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The Global Insight

What does an animator do?

Author

John Johnson

Updated on March 08, 2026

An animator produces multiple images called frames, which when sequenced together create an illusion of movement – this is known as animation. The images can be made up of digital or hand-drawn pictures, models or puppets. Animators tend to work in 2D, 3D model-making, stop-frame or computer-generated animation.

Is animation a good career in USA?

Animation is one of the fastest growing career options in our country these days. The want for more and more skilled animators has brought about a rise in job opportunities and ascended the demand for animation as a lucrative career option.

What is the starting salary in animation?

Salaries: Junior animators or trainees could get between Rs. 8,000-15,000 per month. With three to five years experience they can earn Rs. 25,000- 40,000. A well-experienced animator who has a good portfolio of excellent animation work could easily get Rs.

What kind of jobs can an animator get?

For example, in the entertainment and arts industry, animators may find work as stop-motion animators, art directors, film and video editors, and video game designers. Other roles include forensic animators, mathematical modelers, and advertising artists.

What are the disadvantages of being an animator?

Disadvantages. Animators may have to work long hours, particularly those employed by a company. Their work schedule can exceed 50 hours per week and when deadlines are approaching, night and weekend work often is required to meet a deadline. Self-employment has some downsides for animators.

Why are Japanese animators paid so little?

Originally Answered: Why are animators in Japan poorly paid? The same reason any workers are poorly paid: to cut costs and increase profit. Animation studios (and not just in Japan) are run like sweatshops in a lot of cases, with the artists working around the clock for meager pay.

What is the highest paid animation job?

Five of the highest paying animation careers are visual development artist, character technical director, 3D modeler, animation art director, and forensic animator. Each of these jobs requires a bachelor’s degree in animation, special effects, or motion graphics.

Can a computer animator work for a company?

Employers typically invest in the best technology and animators should be able to exploit that technology fully. Artists can maintain their proficiency by taking courses in the latest releases of computer animation technology. Such courses may be offered by colleges or by companies that produce software and hardware.

What kind of animation can you do on a computer?

Computer animators design and create 2D and 3D motion graphics for diverse platforms, including videos, computer games, mobile devices, computer applications and websites.

Do you have to go to college to be an animator?

While an animator isn’t required to have a college degree, most employers prefer to hire job candidates who have a Bachelor’s degree in Animation, Computer Graphics or a related discipline.

What kind of movies do digital animators make?

In addition to creating animated 3D art for television commercials and video games, digital animators create characters in increasingly popular computer-animated movies. Many well-known children’s movies use this type of computer-generated animation, including Toy Story 3, Despicable Me and Ice Age. What Kind of Education Do I Need?