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Special Effects Artists and Animators
Create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.
Other titles employers use
3D Animator (Three-Dimensional Animator) · 3D Artist (Three-Dimensional Artist) · Animator · Artist · Digital Artist · Graphic Artist · Motion Graphics Artist · Multimedia Producer
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment.
- Create basic designs, drawings, and illustrations for product labels, cartons, direct mail, or television.
- Participate in design and production of multimedia campaigns, handling budgeting and scheduling, and assisting with such responsibilities as production coordination, background design, and progress tracking.
- Create two-dimensional and three-dimensional images depicting objects in motion or illustrating a process, using computer animation or modeling programs.
- Make objects or characters appear lifelike by manipulating light, color, texture, shadow, and transparency, or manipulating static images to give the illusion of motion.
- Apply story development, directing, cinematography, and editing to animation to create storyboards that show the flow of the animation and map out key scenes and characters.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to creative, practical and organizing work.
- Creative
- Making, designing, writing, or performing without one set answer
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Writing
- Active Learning
Subjects to know
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Design
- Communications and Media
- Customer and Personal Service
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Visualization
- Near Vision
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.1 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 1.7 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.6 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 4.3 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 53%
- A certificate or some college 40%
- High school or less 5%
- A two-year degree 2%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Web platform development software
- Object or component oriented development software
- Operating system software
- Development environment software
- Video creation and editing software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Desktop publishing software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 36,400
- Job openings each year
- 3,520
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 6.4%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 36,400 | 3,520 | 6.4% |
| Florida | 4,260 | 430 | 17.4% |
| Washington | 4,130 | 550 | 35.9% |
| New York | 3,620 | 0 | — |
| Georgia | 2,420 | 250 | 18.6% |
| Arizona | 1,360 | 140 | 12.4% |
| North Carolina | 1,250 | 130 | 14.7% |
| Indiana | 1,100 | 110 | 6.8% |
| Maryland | 1,060 | 100 | 10.4% |
| Illinois | 960 | 90 | 2.1% |
| New Jersey | 960 | 90 | — |
| Oregon | 920 | 100 | 24.3% |
| Virginia | 880 | 80 | 2.3% |
| Alabama | 800 | 80 | 6.7% |
| Utah | 790 | 80 | 27.4% |
| Michigan | 700 | 70 | 4.5% |
| Colorado | 600 | 60 | 13.2% |
| Pennsylvania | 590 | 60 | 7.3% |
| Ohio | 470 | 50 | 9.3% |
| Connecticut | 390 | 40 | 18.2% |
| Louisiana | 380 | 40 | — |
| Massachusetts | 370 | 40 | 8.8% |
| Nebraska | 280 | 30 | 3.7% |
| New Mexico | 270 | 30 | 17.4% |
| Nevada | 250 | 30 | 31.6% |
| Minnesota | 220 | 20 | 4.8% |
| Idaho | 210 | 20 | 16.7% |
| Missouri | 210 | 20 | 5.0% |
| Tennessee | 190 | 20 | 26.7% |
| Iowa | 170 | 20 | 6.3% |
| Oklahoma | 150 | 10 | 15.4% |
| South Carolina | 130 | 10 | 18.2% |
| Wisconsin | 110 | 10 | — |
| Arkansas | 100 | 10 | 11.1% |
| Mississippi | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
| West Virginia | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
| North Dakota | 80 | 10 | — |
| New Hampshire | 70 | 10 | — |
| South Dakota | 50 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Savannah College of Art and Design
- Degrees each year
- 1,383
- Admit rate
- 84%
- Annual cost after aid
- $49,000
Southern New Hampshire University
- Degrees each year
- 970
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Degrees each year
- 587
- Admit rate
- 76%
- Annual cost after aid
- $47,000
California State University-Long Beach
- Degrees each year
- 564
- Admit rate
- 47%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
The New School
- Degrees each year
- 754
- Admit rate
- 63%
- Annual cost after aid
- $56,000
Fashion Institute of Technology
- Degrees each year
- 696
- Admit rate
- 58%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
California State University-Fullerton
- Degrees each year
- 433
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
- Degrees each year
- 500
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000