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The differences between character animators and motion graphics designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a character animator, becoming a motion graphics designer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a character animator has an average salary of $72,126, which is higher than the $62,558 average annual salary of a motion graphics designer.
The top three skills for a character animator include animation, maya and character animation. The most important skills for a motion graphics designer are animation, style frames, and cinema.
| Character Animator | Motion Graphics Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $72,126 | $62,558 |
| Hourly rate | $34.68 | $30.08 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 416 | 44,960 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A character animator specializes in developing life-like character designs for film, television, advertisements, and video games using special animation software. Their job usually entails understanding project requirements, conducting research, developing drafts and models, adding different effects to enhance designs, presenting designs to lead animators, and performing revisions when necessary. They are also responsible for adhering to deadlines and budgets, producing reports, and solving issues and concerns. Moreover, a character animator usually works in a team setting, which requires an open and transparent line of communication for a successful workflow.
A motion graphic designer specializes in producing artworks used in television, film, and web. Their responsibilities often revolve around submitting within a deadline, attending creative meetings, collaborating with fellow designers, following directives from clients, producing trial designs, and editing them in adherence to senior designers or clients' recommendations. There are also instances when a motion graphic designer must manage documentation, address inquiries and concerns, and report to higher-ranking personnel. Furthermore, one may choose to work for a company or independently.
Character animators and motion graphics designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Character Animator | Motion Graphics Designer | |
| Average salary | $72,126 | $62,558 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $111,000 | Between $44,000 And $87,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Washington |
| Best paying company | The Walt Disney Company | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a character animator and a motion graphics designer in terms of educational background:
| Character Animator | Motion Graphics Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Animation | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between character animators' and motion graphics designers' demographics:
| Character Animator | Motion Graphics Designer | |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.4% Female, 25.6% | Male, 78.4% Female, 21.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 7.5% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 13% |