Occupation
Animator
Animators create movement for film, television, games, and advertising, either by drawing frames or by posing and keyframing digital rigs. Most of the day goes on short shots refined over many passes against a supervisor's notes and a shared house style.
Also known as: 2D animator · 3D animator · Character animator
Occupation content
Part of Arts, design, media and communications
What the work involves
- Study reference footage and thumbnail the timing of a shot
- Block out key poses, then refine spacing, arcs, and overlap
- Animate characters, creatures, or objects to a soundtrack or dialogue track
- Take notes from a supervisor at dailies and re-work shots accordingly
- Prepare shots for lighting, compositing, or in-engine integration
How people commonly enter
- Bachelor's degree or college diploma in animation, film, or digital arts
- Portfolio and showreel built through self-directed study and short courses
- Runner, assistant, or clean-up role in a studio leading to shot work
Typical training: Certificate or college diploma
Licensing: Not typically licensed
Typical work context
Desk based · Team based · Quiet focus · Remote capable
Related interests
Artistic (creative) · Realistic (hands-on)
Related aptitude preparation
These are preparation links only. They do not measure eligibility for this occupation and no score here qualifies or disqualifies anyone.
Skills to practise
Related learning
Family-level learning links for Arts, design, media and communications.
Official sources
Labour-market facts such as pay and employment projections are not reproduced here. Open an official source below for figures, with its own geography and reference period.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Outlook Handbook: Special Effects Artists and Animators · United States
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- O*NET OnLine - Special Effects Artists and Animators (27-1014.00) · International
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- UK National Careers Service - Explore careers job-profile index · United Kingdom
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Labour-market context (not part of exploration match)
This is broad family-level context for Arts, design, media and communications in Canada, not a figure for Animator. It does not affect matching scores and is not an eligibility determination.
This is a broad Arts, design, media and communications family. Explore the official profile for the chosen occupation; entry education and training can differ within the family.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Arts, design, media and communications: education pathways
Some roles in Arts, design, media and communications may be regulated. Confirm whether the specific role requires registration, certification, or a jurisdiction-specific licence.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Arts, design, media and communications: licensing
Find jobs
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- Search Canada Job Bank · Canada
- Search USAJOBS · United States federal
- Search EURES · European Union / EEA
- Search Indeed · International (choose location on Indeed)