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Video game animator vs animation director

The differences between video game animators and animation directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a video game animator and an animation director. Additionally, a video game animator has an average salary of $81,133, which is higher than the $71,266 average annual salary of an animation director.

The top three skills for a video game animator include animation, motion capture and maya. The most important skills for an animation director are animation, maya, and motion capture.

Video game animator vs animation director overview

Video Game AnimatorAnimation Director
Yearly salary$81,133$71,266
Hourly rate$39.01$34.26
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs2,8864,968
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age4040
Years of experience22

Video game animator vs animation director salary

Video game animators and animation directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Video Game AnimatorAnimation Director
Average salary$81,133$71,266
Salary rangeBetween $48,000 And $135,000Between $43,000 And $117,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-New Hampshire
Best paying company-Microsoft
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between video game animator and animation director education

There are a few differences between a video game animator and an animation director in terms of educational background:

Video Game AnimatorAnimation Director
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common majorAnimationAnimation
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Video game animator vs animation director demographics

Here are the differences between video game animators' and animation directors' demographics:

Video Game AnimatorAnimation Director
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 81.4% Female, 18.6%Male, 75.1% Female, 24.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 7.7% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 7.7% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between video game animator and animation director duties and responsibilities

Video game animator example responsibilities.

  • Lead a team of artists to create the art and animation for motion comics aspects of the show.
  • Provide technical support in Autodesk Maya.
  • Work with engineers to develop process, using Maya.
  • Lay out and optimize UV's for realtime rendering.
  • Direct, texture, animate, and provide VFX for a visually provocative commercial.
  • Create UV maps and unique and/or tiling textures in various styles for game assets.
  • Show more

Animation director example responsibilities.

  • Manage animation department, promote to manage video and animation departments.
  • Lead a team of artists to create the art and animation for motion comics aspects of the show.
  • Translate storyboards into rough previz animations and work with director adjusting cameras and actions.
  • Assist with QA of code within Xcode environment.

Video game animator vs animation director skills

Common video game animator skills
  • Animation, 36%
  • Motion Capture, 26%
  • Maya, 23%
  • Unity, 5%
  • Character Animation, 4%
  • Photoshop, 3%
Common animation director skills
  • Animation, 37%
  • Maya, 16%
  • Motion Capture, 6%
  • Unity, 5%
  • Medical Care, 5%
  • CG, 4%

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