How To Become an Animator for Film and TV

For those who grew up watching animation, the dream of one day working in the industry can feel like a distant one. Nonetheless, there are plenty of cinematic and TV animators from all sorts of backgrounds entering the industry every year, both with and without degrees.

So is it actually that hard to become an animator? What are the steps you have to take? And is it a good career in the long run?

How To Become a Movie Animator

So what qualifications do you need to become an animator? Absolutely none. You don’t need any sort of degree or certification to get into the animation industry. Although qualifications can be helpful, studying animation is far more about the learning and the networking opportunities than it is about proving what you know. That’s what a portfolio is for.

And you will need to have a good portfolio. Animation is an incredibly competitive industry. While you’ll learn a lot once you’re on the job, even securing the role in the first place means being able to produce professional-quality work.

That’s why instead of pursuing a degree through a college, many young animators learn through online resources or – if they can afford to – by paying for private tuition with experienced mentors. While you can absolutely learn to animate without paying a dime, learning from mentors can definitely fast-track your education.

Mentors are great for providing feedback, particularly with subtle details like body mechanics and physics. After all, it’s easy to understand the principles of animation in theory, but a good mentor can really help you put these ideas into practice.

Steps To Becoming an Animator

You might think that learning to animate and making your portfolio is most of the battle, but in fact it’s just the start.

The first thing you’ll want to consider when searching for animation roles is which type of animation you want to go into. Demand for roles varies a lot depending not just on the style of animation you want to do but also on which role in the team you’re looking to fill. Do you want to be a storyboard artist? A layout artist? Perhaps you want to work on VFX shots and simulations? Or maybe you’d rather be a technical artist, setting up the tools other artists use to make the production?

Each of those roles has its own software, its own career path, and its own hiring process. All of which to say, it pays to pick a lane early and tailor your portfolio to match. Keep in mind that a demo reel for character animation looks very different from a storyboard test, and studios hire for specific jobs.

Make sure you’re aiming for entry-level roles and don’t be afraid to do internships or work experience. Actual experience in a company is incredibly valuable within the animation industry. Even if you’re up against the best portfolio in the world, if you can prove that you understand studio pipelines and know how to work within a team environment, that’s a massive win. Remember, hiring managers aren’t always looking for the best artist. They’re looking for the one who can do the job to a high standard while fitting comfortably into their production environment.

Is Animation a Good Career?

Becoming a professional tv/film animator isn’t easy, but it is achievable, especially if you’re dedicated. In a competitive industry like animation, you’re always up against incredible talent, and you’ll have to work hard to win those first few roles and stand out from the crowd.

But is it worth it? For many, the answer is absolutely yes. If animation is an art form you care about, then your passion will fuel your career. Working in animation can be incredibly fulfilling both artistically and professionally. It’s a chance to spend every day learning and developing a skill while creating work you’re proud of, and that brings joy to many.

And it’s not all about job satisfaction either. Movie animators actually make very good money, especially if they’re based in the Los Angeles area where strong unionisation has led to lucrative minimum rates. Salaries easily achieve six figures, with experienced animation directors approaching as much as $200K.

While the industry isn’t massively growing year on year, neither is it shrinking, meaning that new jobs are always coming onto the market as older animators retire. Yes, animation is competitive, but the jobs are out there, and the better your portfolio, the more appealing you’ll be.