Animation 4000 art design subject sub_topic Professionals in the field of animation are experts at creating computer generated images that move and interact with viewers. Computer animation is adaptable to many different industries and applications that require 2D and 3D imaging. Animation experts are involved in producing visual entertainment such as movies and cartoon shorts, and also for scientific and engineering modeling. Some examples of entry-level positions in the field of animation design include multimedia graphic designer, web site developer, 3D animator, and 3D modeler. Animation-related fields are considered a high-demand growth area as studios and freelance designers continue to grow under current market conditions. The salary range for people in the multimedia field ranges from $30,000 to $85,000 depending on education level and work experience. Most animators start their specialized training by earning, at least, an Associates degree or Bachelors degree in the general field of multimedia animation. To learn more about the field of computer-generated animation, you can <b>request free information packets</b> from the schools listed below. 0 0 1 4270 <p>Amazing character animation and breathtaking special effects in movies, television, web sites and video games are created with the talent and dedication of behind the scenes computer animators. A career in the computer animation industry is rewarding for those who have an interest in arts and technology. The fusion of technological studies and the creative arts requires a bit of natural talent and a lot of hands-on education in the field of computer animation. Top computer animators were able to achieve their career goals by first earning a computer animation degree.</p> <b>Education Requirements</b> <p>Before pursuing a career in computer animation, an education in the field is needed. A bachelor's degree in computer animation not only teaches the basic art and computer skills needed but also helps the student to narrow down what field he or she wants to pursue. Basic computer program courses such as 3D modeling, Character Design and 3D Animation are taught at every computer animation school. The students are then allowed to branch off into their own study of interest and take several elective courses.</p> <p>One of the most important aspects of pursuing a degree with 3D animation schools is the portfolio the student designs throughout his or her course of study. This portfolio is requested by most potential employers at each interview and can show off the applicant's skills and knowledge of the industry. A master's degree in computer animation can also be pursued after the bachelor's degree is completed at a computer animation college. The student must know his or her specific study of interest and must locate a school that offers a master's degree in that area of study. A master's degree may be beneficial for the graduate to be hired by a company on a higher level than they would have been considered with just a bachelor's degree. However, most companies will still start a graduate of the master's program as an intern when hired.</p> <b>Earning Potential</b> <p>The number of jobs in the computer animation field is expected to continue growing at the same rate as most other jobs in the entertainment industry. Most up and coming movies and video games require talented computer animators for their success. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for multimedia artists and animators in 2007 was $61,010.</p> <b>Career Opportunities</b> <p>The most popular types of computer animation jobs are in the entertainment industry. These jobs include special effects and character animators for feature length films or commercials as well as animators for video and computer games. Employers in the entertainment industry generally expect their recruits to have at least a bachelor's degree in computer animation. They usually hire on these graduates to start off as interns. Once the newly hired employees have proven themselves on a number of small tasks and are trusted by the rest of the animation team, they are hired on as full-time employees. Most of these are large companies with many office locations. They group their employees into teams that are assigned a project or one aspect of a project to complete. These employees work regular business hours unless a deadline is approaching. They are then expected to work extremely long hours and weekends to meet the project goals and milestones.</p> <p>Recently, large production companies of video games and films have been hiring freelance computer animators. These animators are employed as independent contractors to work on a single project. Once they are finished with the project, they may or may not be hired on to help with another assignment. The lifestyle of a freelance computer animator may be desirable for a person who is versatile in many industries of animation. A computer animator with experience and interest in film, video games and other types of animation may want to pursue a freelance career instead of having to choose a single industry.</p> <p>There are several lesser known industries that computer animators may pursue. Those who have obtained an education in computer animation may want to find a job in the field of simulation. Computer simulation can be seen in the graphics used in weather reports and in the computer re-creation of events such as car accidents. Virtual reality is another type of computer animation that is used for training and visualization. Computer animators who enter this field may find themselves working for large corporate companies to design their training simulations and videos.</p> <b>Article References</b><br/><br/> United States Bureau of Labor Statistics<br/> <a href="http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#b27-0000"target="_blank">http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#b27-0000</a><br/><br/> Vancouver Film School<br/> <a href="http://www.vfs.com/curriculum.php?id=7"target="_blank">http://www.vfs.com/curriculum.php?id=7</a><br/><br/> Association for Computing Machinery's Special Interest Group on Graphics and Interactive Techniques<br/> <a href="http://www.siggraph.org/"target="_blank">http://www.siggraph.org/</a><br/><br/> computer-animation Computer Animation Computer Animation 4850, 4520, 4480, 4650, 4800, 4700 Computer Animation Schools - Animation Art & Design Degree Training 1 0