Animator Animators create moving images by manipulating sequences of still images. They may use a variety of materials and techniques, including drawings on paper, three-dimensional sculptures and/or computer software. Educational Requirements: Vary Occupational Growth Rate: Above average growth Duties Animators work on many types of visual productions, including short and feature length films, television series, educational films, commercials and computer applications. They may work independently or as part of a small team of animators on projects of their own creation, or they may work in the feature film or television departments of large animation studios. Animators working on their own films develop an initial concept or story idea, sketch a storyboard (visual script) for the project, create a dialogue (voice) track for the film (if desired), break down the soundtrack frame-by-frame, draw or build the characters, sets and/or graphics, film the drawings, puppets or cutouts one frame at a time, edit scenes together, matching them to the soundtrack, edit in and mix additional tracks including music and sound effects, screen the finished film at a local film co-operative or cinema, and market the film by broadcasting it on the Internet, entering it in film festivals and/or showing it directly to broadcasters and film distributors. Animators in large studios work within a director's guidelines and only on specified parts of a production. In general, the story department develops the concept, the character designer designs the characters, the art director creates the look of the film, animators in the layout department (layout artists) create the technical plans for each scene, animators in the storyboard department (storyboard artists) draw the script, and the director and sound editor are responsible for the soundtrack (planning during pre-production and editing during post-production). Animators may specialize in one or more of the following types of animation: -character -settings/environments -special effects, or -titles/credits They may also specialize in techniques such as: -cutouts -clay/plasticine -silhouettes -rotoscoped drawings (traced from live action) -pixillation (frame-by-frame movement of people and objects in a live action setting), or computer-generated sequences integrated into film or video -Traditional two-dimensional animators work with a wide variety of art materials, including watercolors, paints, felt markers, pencils, pens and ink -Traditional three-dimensional animators often work with plasticine, latex or wood, sometimes building metal armatures or articulated skeletons for their characters -Computer animators work with a growing array of paint programs and two-dimensional and three-dimensional animation programs Working Conditions Animators often sit for long periods of time but, to really understand the movement they are creating, regularly get up to act out their characters in front of a mirror or in front of colleagues. They work under the pressure of constant deadlines and 60-hour work weeks are not uncommon. Skills, Interests, Values Animators are hired on the basis of a strong "demo reel" of previous animation work, strong drawing skills (from life, not copying) as demonstrated in portfolios of their work, and the ability to work quickly and meet deadlines. Because so many animators work on a freelance or contract basis, they also need to be able to promote themselves and market their talent, adapt their artistic style to different studios and different clients, and work well with others as members of a team. Successful animators enjoy synthesizing information, finding innovative approaches, taking a methodical approach to tasks requiring precision (e.g. preparing specifications, estimating costs), and consulting with clients. Educational Requirements Animators, including computer animators, need fine art or graphic design training at the post-secondary level. For information about post-secondary programs in art and graphic design, see the Painter/Artist and Graphic Designer occupational profiles. Employment and Advancement Many animators start by taking a course from their local university or college. Some are then able to go on and apprentice at a local production studio. Another alternative is to seek out workshops and projects at film and video co-operatives. Almost all animation work is freelance, paid on a contract basis. Most opportunities for animation work are found in larger cities where there is a lot of film, television and CD-ROM production (e.g. Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal). Many professional animators must travel from city to city, working on short-term contracts. Animators may work for -film and video production companies or post-production houses -independent filmmakers -television stations -advertising companies -computer game developers, and other computer-based multimedia developers/producers -Many animators must supplement their income from animation with income from other work (eg. teaching, illustration, camera-work) Salary In Canada, animators negotiate each contract separately. Their incomes can vary greatly. According to the 1999 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, most Albertans in the "Graphic Designers and Illustrating Artists" occupational group earned from $12,700 to $62,300 per year. Related Occupational Profiles Cartoonist Graphic Designer Illustrator Interactive Media Developer