Multimedia Artists and Animators

Summary

Multimedia artists and animators create animation and visual effects for television, movies, video games, and other forms of media.

Quick Facts: Multimedia Artists and Animators
2010 Median Pay	$58,510 per year $28.13 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Bachelor’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Number of Jobs, 2010	66,500
Job Outlook, 2010-20	8% (Slower than average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	5,500

What Multimedia Artists and Animators Do

Multimedia artists and animators create animation and visual effects for television, movies, video games, and other media. They create two- and three-dimensional models and animation.

Work Environment

Although most multimedia artists are self-employed, some work for the motion picture and video industry. They often work long hours, especially when deadlines are approaching.

How to Become a Multimedia Artist or Animator

Many multimedia artists and animators pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer graphics, art, or a related field to develop a good portfolio of work and learn the strong technical skills that many employers prefer.

Pay

The median annual wage of multimedia artists and animators was $58,510 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of multimedia artists and animators is expected to grow by 8 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations. Expected growth will be due to increased demand for animation and visual effects in video games, movies, and television. However, growth will be slow as companies increasing hire animators who are overseas. In addition, competition for jobs will be tough because there are many people interested in entering the occupation.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of multimedia artists and animators with similar occupations.

O*NET

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Contacts for More Information

Learn more about multimedia artists and animators by contacting these additional resources.

What Multimedia Artists and Animators Do About this section

Multimedia artists and animators often work in a specific form of media, such as animated movies, video games, or visual effects.

Multimedia artists and animators create animation and visual effects for television, movies, video games, and other forms of media. They create two- and three-dimensional models and animation.

Duties

Multimedia artists and animators typically do the following:

• Create graphics and animation using computer programs and illustration
• Work with a team of animators and artists to create a movie, game, or visual effect
• Research upcoming projects to help create a realistic design or animation
• Develop storyboards that map out key scenes in the animation
• Edit animation and effects based on feedback from directors, head animators, game designers, or clients
• Meet with clients, head animators, games designers, and directors to review deadlines and development timelines

Multimedia artists and animators often work in a specific medium. Some focus on creating animated movies or video games. Others create visual effects for movies and television shows. Visual effects, also called computer generated images or CGI, include creating animation from images of actors performing or designing scenery or backgrounds for locations.

Artists and animators can further specialize within these fields. Within animated movies and video games, artists often specialize in characters or scenery and background design. Video game artists may focus on level design: creating the look, feel, and layout for the levels of a video game.

Animators work in teams to develop a movie, visual effect, or electronic game. Each animator works on a portion of the project, and then they put the pieces together to create one cohesive animation.

Some multimedia artists and animators create their work primarily using computer software or by writing their own computer code. Many animation companies have their own computer animation software that artists must learn to use.

Other artists and animators prefer to work by drawing and painting by hand and then translating that work into computer programs. Some multimedia artists use storyboards, which look like a comic strip, to help visualize the final product during the design process.

Work Environment About this section

Multimedia artists and animators frequently work in offices.

Multimedia artists and animators held 66,500 jobs in 2010. In 2010, 59 percent of workers were self-employed. They often work from home. Some work for motion picture or video game studios. They frequently work in offices.

In 2010, the industries employing the most multimedia artists were as follows:

Work Schedules

Multimedia artists and animators often work long hours; it is not unusual for them to work 50-hour weeks. When deadlines are approaching, they may work nights and weekends.

How to Become a Multimedia Artist or Animator About this section

Employers look for workers who have a good portfolio of work and strong technical skills.

Many multimedia artists and animators pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer graphics, art, or a related field to develop a good portfolio of work and learn the strong technical skills that many employers prefer. 

Education

Employers typically do not require a degree, but they look for workers who have a good portfolio of work and strong technical skills. However, many multimedia artists and animators have a bachelor’s degree in fine art, computer graphics, animation, or a related field. Programs in computer graphics often include courses in computer science, such as programming, and in graphics.

Bachelor’s degree programs in art include courses in painting, drawing, and sculpture. Degrees in animation often require classes in drawing, animation, and film. Some schools have specialized degrees in topics such as interactive media or game design.

Training

Some animation studios have their own software and computer applications that they use to create films. They give workers on-the-job training to use this software. Animators may be hired for a probationary period while they prove that they have the skills and talent to become a permanent employee.

Important Qualities

Artistic talent. Animators and artists should have artistic ability and a good understanding of color, texture, and light. However, they may be able to compensate for a lack of artistic ability with better technical skills.

Computer skills. Many multimedia artists and animators do most of their work using computer programs or writing programming code. However, those with artistic talent may be able to find work without strong computer skills.

Creativity. Artists and animators must be able to think creatively to develop original ideas and make their ideas come to life.

People skills. Multimedia artists and animators need to work as part of a team and respond well to criticism and feedback.

Physical stamina. The hours required by most studio and game design companies are long, particularly when there are tight deadlines. Artists and animators need to be able to keep up with the long hours and challenging work.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage of multimedia artists and animators was $58,510 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $33,840, and the top 10 percent earned more than $99,830.

In May 2010, annual median wages of multimedia artists and animators in the industries employing the most multimedia artists and animators were as follows:

Multimedia artists and animators often work long hours; it is not unusual for them to work 50-hour weeks. When deadlines are approaching, they may work nights and weekends.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of multimedia artists and animators is expected to grow by 8 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations. Expected growth will be due to increased demand for animation and visual effects in video games, movies, and television. However, it will be slowed by companies hiring animators who work oversees.

Consumers will continue to demand more realistic video games, movie and television special effects, and three-dimensional movies. Video game studios will require additional multimedia artists and animators to meet this increased demand.

In addition, an increased demand for computer graphics for mobile devices, such as smart phones, will lead to more job opportunities. Multimedia artists will be needed to create animation for games and applications for mobile devices.

However, growth will likely be limited because some animation work is being sent to other countries. Studios can often save money on animation by using lower-paid workers outside of the United States.

From 2010 to 2020, employment growth of multimedia artists and animators in the industries employing the most multimedia artists and animators is expected to be as follows:

Job Prospects

Despite job growth, there will be competition for job openings because many people are interested in entering the occupation. Opportunities should be best for those who have artistic talent or who are highly skilled in creating computer graphics.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about careers in video game design, read the Occupational Outlook Quarterly article titled “Work for Play: Careers in Video Game Development.”

For information accredited schools of art and design, visit

National Association of Schools of Art and Design