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What is an ordinary day in the life of a Animator like?
I'm currently doing an apprenticeship where we find ourselves and our career interests. I've taking a liking to Animation and was always curious how these amazing Animations were created. So i was hoping to get a professional perspective on what a typical day for an Animator would be. I have no experience in this field and would greatly appreciate your advice! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer! I greatly appreciate it! Thank you!
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Jiadi’s Answer
Hi Kennedy,
The typical day for an animator varies depending on the category of animation studios you work at. For example, the day-to-day experience can be quite different between an advertising post-house and a narrative animation studio. However, here is my experience working at a commercial post-house.
I start my day at 9 a.m. and I go to the office three times a week and work from home in the remaining days. However, that policy varies depending on the company you work for. Some days, I will start animating immediately due to ongoing projects and deadlines; sometimes you just sit around and wait for a producer to kick off a project with you. There is a 30-min lunch break, and that is the best time to have some break time and hang out with your co-workers. The day usually ends at 5 pm, however, at my company, producers usually pause giving me new tasks when it's approaching 5 p.m., since they don't want you to work after work hours. (They don't want to either, lol.) However, the work-life balance also varies depending on the company you work for.
Hope this is helpful for you to see the daily life of an animator working in advertising.
The typical day for an animator varies depending on the category of animation studios you work at. For example, the day-to-day experience can be quite different between an advertising post-house and a narrative animation studio. However, here is my experience working at a commercial post-house.
I start my day at 9 a.m. and I go to the office three times a week and work from home in the remaining days. However, that policy varies depending on the company you work for. Some days, I will start animating immediately due to ongoing projects and deadlines; sometimes you just sit around and wait for a producer to kick off a project with you. There is a 30-min lunch break, and that is the best time to have some break time and hang out with your co-workers. The day usually ends at 5 pm, however, at my company, producers usually pause giving me new tasks when it's approaching 5 p.m., since they don't want you to work after work hours. (They don't want to either, lol.) However, the work-life balance also varies depending on the company you work for.
Hope this is helpful for you to see the daily life of an animator working in advertising.
Updated
Martin’s Answer
Morning
Start the Day: Animators typically begin their day by setting up their workspace, which includes a powerful computer with a good graphics card and plenty of RAM. They might also have sketchbooks and other drawing tools handy.
Team Meetings: Many animators start with a team meeting to discuss the day’s goals, review progress, and address any challenges. This helps ensure everyone is on the same page.
Mid-Morning
Storyboarding: If working on a new project, animators might spend time developing storyboards. This involves sketching out the sequence of events and keyframes that will guide the animation.
Checking Renders: Animators often check the renders that were processed overnight to see how their animations are coming along and make any necessary adjustments.
Afternoon
Animating: The core of an animator’s day involves creating animations. This can be done by hand or using computer software to design 2D or 3D objects in motion. They focus on keyframes and then fill in the in-between frames to ensure smooth movement.
Collaborating: Animators frequently collaborate with other team members, such as writers, directors, and other artists, to ensure the animation aligns with the project’s vision.
Late Afternoon
Review and Feedback: Animators often review their work and seek feedback from supervisors or peers. This step is crucial for refining the animation and making sure it meets the project’s standards.
Learning and Inspiration: On slower days, animators might spend time watching tutorials or exploring new animation techniques to stay current with industry trends.
Evening
Final Touches: Before wrapping up for the day, animators might add final touches to their work, such as textures, lighting, and shadows, to bring the animation to life.
Planning for Tomorrow: They often end the day by planning the next steps for their projects, ensuring a smooth workflow for the following day.
Animators need a mix of creativity, technical skills, and attention to detail. Their work can be both challenging and rewarding, especially when they see their creations come to life on screen.
Start the Day: Animators typically begin their day by setting up their workspace, which includes a powerful computer with a good graphics card and plenty of RAM. They might also have sketchbooks and other drawing tools handy.
Team Meetings: Many animators start with a team meeting to discuss the day’s goals, review progress, and address any challenges. This helps ensure everyone is on the same page.
Mid-Morning
Storyboarding: If working on a new project, animators might spend time developing storyboards. This involves sketching out the sequence of events and keyframes that will guide the animation.
Checking Renders: Animators often check the renders that were processed overnight to see how their animations are coming along and make any necessary adjustments.
Afternoon
Animating: The core of an animator’s day involves creating animations. This can be done by hand or using computer software to design 2D or 3D objects in motion. They focus on keyframes and then fill in the in-between frames to ensure smooth movement.
Collaborating: Animators frequently collaborate with other team members, such as writers, directors, and other artists, to ensure the animation aligns with the project’s vision.
Late Afternoon
Review and Feedback: Animators often review their work and seek feedback from supervisors or peers. This step is crucial for refining the animation and making sure it meets the project’s standards.
Learning and Inspiration: On slower days, animators might spend time watching tutorials or exploring new animation techniques to stay current with industry trends.
Evening
Final Touches: Before wrapping up for the day, animators might add final touches to their work, such as textures, lighting, and shadows, to bring the animation to life.
Planning for Tomorrow: They often end the day by planning the next steps for their projects, ensuring a smooth workflow for the following day.
Animators need a mix of creativity, technical skills, and attention to detail. Their work can be both challenging and rewarding, especially when they see their creations come to life on screen.
Thank you so much! This was really helpful and very detailed. I now have a better understanding thanks to the response and it has given me an appropriate perspective on this career pathway. Thank you very much! I very much appreciate it!
Kennedy
Updated
Marty’s Answer
The great thing about being an animator is that no two days are alike. It's not your typical 8-hour-a-day job, but that's part of what makes it exciting. Most days kick off with constructive reviews, which are a fantastic way to ensure you're on the right path with your work. The joy of being an animator is truly felt when you get to see the final product - it's incredibly rewarding. Sure, there are times when I face crunch time, and it can get a bit stressful, but that's all part and parcel of the job. I hope this gives you a better understanding.