Special Effects Artists and Animators
In the Special Effects Artists and Animators occupation, workers create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials. Expect to design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment. The strongest interest signal is Artistic (7.0 of 7), then Realistic (3.7) and Conventional, which gives it the code ARC. Plan on a bachelor’s degree plus a period of work experience; O*NET labels this considerable preparation. Strength in active listening, reading comprehension, and critical thinking helps most here. People who want creative work with room for original expression usually fit better here than those who need helping, teaching or caring for people.
What they do
Create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.
Main tasks
- Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment.
- Create basic designs, drawings, and illustrations for product labels, cartons, direct mail, or television.
- Participate in design and production of multimedia campaigns, handling budgeting and scheduling, and assisting with such responsibilities as production coordination, background design, and progress tracking.
- Create two-dimensional and three-dimensional images depicting objects in motion or illustrating a process, using computer animation or modeling programs.
- Make objects or characters appear lifelike by manipulating light, color, texture, shadow, and transparency, or manipulating static images to give the illusion of motion.
- Apply story development, directing, cinematography, and editing to animation to create storyboards that show the flow of the animation and map out key scenes and characters.
Skills
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Writing
- Judgment and Decision Making
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You want room to make something in your own way.
- You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
- You are ready to spend around four years on a degree, then build experience.
- You are comfortable relying on active listening and reading comprehension.
May not suit you if
- You prefer clear instructions to open creative briefs.
- You want helping people to be at the center of your work. Social rates 2.2 out of 7 here.
- You want to avoid a four-year degree or its equivalent.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code ARC takes the three highest, and Artistic comes first here.
Preparation
Considerable preparation. Most jobs here ask for a bachelor’s degree, and employers usually expect a few years of related experience as well.
Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED). This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.
Also called
- 3D Animator (Three-Dimensional Animator)
- 3D Artist (Three-Dimensional Artist)
- Animator
- Artist
- Digital Artist
Related careers
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.