FAQ
Do animators get paid well?
Compared to most careers that do not require a college degree, Animators, Storyboard Artists and Character Designers working at major studios make more than most careers. On average, animator salaries are often well over $100,000 a year.
What makes a trade school better or worse than a college?
Many are saying that trade schools are a much smarter investment than a college degree. Learn more about the benefits of trade schoolshere.
Why is a trade school better than college?
Trade schools eliminate unnecessary classes and only teach the skills you need to get the job you want. Another major benefit of trade schools is that they cost much less than colleges today. Many times they cost less than half! Today more people are aware of the cost of carrying student debt for their entire adult lives than ever before. Read this article to see all of the pros and cons.
What do animators make?
The answer is based on what state you work in and your experience level. Animators, storyboard artists, previsualization artists and characters and designers make between 50k and 200k a year. Most of the industry is in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York, but Austin, Texas has become a hub for a lot of game companies over the last two decades. Many new studios have blossomed around the country in the last several years due to the explosion of gaming and streaming television content. Here is a link to the Animation Guild’s wage survey page. Just download the contract to see the current animator salary and wage minimums, and on the right side of the page, download the wage survey to see the high, low, and median wages for each job class. Learn more.
Currently an animator working on a film makes between 2000 to 3000 a week and story artists minimum is about $2500 in television which equals about 50% of union artists.
What is the best animation college?
Cal Arts in Valencia California is rated the number 1 college for animation. Hollywood Animation Academy has many teachers who are Cal Arts Alumni who then worked over 25 years in the industry to improve their own program. Learn more.
Do you need a degree to get a job in animation?
No, you do not need a degree to become an animator. The industry hires based on portfolio’s only. For less experienced artists tests are given out to see if they are competent in the style they are doing. That is why Hollywood Animation Academy helps students build their portfolios to cover as many styles as possible to increase your chances of getting hired.
How much do animators make?
Animator salaries widely differ depending on what part of the company you are in and whether it is a union organized company. Here is a link to the 2018 Wage survey by the Animation guild which gives great detail of what animators are currently making in Hollywood. Learn more.
Previsualization artists often make more weekly but are asked to work a 50 hour work week most of the time.
How hard is it to get a job in Animation?
Animation is a highly competitive career field. Not everyone has the patience or ability to become an animator. If it were easy everyone would do it.
What other career makes over 100k without a career with great benefits?
But it is not all fun and games. A successful animation artist will be well rounded in acting, storytelling, design and observation. They embrace the artistry of movement and expression and enjoy the refinement of nurturing every frame.
Is animation hard to learn?
Animation is a very specific and tedious craft requiring a high level of craftsmanship and knowledge to be at a professional level. It is not something most can learn on their own.
Can anyone learn animation?
If you have the personality and desire to stick to it, almost anyone can become an animator. The nuances of acting, creativity and storytelling make one a great animator vs. An average player. But attitude and ability to work well with others is equally valuable in a profession largely determined by who you know. If you do not have life long drawing skills you would be better suited to learn 3D animation.
Did you know when you are watching animation 30 frames go by per second? Did you know the voice actors act out the script into recordings for storyboard artists to then be the first to visualize the script? They say animators are actors, only with a pencil, well now they use a lot of different tools. This course will introduce you to the basic fundamentals that make animation work, and where animators fit into the process of making films, games, and television shows. We will discuss the history of animation and see where it is going. It is an eye opening introduction to the magic, the art, and the craft. Great for younger students as well ages 14 up with strong basic computer skills. On the final day of class, you will learn to animate the Iron Giant or Lego Batman!
3D Animation fundamentals will teach you how to use Autodesk Maya to create animation using character rigs. It’s like puppeting your character without drawing! You will learn the basics of weight, posing, timing and movement to create some awesome pieces for your portfolio using characters like the Iron Giant, Homer Simpson, Woody and Buzz and even Spongebob!