Animation
Junior animator
What does a junior animator do?
Junior animators help senior animators create the animations. In 2D animation, they might be called inbetweeners or clean-up artists, where they fill in the frames produced by a more senior animator or apply the final ‘line’ to a senior animator’s drawings.
In 3D animation, they help test rigs, research the way things move and film them for reference. They animate small scenes or manage tasks like lip-syncing in which the movement of a character’s mouth is matched to the voice track.
A junior animator in stop motion animation helps to create the movements, expressions and poses of clay figures and other models to meet production requirements. Animators create still images that are played in a rapid sequence to create the illusion of movement.
Senior animators take a visual brief from a storyboard and a verbal brief from a director. They work with a team to interpret the brief and create the drawings, models or computer images in a way that gives the illusion of movement.
This ability to translate the brief into movement is at the heart of all animation. Animators often work in large teams which means they all need to be capable of adhering to the same look and animation style.
They can work for animation studios, film studios or TV production companies. They may also be freelancers.
What’s a junior animator good at?
- Art: draw and reveal attitude, emotions and mood through a character’s movement, have spatial awareness and a feel for movement over time
- Ability to work in a team and work to a brief
- Knowledge of animation: have a good understanding of the principles and mechanics of animation
- Communication: be able to understand and share creative ideas, have productive discussions and take notes on your work
- Organisation: work within the production schedule, create your drawings and animations to meet deadlines
- Watching animations: have a passion for the medium and a love of the industry
Who does an animator work with?
Junior animators work under a senior animator toward an overall brief that comes from the director. The team base their drawings on what has been storyboarded by the storyboard artist.
How do I become an animator?
The most important skill of an animator is the ability to draw, model or use puppets in a way that creates the illusion of movement. Whatever your route into the industry, you need to learn how to do this. It’s useful to have a degree in animation too. This will give you the opportunity to learn the software and animation techniques. However you do it, practice and hone your animation skills and create your own portfolio to show off your work.
At school or college:
You can take A-levels or Highers in fine art, art and design, graphic design, or film studies. Some colleges offer courses which include animation. You might want to take any of the following Level 3 vocational qualifications:
- BTEC National Diploma/Extended Diploma in Art and Design
- UAL Applied General Diploma/Extended Diploma in Art and Design
- NCFE Applied General Certificate in Art and Design
If you want to go straight into a job or apprenticeship, the following Level 3 vocational qualifications will equip you:
- BTEC National Diploma in Graphics
- UAL Diploma/Extended Diploma in Art and Design
- OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma in Art and Design (Graphic Design)
Get an apprenticeship:
An apprenticeship is a job with training, so it’s a great opportunity to earn as you learn. See if you can find an apprenticeship a junior animator. Check out What’s an apprenticeship? to learn more about apprenticeships and find an apprenticeship to learn how to find one in your region, or approach companies directly.
Build a portfolio:
Learn animation and video editing software, experiment with practical stop-motion and start creating work that you can show to admissions tutors or employers. Create your own short film or films. This is essential. Go to build your animation portfolio to learn how. Watch Screenskills’ advice on animation showreels and CG Spectrum – College of Digital Art and Animation’s student showcase YouTube video for help and inspiration.
Get a degree:
A degree in animation or a related field is useful, especially if it’s a degree that will offer you opportunities to do work experience. Have a look at ScreenSkills’ list of recommended courses and select one in animation or design. We recognise courses with our ScreenSkills Select award where they offer training in the relevant software, dedicate time to building a portfolio and have strong links with the animation industry.
Draw, model, paint and illustrate:
Practise creating the illusion of movement with drawings or models, with a focus on anatomy. Be aware of weight and timing when drawing from live subjects (or videos of them). Carry a sketchbook around with you. Observe and draw wherever you can.
Get work experience:
Contact animation companies and ask if you can do work experience. You can also volunteer to use your animation skills to help small businesses, schools, not-for-profit organisations or community groups. Ask if you can enhance the look of their websites or produce an animation for them. This isn’t advisable if the organisation already does its own animation, but if you find one where you think you can help, do ask.
Take a short course:
On the ScreenSkills website, we have a list of animation training courses that we either fund, support or have quality-marked.
Network:
Use social media as a free platform to present your work and to get exposure. Get to know people in the animation industry by attending events. Research specific animation professionals you admire to see what public events and forums they will be attending and try to go to these. Meet producers and animators and ask them questions about their work. Offer to provide them with your professional contact details and try to stay in touch with them. Go to how to network well to learn how to do this.
Search for jobs:
Research animation companies you’d like to work for. Go to their websites and check if they are advertising for junior roles. Even if they aren’t, send in your CV and showreel and ask them to bear you in mind for future roles. Keep looking on job websites too. ScreenSkills offers some advice from professionals on how to approach animation and VFX employers.
You might also be interested in...
Animators are employed in a range of different industries. Have a look at being an animator in the games industry or an animator in VFX.
Further resources
- The principles of animation
- Animation World Network (AWN)
- Weta Digital – YouTube
- CG Spectrum – Free Resources
- Bloop Animation – Video Tutorials
- Understand Disney's 12 principles of animation
- Cartoon Brew
- Skwigly Online Animation Magazine
- CGI Dreamworks Animation Studio Pipeline | CGMeetup
- Any-Mation (video essays) – YouTube
- ScreenSkills resources directory
