By Agnijit Tarafdar, Assistant Professor – NSHM School of Design, Kolkata

 

A career in animation is one of the most-sought-after career options these days. And why not? With high salaries, career growth and an opportunity to showcase your creativity, a career in animation could be the right choice for today’s youth. With movies like Baahubali, Kung Fu Panda, Ice Age and others being a rage among children and adults alike, the prospects of animation industry look bright.  A job in animation can be defined as the art of breathing life to a character or an object. A blend of entertainment industry and technology, it is concerned with design, drawing, layout and production of graphically rich and attractive multimedia clips.

 

Here’s a list of probable job roles in animation:

• 2 D Animator
• 3 D Animator
• Key Frame Animator
• Image Editor
• Modeller
• Character Animator
• Texture Artist
• Layout Artist
• Lighting Artist
• Story Board Artist
• Background Artist
• Clean Up Artist
• Rigging Artist
• Rendering Artist
• Digital Ink and Paint Artist

 

Aptitude and skills required to get an Animation Job

You need sketching skills and a passion for animation. For better job prospects, a degree or diploma in animation helps.

 

Career in Animation after 12th

Here are some of the courses that you can go for once you pass 10+2. Please note different institutions have different eligibility criteria for an animation course. A 50% marks is minimum you should have.

• B Sc in Multimedia, Animation & Graphics
• Des
• Diploma in Animation
• Certificate Courses

Jobs in Animation

India has more than 300 animation studios, which employ over 15,000 animation professionals. The gaming industry is one of the top employers and they also pay quite well. Though entertainment through film and television is the main area of application in this profession, animation is also needed in other areas such as business, sales, engineering, education and advertising. Animators can also find jobs in print media and publishing firms.

Salaries: Junior animators or trainees could get between Rs. 8,000-15,000 per month. With three to five years’ experience they can earn Rs. 25,000- 40,000. A well-experienced animator who has a good portfolio of excellent animation work could easily get Rs. 50,000-60,000 per month. With US and European studios outsourcing work to India, and Indian companies creating a number of animated films andcartoons, the future looks bright for creative animators.

Animation industry

Animation is multi-billion dollar industry has generated great employment scope, and offers career opportunities across a range of profiles – from technology-based jobs such as scanning, compositing, digital ink and paint, and game designing to creative guys like visual-effects supervisors, 3D modellers and character animators.

Training in the form of Degree and Diploma is the most essential and important aspect for the creation of a skilled professional in the field of animation, which can help them master the suite of technical skills required to pursue a lucrative career in this exciting and dynamic industry.

It is rightly said that animation is a career where possibilities are unlimited.

 

About the author – Agnijit Tarafdar, Communication Designer | Academician | Animation Film Maker | Photographer

Tarafdar is working in the field of Design and Animation for more than 19 years. He has started his career as Executive 2D Animator for Zee Telefilms. He was associated in various Animated AD films, animated feelers and a live action- Animation featured film produced by Zee Network. He has started his professional journey as Academician (Senior Lecturer, HOD – Animation Dept.) from Rai University, Mumbai. He worked for International College of Art Animation & Technology – Kolkata as faculty and Regional Head. He worked for St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous) – Kolkata as Animation faculty and course coordinator. He worked for Apeejay Institute of Design, New Delhi assenior faculty member. He worked as academic head for iPixioDesign College, Bangalore. He is been nominated as Board of Studies member by University of Mysore and as Board of Examiners member by University of Mysore. He is currently working at NSHM Knowledge Campus – Kolkata as Design (Graphics and Animation HOD). His academic qualification is Master in Journalism Mass communication with 3 years Diploma in Animation Film Making. He is Autodesk Maya and Wacom Certified Professional. He is the author of two articles published in a publication having ISBN.