Special Effects Artists and Animators
Additional Information
Duties
These are common tasks performed by animators and special effects artists:
- Create visuals and animations with the use of computer programs and drawings (images that appear to move).
- Create a film, game, or visual impact with a team of animators and artists.
- To aid in the creation of realistic designs or animations, conduct research about prospective projects.
- Using comments from directors, other animators, game designers, or clients, edit animation and effects.
- It is important to evaluate the development timetable with clients and other animators/game designers/directors/other team members (which may include actors).
It's common for visual effects artists and animators to specialize on one medium. Animated films and video games are popular pursuits for some. Movies and television shows have visual effects that are created by others. In order to create computer-generated pictures (also known as CGI), an actor's actions can be digitized and animated. Scenic or backdrop designers are another type of animator.
Specialization is possible for both artists and animators. Many artists in animated films and video games specialize in one or the other of these areas. The level design of a video game may be the emphasis of a video game artist's work.
Film, visual effects, and video games all require teams of animators to bring their ideas to life. Each animator focuses on a different aspect of the production, which is then brought together to form a single animated piece.
Some animators and special effects artists rely heavily on computer software in the creation of their work. Many animation studios require their employees to get familiar with proprietary computer animation software. There are a range of platforms in which video game designers operate, including mobile gaming and social networks.
Drawing and painting by hand is preferred by some animators and other artists who like to work this way before converting their work into computer programs. During the design phase, some special effects artists employ comic-strip-style storyboards or "animatics" to aid in visualizing the final output.
There are a lot of artists and animators that post their creative work online. These artists may be able to land paid or freelance work in the future if their photos become well-known.
Education
Bachelor's degrees in computer graphics or animation are often required for special effects artists and animators.
In addition to art and design, computer graphics bachelor's degree programs sometimes incorporate coursework in computer science. Students who want to pursue a career in animation will often need to take courses in sketching, animation, and filmmaking. Courses in painting, drawing, and sculpting are common in degrees in the fine arts. Interactive media or game design are examples of specializations offered by universities.
A great portfolio and excellent technical capabilities are two things that employers look for when hiring new employees.
Advancement
It's possible for visual effects artists and animators who demonstrate excellent cooperation and time management to go up the ranks and become supervisors. Some artists, such as art directors, producers, and directors, may rise to positions of leadership or management.
Other People's Stories
Self-study is an excellent way to improve one's graphics and animation abilities. In order to improve their chances of finding work, special effects artists and animators might learn these abilities.
Criteria to Be Considered
Talent for the arts. If you want to be an animator or an artist, you need have an excellent grasp of color, texture, and light. Their technical abilities, on the other hand, may be able to make up for any creative flaws.
Confidence in your ability to communicate. Animation and special effects artists need to be able to collaborate with others and take criticism constructively.
A working knowledge of computers the majority of the work performed by special effects artists and animators is accomplished through the use of computer programs or the creation of computer code.
Creativity. To come up with new ideas and bring them to life, artists and animators need to be able to think creatively.
Ability to organize one's time. Working hours at most studios and game design firms may be long, especially when deadlines are looming. When a deadline approaches, artists and animators must be able to properly manage their time.
Pay
The median annual wage for special effects artists and animators was $99,800 in May 2024. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $57,220, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $174,630.
Job Projections
Employment of special effects artists and animators is projected to grow 4 percent from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
