Animator

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree. The most useful courses include practical skills and work placements. Relevant courses include:

• animation
• art and design
• computer games development
• animation production
• visual effects

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

You could do a college course that will teach you some of the skills you'll need to get started as a junior animator. Courses include:

• Level 3 Diploma in Creative and Digital Media
• Level 3 Diploma in Games, Animation and VFX Skills

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• funding advice
• search for courses

You could take a higher apprenticeship as a junior animator. This may help you to get a job as an animation assistant.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

You could start as an animation 'runner' and work your way up to:

• digital painter
• inbetweener
• assistant animator
• animator

You may find it useful to do some related voluntary or paid work. You can contact broadcasting companies, advertising agencies, animation studios or computer games companies to find out about work experience opportunities.

You could take short courses in animation skills and software packages run by film schools, regional screen agencies and private training providers.

Career tips

You'll need a showreel and portfolio to highlight your best animation work and ideas. Make your work easy to find, either on your own website or blog, or on a video-sharing website.

Further information

You can get advice about working as an animator from ScreenSkills.

You can also find out more about working in the creative industries from Discover Creative Careers.

You'll need:

• knowledge of media production and communication
• design skills and knowledge
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• thinking and reasoning skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• the ability to work well with your hands
• to be flexible and open to change
• knowledge of the fine arts
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Your day-to-day tasks will depend on the type of animation you're doing. You could:

• visualise storyboard and script ideas
• use animation software or hand drawn techniques to create characters and scenes
• add lighting, shading and special effects
• paint in backgrounds and character colours
• add textures to digital models
• use motion capture methods to create lifelike expressions and movements
• use stop-motion techniques to film 3D models
• combine separate layers of animation into one to create the final product

You could work in an office, from home or in a creative studio.