Art, Action, Animation! Careers in the World of Moving Art

The world marks World Animation Day every year on October 28 to honour the art form that makes stories come to life. If you think it’s just funny cartoons or action-packed anime, you’re missing out on a world full of creativity. Here new ideas, and job possibilities go beyond drawing and digital sculpture. Let’s take a unique look at this industry and talk about what jobs are out there, how you might fit in, and why it’s a great place to start your career if you like tech, stories, art, or design!

How to Begin?

1. Formal Education: While not strictly required, many animators benefit from formal training through degrees in Animation, Digital Arts, Graphic Design, or Fine Arts. Programmes from animation schools or art colleges provide structured knowledge and hands-on experience.
2. Specialised Courses: Some roles, like compositing or 3D animation, require highly specific skills, so targeted certificate courses can be helpful. Look for online programmes like those on Coursera, Udemy, or from schools like Animation Mentor and CG Spectrum.
3. Self-Learning: Animation is a skill-driven field, and many successful animators are self-taught! With resources like YouTube tutorials, free software (like Blender for 3D or Krita for 2D animation), and animation forums, you can learn and practise on your own.

The Storyboard Artists: Setting the Scene 

Think of storyboard artists as the architects of the animation world. They sketch out the visual storyline, setting the flow of the scenes, framing the characters, and giving life to the story long before it’s animated. But it’s definitely not your typical sketch pads and pencils! Storyboard artists today are totally tech savvy, using cool tools like Toon Boom and Storyboard Pro to whip up intricate shots and smooth transitions with ease.

Why it’s Cool: Storyboarding is like the coolest way to unleash your creativity through doodles! You’re the ultimate visionary, cooking vivid scenes and effortlessly bringing them to life on paper. Plus, it’s one of those cool spots in animation where traditional art still shines alongside digital techniques.

Skills to Master: Amazing drawing abilities (obviously), plus a sharp sense of timing, staging, and angles. And let’s not forget about patience—you need plenty of it!

Character Designers: Crafting Personalities in Pixels 

Character designer is basically the mind behind every iconic hero or villain, alongside their respective sidekicks. They shape a character’s personality through visuals. For example, imagine you identifying Elsa or Shrek just by a silhouette; that is a product of character designing.

Why it’s Cool: Character design is the mixology of animation, where you combine style, expression, and fashion to create memorable faces. It’s a dream job for artists who have a knack for creativity and detail.

Skills to Master: Apart from good skills in drawing and anatomy, you have to develop a sharp eye in terms of character traits as well as some psychological sense. It’s not how cool that person looks, it’s who that person is!

Animators: The Movement Magicians

Animators make it all move. They bring characters to life, whether in traditional 2D, eye-popping 3D, or innovative stop-motion. If you’ve ever been mesmerised by Spider-Verse’s unique style or Pixar’s fluid movements, thank an animator (or several hundred of them).

Why it’s Cool: You’re basically a wizard! Creating believable movement from static images is pure magic, especially when you see it all come together. Plus, animation is a massive industry with demand from studios like Disney, Netflix, and beyond. 

Imagine working for a Marvel movie!

Skills to Master: Timing, patience, and a sense of weight and movement. Familiarity with tools like Blender, Maya, and After Effects is a massive plus too.

Voice Acting: Giving Characters a Soul

We all know the voices behind the characters can be as iconic as the visuals. Voice actors lend their tones, quirks, and expressions to animated characters, giving them that unforgettable personality. It’s all about creating a vocal presence that resonates with the audience.

Why it’s Cool: Ever dreamed of being the voice behind a favourite character? Voice acting lets you embody different personalities and go all-out with accents, emotions, and expressions—all without the physical acting bit.

Skills to Master: A solid voice range, acting skills, and an ability to interpret scripts. Most voice actors work freelance, so self-promotion is key too.

Compositors: The Visual Alchemists 

Compositors are like the “editors” of animation—they combine all the elements into a single, cohesive image, blending backgrounds, characters, lighting effects, and sometimes even live-action footage. They create a seamless look that immerses viewers in the world.

Why it’s Cool: Compositing is highly technical, and if you love solving visual puzzles, it’s your jam. Think of yourself as an invisible hand making the final product look polished, cinematic, and magic-worthy.

Skills to Master: A solid understanding of tools like Nuke or After Effects, plus a good sense of lighting, depth, and colour correction.

Sound Designers & Music Composers: The Sonic Sorcerers 

Ever noticed how a scene feels incomplete without music or sound effects? Sound designers add those details, from footsteps and door creaks to orchestral scores, making everything more immersive.

Why it’s Cool: Sound design is where you can get creative with everything from synthesised sounds to orchestras. Music and sound completely change the vibe of a scene, making this role hugely impactful.

Skills to Master: Mixing, sound editing, and possibly an understanding of orchestration or synthesisers. Proficiency in tools like Pro Tools, Logic Pro, or FL Studio helps here.

Producers and Project Managers: The Organised Orchestrators 

Behind every great animated project is a producer or project manager who will keep everything in line. They are there to coordinate between the departments, manage budgets, and ensure that everyone is on top of their deadlines—all no mean feat in such a complex industry.

Why it’s Cool: If you enjoy projects and have flair for organisation, then this is your way of working in an artistic field without having to be an artist yourself. The producers understand the entire picture and are able to make very crucial decisions which shape up into the final product.

Skills to Master: Leadership skills, communication, and also project management. A good producer has knowledge of how animation works but must know how to drive a team forward.

Breaking into Animation: Tips and Tricks for Young Animators 

• Start Small: The animation industry is as much about skill as it is about experience. Start with short animations, volunteer projects, or collaborations. Don’t worry if it’s rough at first—every animator starts somewhere!
• Build a Portfolio: This is your calling card. For young animators, platforms like ArtStation and Behance are great places to share your work. Make it varied but showcase your unique style.
• Network Like a Pro: Animation is a tight-knit industry, so connections matter. Attend animation festivals, join online forums, and observe the popular artists or animators.
• Learn the Tools of the Trade: You will quickly learn the tools of trade such as Blender, Maya, or Adobe Creative Suite, and possibly many more. Free trials can be found for practically every software, with educational versions that are accessible and affordable.

Wondering How to Start?

The animation industry is a great, boundless space where imagination meets technology and where everybody can find a place to fit. You can be a wiz at digital drawing or a coding wizard or become an ace project organiser. But when there are countless directions in which you can branch out, it can be difficult to know where you should start or specialise. That’s where expert guidance from Mentoria fills the gap.

At Mentoria, you will find industry-focused mentors who can help guide you through this exciting field. You will understand different roles in animation and know which skills and tools are important for each. With Mentoria at your side, passion transforms into an exciting and professional experience. To animation-land, then, and that fantastic future of endless imagination!