What does a character animator do?
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.
Character animator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real character animator resumes:
- Lead a team of artists to create the art and animation for motion comics aspects of the show.
- Direct and create concise, detail storyboards for animation sequences and short animation promotional films.
- Character animation, fixing models and directing needs, interactive design and function charts for development character animation.
- Animate creatures, vehicles, props, and characters for a AAA title.
- Establish key layout of scenes and render main characters to finish from storyboards.
- Create character and asset designs with materials and storyboards from client alongside a production team.
- Recreate real world environments in 3D for mobile game and simulation production as well as design layouts for environments using Unity3D.
- Help team create nodes for nuke.
Character animator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 35% of Character Animators are proficient in Animation, Maya, and Character Animation. They’re also known for soft skills such as Artistic talent, Communication skills, and Computer skills.
We break down the percentage of Character Animators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Animation, 35%
Worked closely with and incorporated feedback from Animation Supervisor and Director to establish and develop scenes.
- Maya, 15%
Character Animator, Maya Generalist and Nuke Compositor.
- Character Animation, 12%
Created several 3D character animations for a children's series called "GiggleBellies."
- Motion Capture, 7%
Strived for excellence in all areas of production and actively in charge of motion capture cleanup.
- AAA, 6%
Animated camera and props for a AAA client reveal video.
- Demo Reel, 4%
Animated carious rigs for the Studio Demo Reel 2012.
Common skills that a character animator uses to do their job include "animation," "maya," and "character animation." You can find details on the most important character animator responsibilities below.
Artistic talent. The most essential soft skill for a character animator to carry out their responsibilities is artistic talent. This skill is important for the role because "animators and artists should have artistic ability and a good understanding of color, texture, and light." Additionally, a character animator resume shows how their duties depend on artistic talent: "write mel scripts to facilitate environment modeling and add flexibility to artistic changes. "
Computer skills. character animators are also known for computer skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to character animator responsibilities, because "many special effects artists and animators use computer programs or write programming code to do most of their work." A character animator resume example shows how computer skills is used in the workplace: "animated characters in computer animation software for proprietary 3d cartoon series"
Creativity. character animator responsibilities often require "creativity." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "artists and animators must be able to think creatively to develop original ideas and make them come to life." This resume example shows what character animators do with creativity on a typical day: "strategized and guided the creative and technical vision for lego universe with primary stakeholders. "
Time-management skills. A commonly-found skill in character animator job descriptions, "time-management skills" is essential to what character animators do. Character animator responsibilities rely on this skill because "the workdays required by most studio and game design companies can be long, particularly when there are tight deadlines." You can also see how character animator duties rely on time-management skills in this resume example: "worked independently and with vfx director to meet required deadlines and achieve desired shots. "
The three companies that hire the most character animators are:
- The Walt Disney Company5 character animators jobs
- ZeniMax Media2 character animators jobs
- Scanline VFX2 character animators jobs
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Compare different character animators
Character animator vs. Web designer
A web designer is a creative professional responsible for creating and redesigning the content and layout of websites. Web designers are required to meet clients and users to discuss the needs and goals of their clients. To create graphics, colors, and fonts, web designers usually use HTML coding to alter the website's layout. Web designers must build their portfolio by taking on unique projects for themselves and the people they know.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between character animators and web designer. For instance, character animator responsibilities require skills such as "animation," "maya," "character animation," and "motion capture." Whereas a web designer is skilled in "html," "css," "wordpress," and "html css." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Web designers really shine in the internet industry with an average salary of $81,039. Comparatively, character animators tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $95,876.The education levels that web designers earn slightly differ from character animators. In particular, web designers are 1.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a character animator. Additionally, they're 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Character animator vs. Visual designer
A visual designer is someone who creates designs for a variety of platforms such as Internet and intranet sites, games, and wearables. The duties of visual designers depend on the specific project or industry in which they are working. Duties include creating user-centered interaction models, working with information technology and business teams to resolve complex issues, and designing logos, icons, and infographics. The qualifications to become a visual designer include possessing strong problem-solving, communication, and negotiation skills and obtaining a bachelor's degree in design.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, character animator responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "character animation," "motion capture," "aaa," and "demo reel." Meanwhile, a visual designer has duties that require skills in areas such as "sketch," "visual design," "graphic design," and "ui." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Visual designers earn a higher average salary than character animators. But visual designers earn the highest pay in the start-up industry, with an average salary of $121,675. Additionally, character animators earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $95,876 annually.visual designers earn similar levels of education than character animators in general. They're 0.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Character animator vs. Graphic design specialist
A graphic design specialist utilizes their artistic expertise in creating imagery and designs that convey a particular message. Their responsibilities revolve around liaising with clients to determine their needs and goals, developing concepts and subjecting it for client approval, and revising designs as necessary. In a company setting, a graphic design specialist may work with a team, coordinating with them while sticking to budgets and deadlines. Furthermore, as a team member, it is essential to report to managers or supervisors, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, character animators are more likely to have skills like "maya," "character animation," "motion capture," and "aaa." But a graphic design specialist is more likely to have skills like "graphic design," "adobe creative suite," "visualization," and "powerpoint."
Graphic design specialists make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $67,457. On the other hand, character animators are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $95,876.Most graphic design specialists achieve a similar degree level compared to character animators. For example, they're 3.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Character animator vs. Graphics specialist
A graphics specialist is an expert at conceptualizing and developing visual art for businesses or individuals, typically for marketing or information purposes. Moreover, there are also opportunities for employment in the web and media industry. As a graphics specialist, their responsibilities include liaising with clients to identify their needs, understanding the purpose and message of the project, developing proposals, coordinating with team members, and conducting revisions as needed, all while adhering to the goals and deadlines set by the client or management.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between character animators and graphics specialists, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a character animator might have more use for skills like "maya," "character animation," "motion capture," and "aaa." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of graphics specialists require skills like "graphic design," "adobe illustrator," "adobe indesign," and "adobe creative suite. "
The finance industry tends to pay the highest salaries for graphics specialists, with average annual pay of $67,322. Comparatively, the highest character animator annual salary comes from the technology industry.graphics specialists reach similar levels of education compared to character animators, in general. The difference is that they're 2.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of character animator
Updated January 8, 2025
