design (Digital Animation, Interactive Media), BS, MS, PhD Computer Science, Specialization Computer Graphics and Game Design
• University of California Los Angeles, BA, Concentration Animation, Animation Workshop MFA
• University of Central Florida, BFA Art, Emerging Media Track/Character Animation Specialization, Emerging Media Track/Experimental Animation Specialization
• University of Southern California, BA Animation and Digital Arts, BFA in Cinematic Arts, Film & Television Production with heavy Animation and Interactive Media electives, MFAs Animation and Digital Arts, Interactive Media with heavy Animation electives

Awesome Animation Fact: More than 600 people worked on the brilliant animated Disney movie Beauty and the Beast. Although it had one of the largest animated production staffs ever, Beauty and the Beast still took more than three and a half years to create.