How to Become an Animator: A Quick Guide

There was a point in everyone’s life when animation was just the coolest thing they’d ever seen.

Now, as time goes by, animation has evolved and become more mainstream.

In the world where everything turns digital, the animation is more than entertaining for kids. Those captivating visuals are also used as a common tool for visual communication.

From Disney movies to animated explainer videos, the animation is growing and diversifying like never before.

Today, the demand for animation remains all-high. Here, one thing is obvious: the demand for animators is also growing.

If you are interested in becoming an animator or just want to explore this cool occupation, you’re in the right place.

We’ll dive into what it takes to become successful animators.

Let’s get to the meat of it!

Who Is Exactly an Animator?

Good question. Who the heck are they, and what do they actually do?

So, an animator is a person who uses special computer programs to build images for websites, games, movies, and other multimedia platforms in both two dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D).

First, the design images and turn them into frames. Next, they utilize some advanced software of computer programs to bring those images to life by creating an illusion of movement. These movements are what we refer to as animation.

Roles of Becoming an Animator

It all depends on the agreement animators made with the client. But, at the end of the day, if you aspire to become one, you’ll be asked to create beautiful and interactive designs.

You’ll then ask for clients’ feedback and make some revisions for your animation based on your client’s preference.

If you worked under a company, you’ll be working within a team to get the projects done. There’s a complex process in animation production.

Our animated explainer video company itself has at least eight stages of animated video production. That’s why some divisions focus on each process for a production; scriptwriters, storyboard artists, illustrators, and your own team — animators.

Everyone on the team needs to work in harmony to create a well-crafted final result. That being said, you also need to collaborate with other production team members to understand clients’ needs.

Despite designing the images and collaborating with other production team members, here are some other tasks you’re most likely do if you were an animator:

• Learning how to use the latest software and keeping up with the trends within the creative industry.
• Responding to client feedback and making revisions.
• Communicating with clients to understand what you can do and what you can not.
• Providing crucial information in engaging visuals.

Are You Required to Become One?

After you know the definition of animators and their roles in a production, do you aspire to become one of them?

Then, how do you know that you’re required to have this career in the field? The following skills will go a long way in helping you decide if you fit in.

First, you need to be extremely creative since you’ll be responsible for turning statistical images into moving and living objects.

Here, out-of-the-box ideas are highly required to make your animation stand out among the rest.

Second, you need to be detail-oriented. Every tiny piece in animation has an impact on the viewing experience.

Paying attention to even the smallest details can help you ensure to make your animation as real as possible.

Third, you also need to understand the right proportion, competition, and measurement of objects. It’d help you to create an animation that looks real and makes sense for the clients and their audience.

Don’t forget about the ability to understand the color, too.

What Does it Take to Become an Animator?

So? If you’re the one that has those skills mentioned above, then there’s a higher chance for you to start a career in this action-packed, exciting field.

However, to be a skillful animator, just having those creative skills sometimes isn’t enough. Read on to see what steps you’ll need to take to become an animator below:

#1. Complete a Bachelor’s Degree

For some people, going to school isn’t the “main” requirement for how to become an animator.

But, if you want to become a skillful and successful one, completing at least a bachelor’s degree could be so much help.

In college or university, you can pick a program that gives you hands-on practice with industry technology. And what makes it even more crucial is that people with experience in the field teach it.

#2. Develop Your Creative Skills

Another requirement is you’re willing to always find a way to improve and develop your creative skills tirelessly.

This is because the industry is moving too fast and always evolving.

If you don’t constantly keep up with the face-paced environment, then you’ll get left behind.

#3. Gain Various of Experience

You can develop your creative skills by gaining various experiences. This includes works or internship programs.

By taking as many opportunities as possible, you’d easily gain your experience in the industry.

Those experiences help you to prepare yourself earlier to start your “real” career in this creative field.

#4. Create a Next-level Portfolio

Remember being an animator isn’t all about creating moving images? You also need to collaborate with teams to deal with clients’ feedback and critiques.

In other words, your clients are crucial for you to keep going and making money from this job.

So, more clients mean more gigs and payments.

In this matter, another requirement for how to become an animator is you can build your next-level portfolio to convince more clients, letting you and teams design their animation projects.

#5. Explore Animation Programs and Courses

Like other jobs in most industries, you always work hard to be successful in the animation field. The sky is the only limit to improve your creative and design skills.

That is what makes this requirement important. You can explore animation programs and courses to help you continuously improve the skills you have.

Thanks to the internet, with online programs or courses, you can now attend those programs without paying or purchasing plane tickets.

Here’s a video to sum up all the points above:

That’s been a quick guide on how to become an animator. So, do you aspire to become one? Let us know in the comment below!