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How's the pay as an animator or artist? What majors should I take in college?
High school student.
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Natalie’s Answer
I can really only speak to the pay for an animator (or motion designer, motion graphic artist), and the pay within that field can vary a lot. For artists, that can be quite a broad category, so it's hard to say. It ranges from what we've all heard of with "the starving artist" to very successful artists with thriving businesses based on their style alone. I'll dive into the majors first and then you can see more below about pay.
As far as majors in college, many colleges offer animation classes and even majors in digital art or animation. Animation itself is also a broad category, so there are a few things you might consider when it comes to your interest there:
- Are you interested in the types of movies you see (Pixar, Dreamworks, etc.)? That's one style of animation-- 3D using programs like Maya (and definitely others but this isn't my area of expertise)
- Or are you interested in more of an anime style or Studio Ghibli style (The Boy and the Heron, Howl's Moving Castle, etc.)? That's hand-drawn animation, sometimes using programs like TuneBoom or again, others that I'm unaware of because this isn't my area either.
- Maybe you're inspired by the types of commercials and social media animation we see everywhere (ads, animated text, 2D graphics)? These use After Effects, Adobe Illustrator, sometimes Cinema4D or Blender, even Procreate Dreams (quite new still)
- There's also the style of animation or often called CGI (often more 3D style or special effects), and maybe that's what inspires you? After Effects and Cinema4D/Blender are also used there, among others.
- Are you more inspired by games? That's yet another realm of animation and interactive design (and some very new exciting developments with tools like Rive are coming into the scene there).
Beyond this, there's also the world of cel animation or sometimes called frame-by-frame (there's overlap with anime here, but it can be less detailed and still relevant for getting work). And what I usually do which is referred to as "motion graphics" or "motion design." There is a subset of animation also specializing in just that. So, that's a somewhat detailed way of saying it might be useful to look into each of those categories and see what you think might interest you most. From there, the college majors and areas of study can vary widely. And, as you can see from the software programs I've listed, being into learning software is a HUGE part of the work of an animator. No matter what type of animation you pursue, even if hand-drawn, you will need to learn and stay up-to-date on software as it changes. I can't emphasize that enough-- an interest in software and computers is quite crucial.
If right now, you're not sure (and again just speaking to animation here, not art careers as a whole), you might consider a college that offers an animation degree or a more broad degree in digital arts. If the colleges you're looking at don't offer those, learning the basic principles of art can be very useful (honing in on your drawing skills, illustration, graphic design). Just know that you'll need some experience in an internship or to choose a specific route for where that art might take you if you pursue those and are looking to earn a living out of college. The right internship can do a lot to make you more "hireable."
If you tend to be very independently motivated and focused, and a freelance career interests you, some business classes can never hurt either. But, I'd advise to make sure you get some real world experience (during or after college) at a studio or working for a company first before diving into freelance. There's so much you can learn very quickly by seeing how companies operate or even how a small studio handles client projects. And if you pursue a more traditional artist role (like selling art on Etsy, for instance), you're going to need some basic business knowledge to run that efficiently, know how and when to pay taxes, bookkeeping, etc.
So, to recap the majors-- some that might interest you and what might be good search terms:
- Digital Art
- Digital Animation
- Animation
- Animation and Motion Graphics
- 3D Animation
- Graphics and Animation
- 3D Graphics and Animation
- Animation and Game Development
- Animation and Visual Effects
- Multimedia Design
- Game Design
Also be sure that any degree you choose, since it's a huge investment of time and money, is providing you with networking opportunities and support for internships, etc. And take advantage of those as you see them roll in! Probably any of the majors listed above would give you experience in different roles and styles/types of animation so you can discover what suits you best, but that's another big thing to look out for. You want your experience in your college courses to be relevant for studios/companies looking to hire you or provide an internship for your skills.
And lastly, the pay. The short answer is yes, you can make a great living as an animator. The longer, more accurate answer is that it really depends on your work ethic, skillset, passion, relevant experience, artistic talent (this can be developed of course), visual abilities, and the type of animation you want to do. Some areas-- like animation for Pixar, Dreamworks, etc.-- are very competitive. But I can't speak much to that since I never went that route personally. I'm a motion designer and have worked at both large and small scale studios as well as freelancing full-time. And even within that, the pay ranges can vary a lot. As a freelancer currently, even the projects I take can vary significantly depending on clients' budgets and the scope of work. I make a good living overall, but freelancing isn't for the faint of heart. I had a lot of connections from previous jobs before heading into freelance work and that has been the majority of what keeps me afloat. With that said, I also didn't study animation in college and took a windy route to get where I am, and so kudos to you for finding some interests early on!
Please do follow up with any questions on this. I know it's a LOT to think about and would love to hear if you're leaning in any particular direction. Your process can help others to hone in on their route as well!
Think about what style or area of animation interests you most.
Think about your interest in software and computers. Do you enjoy those things or are you more tactile with your art interests?
As far as majors in college, many colleges offer animation classes and even majors in digital art or animation. Animation itself is also a broad category, so there are a few things you might consider when it comes to your interest there:
- Are you interested in the types of movies you see (Pixar, Dreamworks, etc.)? That's one style of animation-- 3D using programs like Maya (and definitely others but this isn't my area of expertise)
- Or are you interested in more of an anime style or Studio Ghibli style (The Boy and the Heron, Howl's Moving Castle, etc.)? That's hand-drawn animation, sometimes using programs like TuneBoom or again, others that I'm unaware of because this isn't my area either.
- Maybe you're inspired by the types of commercials and social media animation we see everywhere (ads, animated text, 2D graphics)? These use After Effects, Adobe Illustrator, sometimes Cinema4D or Blender, even Procreate Dreams (quite new still)
- There's also the style of animation or often called CGI (often more 3D style or special effects), and maybe that's what inspires you? After Effects and Cinema4D/Blender are also used there, among others.
- Are you more inspired by games? That's yet another realm of animation and interactive design (and some very new exciting developments with tools like Rive are coming into the scene there).
Beyond this, there's also the world of cel animation or sometimes called frame-by-frame (there's overlap with anime here, but it can be less detailed and still relevant for getting work). And what I usually do which is referred to as "motion graphics" or "motion design." There is a subset of animation also specializing in just that. So, that's a somewhat detailed way of saying it might be useful to look into each of those categories and see what you think might interest you most. From there, the college majors and areas of study can vary widely. And, as you can see from the software programs I've listed, being into learning software is a HUGE part of the work of an animator. No matter what type of animation you pursue, even if hand-drawn, you will need to learn and stay up-to-date on software as it changes. I can't emphasize that enough-- an interest in software and computers is quite crucial.
If right now, you're not sure (and again just speaking to animation here, not art careers as a whole), you might consider a college that offers an animation degree or a more broad degree in digital arts. If the colleges you're looking at don't offer those, learning the basic principles of art can be very useful (honing in on your drawing skills, illustration, graphic design). Just know that you'll need some experience in an internship or to choose a specific route for where that art might take you if you pursue those and are looking to earn a living out of college. The right internship can do a lot to make you more "hireable."
If you tend to be very independently motivated and focused, and a freelance career interests you, some business classes can never hurt either. But, I'd advise to make sure you get some real world experience (during or after college) at a studio or working for a company first before diving into freelance. There's so much you can learn very quickly by seeing how companies operate or even how a small studio handles client projects. And if you pursue a more traditional artist role (like selling art on Etsy, for instance), you're going to need some basic business knowledge to run that efficiently, know how and when to pay taxes, bookkeeping, etc.
So, to recap the majors-- some that might interest you and what might be good search terms:
- Digital Art
- Digital Animation
- Animation
- Animation and Motion Graphics
- 3D Animation
- Graphics and Animation
- 3D Graphics and Animation
- Animation and Game Development
- Animation and Visual Effects
- Multimedia Design
- Game Design
Also be sure that any degree you choose, since it's a huge investment of time and money, is providing you with networking opportunities and support for internships, etc. And take advantage of those as you see them roll in! Probably any of the majors listed above would give you experience in different roles and styles/types of animation so you can discover what suits you best, but that's another big thing to look out for. You want your experience in your college courses to be relevant for studios/companies looking to hire you or provide an internship for your skills.
And lastly, the pay. The short answer is yes, you can make a great living as an animator. The longer, more accurate answer is that it really depends on your work ethic, skillset, passion, relevant experience, artistic talent (this can be developed of course), visual abilities, and the type of animation you want to do. Some areas-- like animation for Pixar, Dreamworks, etc.-- are very competitive. But I can't speak much to that since I never went that route personally. I'm a motion designer and have worked at both large and small scale studios as well as freelancing full-time. And even within that, the pay ranges can vary a lot. As a freelancer currently, even the projects I take can vary significantly depending on clients' budgets and the scope of work. I make a good living overall, but freelancing isn't for the faint of heart. I had a lot of connections from previous jobs before heading into freelance work and that has been the majority of what keeps me afloat. With that said, I also didn't study animation in college and took a windy route to get where I am, and so kudos to you for finding some interests early on!
Please do follow up with any questions on this. I know it's a LOT to think about and would love to hear if you're leaning in any particular direction. Your process can help others to hone in on their route as well!
Natalie recommends the following next steps:
Loved reading this, thanks!
Sky
Christopher Mckiernan
2D/3D Character/ Motion Graphics Animator/ digital Artist, Background Artist
9
Answers
Updated
Christopher’s Answer
The pay as a freelance animator is very unbalanced, but if your lucky enough to get hired by a studio, you can make a very comfortable living. 50-60 thousand a year....or more.
When striking on your own as a freelancer through youtube, newgrounds, fiver, etc...the pay can be unpredictable. Some months I've made about 4,000 and others I made 400. But its all based on clients and your overall skill, at the end of the day what determines how much money you make as a freelancer is your skill, software experience, and dedication.
At the end of the day, what earns you the most money are three things. Skill with the adobe creative suite and 3D modeling( I prefer autodesk maya), the final product you give to your client or boss, and your overall traditional artistic skills that were cultivated throughout your lifetime.
If you want to get a studio job right out of college for disney, cartoon network, adult swim, etc. You have to attend a very expensive art college. (VERY EXPENSIVE that most normal people cant afford unless you get get grants and scholarships)
These studios though only hire the best of the best from the best art universities and have a very high layoff rate, disney especially. Avoid Disney...They are known for corrupt practices, breaking legal contracts, and mistreating employees.
In college, take as many animation, 3D classes, and digital art classes as you possibly can, and apply early so these classes don't fill up. The best classes that offer the most skills can sometime fill up within a week.
I want to warn you ahead of time, that some college professors will misdirect you that traditional art is the way to go.
These professors are more interested in their own ego then actually helping you get a job after college.
This is the digital age, not the 1990's. Avoid these professors if you can unless required for your major to graduate.
If you can't afford college, then that makes things very simple.
You can't get a hired by a real studio unless you have a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in a art or animation related field.
The only other choice is to freelance through youtube, newgrounds, discord,....whatever you can.
And work your butt off until you start making money and emailing clients.
Your first step, should be to create a digital portfolio on artstation, deviantart, newgrounds, vimeo, etc if you havn't already.
As software goes to learn as an animator, you MUST know, adobe animate/flash, adobe after effects, adobe premiere, photoshop, illustrator, and autodesk maya. Not knowing these programs will prevent you from making any money as a freelancer or getting hired by a company. I'd also recommend unreal engine and unity.
But based on my experience, this is what is need to survive as an animator in this day and age.
When striking on your own as a freelancer through youtube, newgrounds, fiver, etc...the pay can be unpredictable. Some months I've made about 4,000 and others I made 400. But its all based on clients and your overall skill, at the end of the day what determines how much money you make as a freelancer is your skill, software experience, and dedication.
At the end of the day, what earns you the most money are three things. Skill with the adobe creative suite and 3D modeling( I prefer autodesk maya), the final product you give to your client or boss, and your overall traditional artistic skills that were cultivated throughout your lifetime.
If you want to get a studio job right out of college for disney, cartoon network, adult swim, etc. You have to attend a very expensive art college. (VERY EXPENSIVE that most normal people cant afford unless you get get grants and scholarships)
These studios though only hire the best of the best from the best art universities and have a very high layoff rate, disney especially. Avoid Disney...They are known for corrupt practices, breaking legal contracts, and mistreating employees.
In college, take as many animation, 3D classes, and digital art classes as you possibly can, and apply early so these classes don't fill up. The best classes that offer the most skills can sometime fill up within a week.
I want to warn you ahead of time, that some college professors will misdirect you that traditional art is the way to go.
These professors are more interested in their own ego then actually helping you get a job after college.
This is the digital age, not the 1990's. Avoid these professors if you can unless required for your major to graduate.
If you can't afford college, then that makes things very simple.
You can't get a hired by a real studio unless you have a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in a art or animation related field.
The only other choice is to freelance through youtube, newgrounds, discord,....whatever you can.
And work your butt off until you start making money and emailing clients.
Your first step, should be to create a digital portfolio on artstation, deviantart, newgrounds, vimeo, etc if you havn't already.
As software goes to learn as an animator, you MUST know, adobe animate/flash, adobe after effects, adobe premiere, photoshop, illustrator, and autodesk maya. Not knowing these programs will prevent you from making any money as a freelancer or getting hired by a company. I'd also recommend unreal engine and unity.
But based on my experience, this is what is need to survive as an animator in this day and age.
Updated
Letroy’s Answer
The compensation you receive can fluctuate based on the nature of your assignment, whether you're freelancing or employed in a major studio. Big-name studios often require a Bachelor's degree, and proficiency in Maya, ZBrush, After Effects, Illustrator, and Photoshop to maintain your position. My advice to you is to begin where you feel most at ease. I embarked on my animation journey with Cartoon Animator 4 by Reallusion. After several years, I pursued a B.A. in Character and Environment Design at The Los Angeles Film School. However, I left the program realizing that while I could secure an animation job, I might struggle to keep it due to my artistic abilities.
Currently, I work with both Mac and PC, using Nomad Sculpt for character and scene creation, Procreate for texture coloring, Character Creator 4 for 3D character creation, iClone 8 for 3D scene compositing, and Cartoon Animator 5 and Final Cut Pro X for final project editing. The beauty of this approach is that it bypasses the hefty subscription fees of Autodesk Maxim and Adobe Creative Suites, yet still produces top-quality videos.
The cost of education is around $68,000 at The Los Angeles Film School, but they provide a Tech Kit inclusive of a Raider GE76, a Wacom 16, and all the software your hard drive can manage. The journey may be challenging without a degree, but the practical experience as a compositor is invaluable.
Consider checking out Nvidia for apps that can assist you in getting started. Visit Reallusion.com to get a glimpse of what lies ahead; they offer free trials for you to test their platform. There are likely other apps with similar features, so take your time and scour the internet. Starting with 2D animation provided me with a foundation in 3D animation that I believe wouldn't have been possible without understanding the basics of 2D animation first.
In a Zoom meeting with a member of the "Enter the Spidey-Verse" team, I learned that even the least experienced animator on staff, a recent college graduate, earned around $165,000. I hope this information guides you in deciding your path and wish you extraordinary success on your journey. Stay safe!
Currently, I work with both Mac and PC, using Nomad Sculpt for character and scene creation, Procreate for texture coloring, Character Creator 4 for 3D character creation, iClone 8 for 3D scene compositing, and Cartoon Animator 5 and Final Cut Pro X for final project editing. The beauty of this approach is that it bypasses the hefty subscription fees of Autodesk Maxim and Adobe Creative Suites, yet still produces top-quality videos.
The cost of education is around $68,000 at The Los Angeles Film School, but they provide a Tech Kit inclusive of a Raider GE76, a Wacom 16, and all the software your hard drive can manage. The journey may be challenging without a degree, but the practical experience as a compositor is invaluable.
Consider checking out Nvidia for apps that can assist you in getting started. Visit Reallusion.com to get a glimpse of what lies ahead; they offer free trials for you to test their platform. There are likely other apps with similar features, so take your time and scour the internet. Starting with 2D animation provided me with a foundation in 3D animation that I believe wouldn't have been possible without understanding the basics of 2D animation first.
In a Zoom meeting with a member of the "Enter the Spidey-Verse" team, I learned that even the least experienced animator on staff, a recent college graduate, earned around $165,000. I hope this information guides you in deciding your path and wish you extraordinary success on your journey. Stay safe!
Thank you, this is amazing! I really needed it.
Sky