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Brandon Hang
Mrs. Koener
English II Honors
17 February 2015
A Career in Animation: The Art of Motion
Humans have long worked at making their pictures and drawings come alive. Thousands
of years ago, paintings depicted animals creeping toward their prey. As time progressed, devices
were developed to quickly flip through stacks of drawings, and soon movies were born. Although
this technique was often used to film real life, few people had the skills to simulate movement in
illustrations. With the sophisticated tools of today, anyone can pursue a career in this unique
medium. And, with fantastic animated movies and television shows produced every year, skilled
animators are needed to give life to someones crazy ideas. A career in animation requires
dedication and training to enter, but rewards artistic individuals with an excellent salary and the
creative freedom to tell any tale.
The nature of being an animator is different from any other occupation, with duties and
responsibilities requiring creative and artistic skills. These skills are immediately put to use, as a
typical day involves having the ability to script and create animated sequences
(AZCIS Section 2). The process to do so, although complicated, is an art that has been perfected
to a science. Before animation can begin, an idea must be born, often with the collaboration of
multiple artists. As the idea is fleshed out, a storyboard is drawn and basic animation is created
using the artists judgment and creativity (AZCIS Section 2). This is also the stage where the
style of animation is determined; a works visual appeal is often one of its defining qualities,
instantly conveying the mood of the story to the viewer. Finally, production begins, and a fullfledged animated film will soon be born. This film will then join the hundreds of animated films
created by independent filmmakers and Hollywood for entertainment, information, and

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commercials. Animators put their life and soul into each film they make, hoping the story they
tell through the style they choose will leave a powerful impression on the viewer.
Animation does not come naturally to many people, and therefore requires dedication,
higher-level education, and on-the-job training. One can begin their journey as early as high
school; depending on the school, courses such as art, photography, and media effectively prepare
students for the type of work theyll be doing (AZCIS Section 9). These classes help students
decide if animation is the right career for them. After graduating high school, there are several
colleges that offer programs in animation. In Arizona, Grand Canyon University offers a degree
program in Digital Design, and the University of Arizona has a Studio Arts Program. If these
programs arent satisfactory, several out-of-state colleges are dedicated to teaching animation.
Both the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, California, and Sheridan College in Ontario,
Canada, offer rigorous courses that could lead to a highly competitive position in the workforce.
Tuition for these animation programs varies widely. Instate students could expect to pay around
$8,000 per year, while out-of-state students may have to pay $40,000 or more per year for their
education (Wilding 10). Although these programs may be costly, a satisfying job and high-paying
salary could make it worth the money. Animators often know early on what their passion is, and
hone their skills through high school and college training to pursue a lifelong career in
animation.
Once a qualified animator, there are two major career paths one can follow. To work for a
company, securing a position requires education and experience. As the Arizona Career
Information System explains, Employers prefer to hire animators and multimedia artists who
have excellent portfolios. They want to see work that demonstrates the talent and skills they
require for the job Some employers may require that applicants have a bachelor's degree and a
few years of direct work experience (Section 11). Getting a prestigious job position requires

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extra effort: one must have ability and years of familiarity with the duties before becoming an
employee. Despite that, working for a company has many benefits. Establishments such as
DreamWorks, Pixar and Disney contribute some of the most highly anticipated animated movies
of the year, while many studios animate specifically for advertisements and broadcasts, such as
those during popular sporting events. Having an assortment of diverse projects keeps the job
interesting, and having a consistent workload always guarantees financial security. However,
there is an alternative to working for a company: self-employment. In the field of animation, this
is an important pathway to consider; in fact, about 57 percent of animators and multimedia artists
are self-employed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This area of animation
encompasses marketing oneself to potential clients, budgeting ones own money, and managing
ones own company. While this may appear to be demanding, self-employment often leads to
independence and personal satisfaction (AZCIS Section 21), and prevents stress associated with
a work environment. While there are multiple ways to make a living as an animator (each with
their respective pros and cons), one aspect is consistent: an animators work can make a
difference in thousands of peoples lives, by television, the internet, or in a movie.
Before finally entering the workforce (as an employee or self-employed), an individual
should consider their desired salary, benefits, and working conditions. An animators salary
varies widely, but can grow to an impressive size over time. Entry-level animation jobs have an
annual salary of around $44,290, while high-level positions can earn as much as $70,280
(AZCIS Section 12). Employees of Pixar earn an even larger annual average salary of $73,520
(Burton, para. 6). Although ample training is required for any animation position, salary is
largely determined by an animators years of experience. Benefits, however, are quite standard,
no matter ones education or experience. Cartoonist and writer Steven Lafler writes Full-time
animators and multimedia artists usually earn benefits such as sick leave, paid vacation, and

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health insurance. Self-employed animators and multimedia artists must provide their own
insurance (para. 5). Although self-employed animators insure themselves, they have the
freedom to choose the insurance providers they desire. Like an animators benefits, working
conditions are customary for a typical desk-job. Most tasks are accomplished on a computer
during tightly scheduled, 40-hour weeks, where an animator can concentrate on the work at hand
and interact with other artists throughout the day (AZCIS Section 5). This environment provides
an ideal combination of individual and social aspects to ensure a project is completed by a set
deadline. Finding that ideal job is difficult in any field, but animators can be confident that their
vocation provides for their personal, financial, and professional needs, whether employed by a
company or by themselves.
The field of animation is truly unique. As this art form has been perfected, animation
appears more and more often in movies, TV shows, and on the internet. This popularity has led
to an increased demand that has opened new opportunities for the storytellers of this generation.
Not only can this career offer a high paying salary, but also self-confidence, satisfaction, and the
opportunity to influence peoples lives through sophisticated storytelling methods. And with the
potential to work at influential television and movie studios, creative individuals should not
hesitate to explore this excellent and fulfilling career path. Although becoming an animator
entails years of training and experience, it rewards those who pursue this art form with creative
freedom that cant be found anywhere else.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
I often find myself in a difficult situation when Im asked what career I want to pursue.
Sometimes Ill respond with, I dont know, or Maybe this, or Maybe that. I just dont
know. So when I had the opportunity to research a career for this paper, I decided to look into
something Id never considered before: a career in animation. Although I do some animations on

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the side (such as the animated intro sequences for CTV news), I wondered what actual animators
do, where they work, how much they get paid, etc. Well, I discovered all that and more over the
past several days.
To start off, Ive always considered a career in computer programming. I work well with
computers and find their logic fascinating, but Ive never looked into a more creative occupation.
Animation is just that, as your imagination is the only thing holding you back. Animators have to
be artistic and creative, and it is the core of their duties. I enjoy drawing pictures and creating
animated graphics on the computer, so I found this part of the job to be quite interesting. The
creative freedom that it offers is appealing to me, as the work I create for CTV is often critiqued
(or never used). I feel that if I had little constraints and lots of time, I could create something to
be proud of.
The characteristics and personality traits of being an animator also fall in line with my
own. Much of their animation work is done alone, where they can concentrate on the job. When
they need to work together to get a job done, they collaborate with other like-minded artists. This
sounds attractive to me as my best work is also done alone. However, being isolated all day
could get boring, and thats when the interaction with other artists comes in. I like the thought of
balancing concentration with interaction, and I think I would do well in that environment. An
animators average-length week also seems fine for me, as their strict work schedule means less
overtime at night and on weekends. When I read that a Bachelors Degree is a common level of
education to have in the workforce, I was pleased. No matter what profession I decide to pursue,
my plan has always been to get my Bachelors Degree. The fact that animation almost requires
one only supports my belief. And of course, the better my education is, the higher my salary will
be. And an animators average salary of $45,000 to $70,000 is very acceptable. I believe I could
easily live off of the entry-level salary (with a few concessions and ramen noodles).

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However, there are a few cons to being an animator that I didnt find so attractive. For
one, the fact that over 50% of animators are self-employed is worrisome to me. I do not desire to
be self-employed, especially when Im just entering the workforce. Another major concern of
mine is the pacing of the entire job. Animation requires an incredible amount of patience for
example, only about 4-20 seconds of film are made each week. I just dont know if I have the
concentration, patience, and will to keep working on a project like that. I actually have
experience with this already: I created a 2-minute, hand-drawn, animated short film last summer
and it took two months to finish two whole months. I almost lost the motivation to finish it
because it took so long. I dont know if I could endure that kind of hopelessness in the middle of
a project, every single day.
Despite these negatives, I was surprised how much I enjoyed researching this career. I
seriously considered it for some time because of how well it fit with my career desires. I really
like the work schedule, salary, and education of this job, and would definitely be willing to intern
to see what its like. In the end, however, I cant see myself becoming an animator. The negatives
of the job are too large for me to ignore, and my interest in computers and programming is still
larger than my interest in animation. I am very glad that I researched this career, as it has helped
me come to this conclusion. I look forward to the next career I decide to research, and I hope it is
even better suited to me than one in animation.

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Works Cited
AZCIS. Animators and Multimedia Artists. 2014. 16 November 2014
<https://azcis.intocareers.org/OccInfo.aspx?SourceState=AZ&OccID=100510&TopicID=0>.
Bureau of Labor Statistics. Multimedia Artists and Animators. 8 January 2014. 16 November 2014
<http://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/multimedia-artists-and-animators.htm>.
Burton, Michelle. Pixar - Career Profile. 26 August 2011. 18 November 2014
<http://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/pixar-career-profile>.
Canfi, Netta. Explore Different Types of Animation. 2013. 16 November 2014 <http://www.the-flyinganimator.com/types-of-animation.html>.
Career Explorer. Day in the life of a computer animator. 2012. 16 November 2014
<http://www.careerexplorer.net/day-in-the-life-of/day-in-the-life-of-computer-animator>.
Lafler, Steven. Salary & Benefits for Computer Animators. 2014. 16 November 2014
<http://www.ehow.com/info_8036835_salary-benefits-computer-animators.html>.
Sanders, Adrien-Luc. Animating for Video Games vs. Animating for Movies. 2014.
<http://animation.about.com/od/videogameanimation/a/gamesvsmovies_2.htm>.
Wilding, Robin. Top 100 Schools for Animation, Gaming, and Design. 2014. 16 November 2014
<http://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/2014-top-100-international-animation-schools?
page=0,9>.

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