Animator

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or a degree in:

• animation
• art and design
• computer games development
• animation production
• visual effects

You may have an advantage when looking for jobs if you choose a course that includes a work placement.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
• university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

You could do a college course to get some of the skills you'll need to become a trainee animator.

Courses include:

• creative and digital media
• games, animation and VFX skills
• creative art and design

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

You could apply to do a higher or degree level apprenticeship with a production studio, such as:

• Junior Animator Level 4
• Junior VFX Artist or Assistant Technical Director Level 4
• VFX Artist or Technical Director Level 6
• Storyboard Artist Level 7

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

You could start as an animation runner with a company and with further training, work your way up to a digital painter, assistant animator, then animator.

Employers value work experience so it's important to get as much as you can. To find work experience or volunteering opportunities, you could contact:

• broadcasting companies
• advertising agencies
• animation studios
• computer games companies

You can also find out more about the different ways to get work experience .

You could take a training course in animation or animation software to get some practical animation skills.

These courses are usually offered by film schools, regional screen agencies and private training providers.

Career Tips

You'll need to create a showreel and animation portfolio to highlight your best work and ideas.

Put your work on your own blog, website or video-sharing website to make it easy to find for employers.

Further Information

You can get advice about the different roles in animation and how to get into them from ScreenSkills and Into Games .

As an animator, you could:

• discuss instructions from the storyboard artist and animation director
• visualise how to animate storyboard and script ideas
• create characters and scenes by hand or using animation software
• add lighting, shading, colour, texture and special effects
• use motion capture methods to create expressions and lifelike movements
• use stop-motion techniques to film physical 3D models
• combine several layers of animation to create the final production

You could work in a creative studio, in an office or from home.