An Animation Degree Opens Doors

Introduction to an Animation Degree

Animation is an exciting, growing, and rewarding field, and traditional animation is just one of many careers that a degree in animation can prepare you for. With a degree in animation, you may be qualified to enter several career fields, such as special effects, video, computer game design, shading, motion capture animation, modeling, bench animation, and of course traditional animation.

Working in Animation

Traditional animators draw series of illustrations that form animated moving images as seen in movies, television programs, commercials, and computer games. These series of illustrations are often storyboards. Animators also work to create other animated features, which serve as guidelines to placing actors and cameras on the television or motion picture set, or to outline other details that need to be taken care of during the production of a feature.

A Degree in Animation

A degree in Animation will introduce you to the process of creating traditional and computer animation. In an animation degree program you will have the opportunity to learn and practice animation techniques through hands-on exercises in areas such as gesture drawing, anatomy basics, character design, layout design, perspective basics, animation posing, timing, animation and dialogue synchronization, and computer animation. As you work toward the completion of your degree in animation you will gain both the conceptual and technical skills needed to be able to produce projects for your portfolio, which will help you as you start your career in the animation industry.

Career Opportunities With a Degree in Animation

Well-trained animators are and will continue to be in great demand in the film, television, and video game industries. Qualified animators can earn substantial salaries in these industries in career fields such as special effects, computer game design, motion picture animation, as well as computer, and traditional animation. Traditional animators will primarily find employment in the motion picture, television, advertising, and computer systems design services.

The average salary for those with a degree in animation is around $45,000 a year, and up to $60,000 a year in the motion picture industry.

About the Author

Sarah Jane Udall is a freelance writer currently living in New York City. Her previous experience includes working for Global Village Communications in Washington, D.C., and in the creative and development departments of VH1 and MTV networks. Sarah Jane holds a B.S. in Political Science and English Literature from the University of Utah.
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