Multimedia Artists and Animators
SOC: 27-1014.00

Description:

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

National Salary Information:

Hourly Statistics:

Annual Statistics:

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 wage data.

Employment Projections:

Employment (2014):
64,400 employed

Projected (2024):
68,300 employed

Projected growth (2014-2024)


Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 2014-2024 employment projections external site. "Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2014-2024). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.

Alternate Titles:

  • 3D Animator
  • 3D Artist
  • 3D Designer
  • 3D Modeler
  • 3D Specialist
  • Animation Artist
  • Animation Director
  • Animation Producer
  • Animator
  • Anime Artist
  • Art Director
  • Artist
  • Audio/Video Engineer
  • Cartoon Animator
  • Cartoon Artist
  • Compositor
  • Computer Animator
  • Computer Artist
  • Computer Graphic Artist
  • Computer Graphic Designer
  • Computer Graphics Illustrator
  • Concept Artist
  • Creative Director
  • Creative Services Producer
  • Design Director
  • Designer
  • Digital Artist
  • Digital Media Designer
  • Fx Artist
  • Game Artist
  • Game Developer
  • Graphic Artist
  • Graphic Designer
  • Graphics Specialist
  • Illustrator
  • Interactive Digital Media Specialist
  • Media Producer
  • Media Specialist
  • Media/Instructional Designer
  • Motion Graphics Artist
  • Motion Pictures Cartoonist
  • Multimedia Artist
  • Multimedia Author
  • Multimedia Authoring Specialist
  • Multimedia Designer
  • Multimedia Developer
  • Multimedia Producer
  • Multimedia Specialist
  • Multimedia Technician
  • Production Assistant
  • Production Manager
  • Prop and Effects Designer
  • Special Effects Artist
  • Special Effects Designer
  • Special Effects Specialist
  • Special Effects Technician
  • Storyboard Artist
  • Streaming Media Specialist
  • Studio Designer
  • Texture Artist
  • Video Game Animator
  • Videographer
  • Virtual Reality Specialist
  • Visual Effects Artist
  • Web Designer
  • Web Graphic Designer

    • Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

    Experience:

    A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

    Education:

    Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

    Job Training:

    Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

    Required Skills:

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Mathematics
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Learning
  • Learning Strategies
  • Monitoring
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Coordination
  • Persuasion
  • Negotiation
  • Instructing
  • Service Orientation
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Operations Analysis
  • Technology Design
  • Equipment Selection
  • Programming
  • Operation Monitoring
  • Operation and Control
  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Systems Analysis
  • Systems Evaluation
  • Time Management
  • Management of Financial Resources
  • Management of Material Resources
  • Management of Personnel Resources

    • Knowledge Used:

  • Administration and Management
  • Clerical
  • Economics and Accounting
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • Production and Processing
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Design
  • Mechanical
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Biology
  • Psychology
  • Sociology and Anthropology
  • Geography
  • Education and Training
  • English Language
  • Fine Arts
  • History and Archeology
  • Philosophy and Theology
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Law and Government
  • Telecommunications
  • Communications and Media
  • Transportation

    • Tasks:

  • Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment.
  • 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.
  • Assemble, typeset, scan and produce digital camera-ready art or film negatives and printer's proofs.
  • 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.
  • Script, plan, and create animated narrative sequences under tight deadlines, using computer software and hand drawing techniques.
  • Create basic designs, drawings, and illustrations for product labels, cartons, direct mail, or television.
  • Create pen-and-paper images to be scanned, edited, colored, textured, or animated by computer.
  • Develop briefings, brochures, multimedia presentations, web pages, promotional products, technical illustrations, and computer artwork for use in products, technical manuals, literature, newsletters, and slide shows.
  • Use models to simulate the behavior of animated objects in the finished sequence.
  • Create and install special effects as required by the script, mixing chemicals and fabricating needed parts from wood, metal, plaster, and clay.
  • 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.
  • Convert real objects to animated objects through modeling, using techniques such as optical scanning.
  • Implement and maintain configuration control systems.

    • Tools & Technology:

  • Digital paper
  • Digital pens
  • Panoramic digital cameras
  • Personal computers
  • Ability Photopaint
  • ACD Systems Canvas
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
  • Adobe Systems Adobe AfterEffects
  • Adobe Systems Adobe AIR
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Suite software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Director
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Fireworks
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Flash
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Flash Lite
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Flex
  • Adobe Systems Adobe FreeHand MX
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe Systems Adobe ImageReady
  • Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Premiere Pro software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Shockwave Player
  • Adobe Systems AdobeMlashMX
  • AJAX
  • Ambient Design ArtRage
  • Apple DrawBerry
  • Apple Final Cut Pro
  • Apple Macintosh OS
  • Aqsis Renderer
  • Autodesk 3ds Max Design
  • Autodesk Alias Design
  • Autodesk Alias Surface
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
  • Autodesk Combustion
  • Autodesk Maya
  • Autodesk MotionBuilder
  • Autodesk Mudbox
  • Autodesk SketchBook Pro
  • Autodesk SoftImage
  • AutoDesSys form Z
  • AutoQ3D
  • Blender software
  • Bohemian Coding DrawIt
  • Bunkspeed HyperDrive
  • Bunkspeed HyperMove
  • C
  • C++
  • Caligari Corporation trueSpace
  • Cascading Style Sheets CSS
  • Celsys RETAS
  • Chaos Group V-Ray software
  • Character Studio
  • Cheetah3D
  • Code libraries
  • Component libraries
  • Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite
  • Corel Painter
  • Crytek CryEngine
  • Cybermotion 3D Designer
  • DAZ Productions Bryce
  • DAZ Productions Carrara
  • Drupal
  • DX Studio
  • Dynamic hypertext markup language DHTML
  • e-on software Vue
  • Electric Rain Swift 3D Xpress
  • Extensible Hypertext Markup Language XHTML
  • Extensible Markup Language XML
  • Freeverse Lineform
  • Google SketchUp Pro
  • HASH Animation:Master
  • Hypertext Markup Language HTML
  • Indigo Renderer
  • Inivis AC3D
  • JavaScript
  • jQuery
  • Luxology Modo
  • Luxrender
  • MagicTracer
  • Massive Jet
  • Maxon BodyPaint 3D
  • MAXON CINEMA 4D software
  • MaxScript
  • Maxwell Render
  • Maya Embedded Language MEL
  • Mental Images Mental Ray
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Expression Design
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Silverlight
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Word
  • Nevercenter Silo
  • NewTek Lightwave 3D
  • NodeBox
  • NVDIA Gelato
  • Object-oriented programming languages
  • PHP: Hypertext preprocessor
  • Pixar RenderMan Studio
  • Pixarra TwistedBrush
  • Pixelmator
  • Pixologic Zbrush
  • Python
  • Quad Software Grome
  • QuarkXPress
  • RealFlow
  • Satori Paint
  • Serif DrawPlus
  • Side Effects Software Houdini
  • sK1
  • Skencil
  • SmithMicro Anime Studio
  • SmithMicro Manga Studio
  • SmithMicro SoftwarePoser
  • solidThinking
  • SplutterFish Brazil
  • Sunflow Render System
  • TechSmith Camtasia
  • Three-dimensional graphics software
  • Trapcode Particular
  • Two-dimensional graphics software
  • UNIX
  • Unreal Technology Unreal Engine
  • VectorDesigner
  • Xara Xtreme
  • XML User Interface XUI

    • arts design entertainment sports and media

    industry stats

    SOC: 27-0000

    Total Employed: 1,843,600

    Average Annual Salary: $56,980