Computer Animation Jobs Are Among Fastest Growing in Hollywood

by Sarah Clark
sarah.clark@careertrainingdirectory.com
Career Training Directory Columnist

So you think it’s impossible to make it in Tinseltown? Maybe it is, if you work in computer animation: according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of movie and video production industry jobs are growing faster than the average for all occupations.

And here’s the most important part—animation and other multimedia-related jobs are expected to grow particularly fast, rendering them more accessible than jobs like actor or director.

Animation Careers: Business Is Booming

That may be hard to believe, but it’s true. Between 2004 and 2014, computer animation jobs in the film industry are expected to grow by nearly 40 percent. Average employment growth in the industry is expected to reach 17 percent during the same period, which is consider strong by all measures. So the growth among multimedia art and computer animation jobs is especially remarkable.

What accounts for all this growth? Advances in special effects technology, particularly those created with computer animation. Sophisticated animation software allows multimedia artists to create highly creative, fantasy-driven backdrops, such as those seen in movies like the Harry Potter and Star Wars series. Even romantic comedies may feature animation to create a stunt that’s too dangerous for a person to carry out, or to create talking animals or other creative elements.

Where Are the Computer Animation Jobs?

Where can you find these jobs? Many are within big studios like Paramount. Others are scattered among smaller production companies that specialize in editing and manipulating special effects animation software technology.

Many film industry animators get their start as stage technicians or scenic designers. They learn what’s involved in the process of filmmaking. They know when to build a set and when to create one using animation software. They are creative people who are a jack-of-all-trades. They can build a set out of hardware and create a fantasy world generated with the most sophisticated computer technology. They know how to blow things up and how to create optical illusions, big and small.

You can get a leg up on the competition by getting familiar with the animation software used to create blockbuster-worthy special effects. Take a class or complete a degree or certificate program in animation and begin your journey toward a career that’s creative and exciting.

Source

United States Bureau of Labor Statistics

About the Author

Sarah Clark is a freelance writer who specializes in postsecondary education and career development.