Special Effects Artists and Animators

Create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.

What you'd actually do

• Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment.
• Create basic designs, drawings, and illustrations for product labels, cartons, direct mail, or television.
• Participate in design and production of multimedia campaigns, handling budgeting and scheduling, and assisting with such responsibilities as production coordination, background design, and progress tracking.
• Create two-dimensional and three-dimensional images depicting objects in motion or illustrating a process, using computer animation or modeling programs.
• Make objects or characters appear lifelike by manipulating light, color, texture, shadow, and transparency, or manipulating static images to give the illusion of motion.
• Apply story development, directing, cinematography, and editing to animation to create storyboards that show the flow of the animation and map out key scenes and characters.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation: considerable preparation (Job Zone 4 of 5).

The feel of the work

Much of the day is spent working solo; time pressure is a real part of the job. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 61.5% of special effects artists and animators are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are creative, hands-on and organized and detail-focused.

Related careers

• Musicians and Singers
• Technical Writers
• Producers and Directors
• Art Directors
• Commercial and Industrial Designers
• Editors

Quick questions

How much does a special effects artists and animator make?

The median pay is $49.06 per hour — roughly $102,000 a year, with the real range running from about $28.17/hr (10th percentile) to $85.15/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a special effects artists and animator?

The typical entry-level education is: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation level: considerable preparation (Job Zone 4 of 5).

What does a special effects artists and animator actually do all day?

Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment. Create basic designs, drawings, and illustrations for product labels, cartons, direct mail, or television. Participate in design and production of multimedia campaigns, handling budgeting and scheduling, and assisting with such responsibilities as production coordination, background design, and progress tracking.