When you picture earning your Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation, you might imagine the many video game studios looking to hire skilled graduates. While that might be a typical career path after college, you might be surprised to learn how many non-traditional industries need animators to teach, train, and connect with new audiences.
From animation in education to animation in advertising, we curated a list of ten unique career paths you should look out for when searching the animation job market or looking for animation internships.
Animation Degree Salary Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for special effects artists and animators holding a bachelor’s degree is $99,060.
In Colorado, the average entry level animator salary is $38 an hour or a salary of $79,040.
Animation in Education and Training
First up on the list of animation career opportunities is education and training. This is an essential industry that can use the help of an animator to convey important information and teach core concepts effectively.
- Educational Media Developer
According to ZipRecruiter, an educational media developer, also known as a multimedia developer, “creates computer programs by combining computer programming and visual art. They work with graphic artists and web designers to design and build interactive websites, apps, touchscreen interfaces, or games.”
From animating educational videos to interactive platforms, this role allows for plenty of creative storytelling combined with informative design. As an educational media developer, animators can help play a part in making learning interactive and enjoyable.
- Corporate Training Animator
Corporate training is becoming an increasing priority to companies to make sure that employees understand the latest systems, regulations, and changes in an organization. Corporate training animators are tasked with bringing a story to life that might otherwise be uninteresting. “While pictures can tell a story, custom animations can add elements that brains truly crave, deepening the learning connection,” Elm, a corporate-focused animation company, writes. Elm has worked with huge brands in this underserved space including Godiva, MillerCoors, and Dawn Foods.
Animation in the Tech Industry
The tech industry isn’t just for software developers and computer scientists, it needs animators too. These two unique career paths can be a great balance of technology and creativity to consider for a new animation graduate.
- UX/UI Animation Design
User experience (UX) and user interface (UI) animation design is a trending career path in today’s market for good reason. Not only are you helping the end user have a better website experience, but you are also getting to flex your skills in animation for the web. Anything that moves on a website needs a skilled animator to make sure that it looks cohesive and lifelike. Whether it’s to indicate that something has changed or direct focus to a specific point on the page, a UX/UI animation designer needs to understand the best practices to use to engage website visitors.
- Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) Animator
Virtual reality is a 3D experience that utilizes computer-generated graphics shown through a screen in a headset. On the other hand, augmented reality uses a device’s camera to simulate 3D graphics to the real world. Both of these innovations’ success rely heavily on animators, from designing the models to rigging to animating.
One of the most popular VR designing tools, Unreal Engine, is a great tool to design for VR itself. In fact, Unreal Engine and Autodesk Maya is the software of choice for animation students and faculty at Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, giving you a leg up in the professional world.
Animation in Marketing and Advertising
When animated advertisements are done right, they have the power to catch a user’s eye and draw them in with a story. Let’s look at two marketing and advertising roles that can utilize an animator’s skill set day-to-day.
- Advertising Campaign Designer
Animation in marketing plays a vital role in modern advertising. From interactive ads to animated commercials, the job of an advertising campaign designer is to effectively engage an audience in a campaign. Animation in advertising can look slightly different depending on the scope of the project, however the underlying skills of an animator are what truly make or break an immersive campaign. Whether it’s an animated video or simple motion graphics on the screen, the small details matter and an animator helps do them justice.
- Social Media Content Creator
Animation content creators have captivated audiences for decades and have garnered millions of views across social media channels. As a social media content creator, you might be posting animated shorts and videos that can resonate with an audience to drive engagement and brand awareness. Alternatively, you might use your animation knowledge to enhance a video’s special effects and production value.
Don’t feel like being a social media star? You might also be inclined to work for a social media content creator who already has an established brand. This can be a great way to grow your skills and get introduced to other creatives in the industry.
Animation in Science and Medicine
Animators working in science and medicine can help students and medical professionals alike train and learn efficiently. Whether healthcare professionals are learning a new procedure or training in a new department, animations have the power to showcase complex topics in simple ways.
- Medical Animation Specialist
A medical animation specialist is a professional trained in art and design as well as medical anatomy and procedure. An animation specialist helps bridge the knowledge gap for scientists, healthcare professionals, and patients. According to the Association of Medical Illustrators, medical illustrators and animators are used in a variety of media including: ebooks, websites, museums, AR/VR simulators, interactive learning, and more.
- Forensic Animation Expert
From crash reconstructions to infrastructure collapse simulations, a forensic animation expert can help paint an accurate story to law enforcement and investigators. “By employing cutting-edge simulation and analytical techniques, our team gathers, analyzes, and interprets physical and digital evidence to deliver an accurate picture of how an accident happened,” JShield, a forensic animation company, writes. Using programs like AutoDesk Maya and Adobe After Effects, skilled animators are well equipped to join a forensic or third party team as a forensic animation expert.
Entrepreneurial Ventures for Animators
Networking with students and faculty at a higher education institution can certainly kick-start one’s entrepreneurial spirit. Whether you’re looking to go all out and start an independent studio or freelance on your own time, these roles are as unique as it gets.
- Starting an Animation Studio
Starting an animation studio is no small task, but can be done with the right skill set and attitude. Careers in animation can vary, and so can your clients, which makes this venture a unique path to explore new opportunities and meet new people. Not sure who to target? Now you have a whole list of industries that need animators! “Businesses and organizations are using visuals today to deliver their message. People today learn faster by looking at visuals which is why animation is so crucial in today’s business world,” Darvideo, an animation studio, explains.
- Freelance Animation
Becoming a freelance animator can offer a lot of flexibility and allow you to work on a diverse set of projects for many different clients. Keep in mind that as an entrepreneur, you will need to put in the work to market your business and you must possess excellent time management skills to meet deadlines with your clients.
Flying Duck Studio Lab encourages adventurous freelancers to network with others, get active online, brush up your portfolio, and rest when needed.
Start Your Animation Journey Today
As you can see, the animation industry holds unique opportunities that extend beyond studio roles. Whether you’re an aspiring animator or a hobbyist looking to stand out with a portfolio-based degree program, Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design is proud to offer both on-campus and online modalities to give you the flexibility to earn your degree on your schedule.
Looking for more animation blogs? Read Breaking down the animation pipeline: from concept to screen.
