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Animator/​Digital Artist

Kaiwhakahauora/​Ringa Toi Mamati

Alternative titles for this job

Animators and digital artists use software, models, photography and drawings to create still and moving images for advertisements, film, print, web or television. 

Pay

Animators/digital artists can earn

$55K-$100K per year

Motion designers can earn

$48k-$120K per year

Source: The Creative Store, 2023.

Job opportunities

Chances of getting a job as an animator/digital artist are average for those wanting to enter the role, but good for those with experience.

Pay

Pay for animators/digital artists varies depending on skills, experience and the type of work they do.

  • Animators can earn $55,000 to $100,000.
  • Motion designers can earn $48,000 to $120,000.

Self-employed animators/digital artists may be paid by the frame/picture.

Sources; The Creative Store, 'NZ Salary Survey', 2023.

(This information is a guide only. Find out more about the sources of our pay information)

What you will do

Animators/digital artists may do some or all of the following:

  • meet with directors, clients or employers and agree on a brief (work plan)
  • plan animation and design work for their team
  • illustrate books and other print media
  • build models, puppets or sets, or hand-draw or paint characters, and give them skin surfaces with texture and colour
  • film models and hand-drawn animations
  • create 3D mesh wireframes to produce backdrops for 2D and 3D animation scenes
  • use computer programmes to "rig" characters, giving them skeletons that allow them to be animated
  • use computer animation programmes to animate characters and objects in 2D or 3D
  • direct the filming of motion capture (recording physical movements that are then translated into digital images)
  • be involved in hiring and managing staff.

Skills and knowledge

Depending on the media they work with, animators/digital artists need to have:

  • drawing, painting and design skills, if they are making models
  • animation skills (2D and 3D)
  • coding skills
  • knowledge of animation software
  • an understanding of how people and animals move and express their feelings
  • the ability to create different moods and feelings in characters
  • knowledge of print, film, television or video game production.

Working conditions

Animators/digital artists:

  • often work irregular hours and may be required to work evenings and weekends to complete projects
  • often work on contracts, which may range from two weeks to two years
  • usually work in offices or workshops, and may move frequently from location to location on different projects.

 

What's the job really like?

Visual effects artist and animator

Vania Chandrawidjaja talks about life as a visual effects artist and animator – 1.57 mins

View transcript
Hi, I'm Vania and I'm a motion designer.
So motion designers: we take 2D images and make them move on screen.
We unpack a lot of complex information and simplify those into
charts, graphs,
and other visuals. So motion design is a hybrid of graphic design and animation.
Usually you can see it on billboards and on TV advertisements.
I work in the news and current affairs departments.
We collaborate with the journalists and help them to deliver the message they're
wanting to say,
and we help them visualise that. There's a lot of moving images and moving text,
right? We take those images,
get rid of the background in Photoshop,
and then export that into After Effects where we animate them using key
frames. So we would time those in and then make them move.
Yeah, that's how you make moving images and text. I studied a Bachelor of Media
Design, and I took motion design as my course,
and it took 3 years to complete. Some of my teammates actually,
they built up their portfolio through online courses as well.
So you don't really need to do a bachelor if you do want to get in the motion
industry. The most difficult thing about my job is when you need to come up with
an idea very quickly, especially with news, but we also get to discuss that.
Say, oh, I'm working on this graphic, but I'm stuck on this idea.
You could just like pop by someone else's desk and say "Hey,
could you help me?". I've always been a creative person.
So being a motion designer is a very nice mix of
doing something creative for yourself and also for other people because for news
is very informative and educational.
So I guess that's a plus point for me working as a motion designer.

Entry requirements

To become an animator/digital artist you need to be able to show the quality of your work. You can do this either through a portfolio of work or a website, or a showreel with a shot list.

Employers usually require you to have one or all of the following:

Secondary education

A tertiary entrance qualification is required to enter further training. Useful subjects include design and visual communication (graphics), design (practical art), digital technologies, art history, maths, te reo Māori and painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking combined.

Personal requirements

Animators/digital artists need to be:

  • creative and imaginative
  • disciplined, motivated and good at setting goals
  • comfortable promoting themselves and their work
  • adaptable, and able to accept criticism of their work
  • able to work well under pressure and to deadlines
  • good communicators.

Useful experience

Useful experience for animators/digital artists includes:

  • drawing, life drawing, cartooning or graphic design experience
  • experience in film or photography
  • computer design and drawing experience
  • computer programming experience
  • experience in animation software.
Check out related courses

What are the chances of getting a job?

Strong competition for entry-level animator/digital artist jobs

Competition for entry-level animator/digital artist jobs is strong. For graduates, chances of getting a job are best if you:

  • have showreels of your work that target an employers' needs
  • promote your personal brand (your unique skills, style and technique)
  • showcase your work through social media and websites such as Art Station and The Rookies
  • have work experience such as internships, summer scholarships, collaborations, team projects or freelance work
  • have a positive, can-do attitude
  • network to get your work and name known
  • are prepared to adapt to a wide range of tasks and learn new skills rapidly.

According to Massey University's College of Creative Arts, around 60% of their graduates find work related to animation.

According to the Census, 621 animators/digital artists worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Experienced and multi-skilled animators/digital artists in demand

There is a shortage of experienced and talented animators/digital artists. They are in demand from animation, advertising and design companies in New Zealand and overseas.

Also in high demand are animators/digital artists with technical skills in coding and computer software, game development, simulation and rendering research, technical directing, rigging and lighting. Animators who can work as producers managing staff or workflows, or have marketing skills are also needed.

Animators/digital artists who combine their animation qualification with computer software development training can increase their chances of finding work.

Multimedia specialist (film animator) appears on Immigration New Zealand's long-term skill shortage list. This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled animators/digital artists from overseas to work in New Zealand.

Most animation work project based

Experienced animators/digital artists are usually employed as freelancers for one-off projects such as commercials, films or events which have a limited production time. 

Animators/digital artists need to be able to plan and manage their contracts, and network to find new work.

Types of employers varied

Employers of animators/digital artists include:

  • major feature film studios
  • television studios
  • digital companies that create commercials, TV shows, TV and film credits and music videos
  • web and mobile game design companies
  • publishing companies.

Animators/digital artists may work as freelancers, or work on contract for companies that offer graphic design, animation and advertising services.

Sources

  • Boucher, N, project manager - outreach, Massey University College of Creative Arts, careers.govt.nz interview, October 2018.
  • Feron, R, lecturer - 3D, Media Design School, careers.govt.nz interview, October 2018.
  • Immigration New Zealand, 'Long Term Skill Shortage List', 27 May 2019, (www.immigration.govt.nz).
  • Miles, N, Toybox, careers.govt.nz interview, October 2018.
  • Reece, S, 'SIT to Offer Gaming, Animation Courses', 26 September 2018, (www.odt.co.nz).
  • Stats NZ, '2018 Census Data', 2019.
  • Stats NZ, 'The Screen Industry Survey 2016/17', 10 April 2018, (www.stats.govt.nz).

(This information is a guide only. Find out more about the sources of our job opportunities information)

Progression and specialisations

Animators/digital artists may progress to set up their own animation or digital business, or move into management roles.

Animators/digital artists may progress to become narrative designers (designing the stories of games), art directors, animation directors, producers, production managers or technical directors.

Animators/digital artists may specialise in:

  • 2D animation or 3D animation
  • concept art
  • game and app development
  • lighting
  • modelling
  • motion scheduling and stop-motion
  • previs layout (laying out scenes before they're animated)
  • rendering
  • rigging (creating a skeleton for an animation)
  • shading and texture
  • storyboarding
  • visual effects.
A man sits at a desk using a computer keyboard. On his computer screen are two views of a video game character he is animating

Animators use software to create moving images

Last updated 7 August 2024