The realm of commercial animation is as diverse as the styles and techniques of animation itself. These days, animators can find work in feature films, television, the Internet, CD-ROM production, as well as product design/visualization, architecture, and interior design. And within each of those industries, animators can perform a variety roles.
2-D Animation may sound old-fashioned in a day and age when computers are everywhere and 3-D animation has taken Hollywood by storm, but 2-D animation continues to be an expanding and popular medium -- especially since classical 2-D skills are the foundation for most 3-D work. 2-D animators develop their skills through life drawing, composition, and perspective courses -- studying proportion, line of action, structure, and basic anatomy -- while working in areas as varied as animation, character design, clean-up, doping, modeling, slugging, and storyboarding.
3-D animators are occupied with many of the same considerations at their 2-D counterparts -- computers don't get rid of the need for skills in life drawing, concept drawing, composition, character design, etc. 3-D animators will also deal more extensively with modeling, texturing, and lighting in a 3-D environment, often with the use of such software tools and packages as PhotoShop, SoftImage, Alias/Wavefront, Maya, and others.
The Storyboard Artist interprets scripts to create storyboards. This usually means planning shots, visualizing the story before drawing it and being careful to maintain continuity among the shots. Starting out on this career track as an assistant, you'll typically start out by doing clean-up and revisions, eventually working up to preparing some parts of the story board under supervision. This work involves a lot of cutting and pasting, drawing and quick sketching, perspective and composition, and perhaps most importantly, story development and interpretation.
The Layout Artist creates the foundation for the animation by rendering background layouts for each scene usually referring to storyboards and additional research materials. These layouts don't appear in the final production, but are critical for the positioning and perspective of the animation. Layouts are usually done with graphite pencil on punched animation paper; the aim is to provide a stage in which the animators will animate their characters and effects, as well as a blueprint or underdrawing, to be rendered in color by the Background Painters.
Most artists enter the world of animation by starting as Inbetweeners -- the artists that help the animators and animation assistants complete the action of a scene. It may not sound like much, but it's an important step where you'll learn the basics of animation. An inbetween is one of the transition drawings between two extreme drawings -- the key drawings that distill the essence of an wow action. The inbetweens fill in the action between these key drawings. You'll usually work in a team and learn to imitate the animator's drawings and line quality.
3D Modeler Jobs 3D modelers create characters and environments for video games and 3D movies as well as images and modeling for websites, graphic designs, animation, film effects, simulations, broadcast design, special effects, characters and props for film, television effects, CD-Rom design, and location-based entertainment. These multi-talented professionals also create images/models for geologists, architects, scientists, engineers, healthcare agencies, and more. 3D modelers work in film and video production studios, game design companies, advertising and graphic design firms, web design firms, software companies, architecture firms, laboratories (both science and medical), colleges and universities, product design firms, and manufacturing firms (retail, home, tools, etc.). Modelers also work in aerospace and for environmental agencies, automotive companies, retail firms, government agencies, crime labs (forensics), interior design firms, building technology firms, real estate companies, and many others.
Character riggers are experts at manipulating the geometry of characters in their interaction with environments. Character riggers accomplish this through a thorough understanding of physics and anatomy, operating systems such as UNIX, and software such as Autodesk Maya, Motion Builder, 3D Studio Max, and XSI.
Animation directors recruit and coordinate animation teams. They lead each team from the beginning to the end of any given animated production. Animation directors have a tremendous amount of experience in the art and animation industry. Because of they have advanced skills and years of experience in the field, animation directors are among the most sought after professionals in the animation industry.
Game designers perform a number of tasks as a part of the design process. They design user interfaces, create storylines and characters, and role-play mechanics and gameplay prototypes. Game designers collaborate with artists to fine tune the visual style for games. They map out missions, puzzles, and other challenges for players to face during game play. While most game designers work in gaming studios, some work at advertising and design firms, web design firms, multimedia companies, mobile technology firms, and software development firms. They may hold titles such as lead designer, game developer, game designer, interactive designer, lead mobile game designer, lead game developer, senior game designer, and many others.
Graphic designers create visual concepts, using computer softwares like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Corel Draw etc., to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. They develop the overall layout and production design for various applications such as for advertisements, brochures, magazines, and corporate reports.
Web graphic designers create determine the layout, font color, font type, logos, pictures and other visual and verbal aspects of a website. First, a Web graphic designer determines what the employer wants out of the product. This includes what message is being sent out and what audience is being targeted. They then create sketches and samples of potential layouts for the website, before developing the finished product. Web graphic designers have to possess a keen eye for detail. The ability to express creative ideas is crucial. Understanding new fads and trends is necessary. A Web graphic designer has to understand a target audience and how best to reach that audience through artistic work. This career requires a lot of discipline since a Web graphic designer has to start projects, budget time and meet the necessary deadlines placed upon them by an employer. Illustrator An illustrator uses creative skills in art and design to communicate a story, message or idea. Illustrators produce still drawings for use in advertisements, books, magazines, packaging, greetings cards and newspapers. It is essential to prepare a sound portfolio of work that can be used to demonstrate abilities.
HTML programmers write code for web sites and web-based applications using the Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML). They are hired by all kinds of companies to help them grow their web-based products and properties. HTML programmers code sites, update sites, write technical documentation and stay on top of new web-based technologies.
UX/UI Designers design Web-based interfaces such as sites, applications, and games. In order to do this effectively, they must consider all aspects of the user experience. Who are the site's target customers, and what is the goal of the interface? What is the "user workflow" expected for the interface? How can text and images be used to communicate clearly and create a specific experience.
Content developers are those involved in the development, preparation and editing of contents online for online marketing and other front end web development activities.
Flash animators are involved in creating .swf files with animated program in the website. They create visual graphics, animation, etc., in the website for prompting the marketing campaign and bringing a new life to the website. These visual graphics and animation include cartoons, illustrations, web campaigns, marketing campaigns, etc. Flash animators usually work in collaboration with graphic designers, gaming and entertainment companies, web hosting companies, or marketing firms and are responsible for creating original and creative flash animation as per the company's requirements.
Visual effects artists are multimedia artists that are responsible for much of the post-production work in the television and film industry. The visual effects artist ensures that all visual effects are woven together seamlessly. Visual effects artists are continuing to become more specialized as the film and television industries embrace the newest in technology.
Compositors construct the final image by combining layers of previously-created material, including computer animation, special effects, graphics, 2D animation, live action and static background plates
Concept Artists produce the illustrations that help Production Designers realise their vision and also make sure their drawings are accurate and clear and adapting them as necessary during filming.
Digitally preparing the plate for the Compositing Department to layer in CG, digital matte painting, graphics or other photographed elements, sometimes using green screen, or effects photography.
Match Move Artists translate and imitate the camera movements in live action shots and match those movements in 3D computer animations Lighting Technical Director or Lighter Ensures there is consistency in lighting, colour balance and mood between the various elements of a shot or scene, makes sure the computer-generated imagery looks photorealistic to match the live action and also add the lighting that creates atmosphere, and adds realism, tone and depth to a scene
Responsible for the overall running of a project, from staffing to scheduling and budget.
Roto Artists trace the areas of live action frames where computer graphics will overlap or interact with live image and also create clear areas (mattes) within the frame to allow all elements of the scene to be layered convincingly by the Compositor
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