Remember when you used to tell stories by drawing stick figures on the pages of a tiny book? Flipbooks! Yep. That could have been your first try at animation.
Animation is just the technique of drawing many static figures and compiling them together to portray them in motion. We all have favorite animated characters that we enjoy watching on screen, and long to be a part of the animated world. Behind that stunning picture is a team of animators creating, editing, and assembling all of their work to provide you with an unforgettable experience.
In this blog, you will briefly learn about, Who are Animators? How to become an Animator after 12th Grade? What are the qualifications and skills required to be an Animator? We’ll also shed light on various colleges to apply to in India and abroad, the job preparation required, opportunities for animators, and the pay scale.
An animator blends drawings, designs, layouts, graphics, etc. to create characters for different projects, including films, commercials, television, marketing campaigns, etc.
The role of an animator demands a specific skill set that can be honed and improved through professional degrees and technical courses. One can choose the specialization based on what kind of animator one wants to become. Let’s dive into the education qualification and certificate courses one can pursue.
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To pursue your undergraduate degree in animation, you would be required to pursue your Grade 11 and 12 in the science stream. As most degrees demand knowledge of technical tools, it would be a wise decision to enroll in certificate programs.
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Certificate courses in animation are for a duration of 3 months to 6 months. The fees for the certificate courses are anywhere between Rs.15,000 to Rs.30,000
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The minimal requirement to enroll in any course on animation is an overall grade average of 55 percent in the 12th class. After 12th grade, one can pursue a diploma, graduate, and seek a career. Or they can continue their education and get a master’s degree in animation after their graduation.
How to become an Animator after 10th
Diplomas in animation are courses with shorter duration. An estimated 6 months to one year. A few of the courses have an entrance exam. The fees for these courses are around Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 55,000. Here’s a list of a few diploma courses in animation:
| Sr. No. | Course Name | Duration |
| 1. | Diploma in 3D animation. | 1 year |
| 2. | Diploma in Digital animation. | 1 year |
| 3. | Diploma in video editing and VFX | 1 year |
| 4. | Diploma in Animation, editing, and post-production work | 1 or 2 years |
| 5. | Diploma in 3D animation and visual effects | 1 year |
| 6. | Diploma in 2D animation | 1 year |
| 7. | Diploma in CG animation | 6 months |
| 8. | Diploma in Fusion animation | 1 year |
How to become an Animator after 12th
After the completion of Grade 12 one should meet the following eligibility criteria to apply for an undergraduate degree,
Courses to become an Animator In India
Few institutions conduct entrance exams for their animation courses or aptitude tests. Below are some of the popular entrance exams. :
Graduation in animation is a three-year-long course. The fees for these courses are estimated to be around Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 5,00,000 based on the choice of institution. Here’s a list of courses:
| Sr. No. | Name of the course | Duration |
| 1 | B. Des in Animation | 3 years |
| 2 | Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation, Graphics, and Web Design | 3 years |
| 3 | B.Sc. in Animation | 3 years |
| 4 | BA in Digital Filmmaking and Animation | 3 years |
| 5 | B.Sc. in Animation and VFX | 3 years |
| 6 | BA in Animation & Multimedia | 3 years |
| 7 | BA in Animation and CG Arts | 3 years |
| 8 | B.Sc. in Animation and Gaming | 3 years |
| 9 | Bachelor of Visual Arts | 3 years |
| Name of the Institution | Location |
| Industrial Design Centre, IIT | Bombay |
| ITM Institute of Design and Media | Pune |
| VIDM Institute of Management and Design | New Delhi |
| Artemisia College of Art and Design | Indore |
| Arena Animation | Bangalore |
| AAFT School of Animation | Noida |
| Andhra Loyola College | Vijayawada |
| Unitedworld Institute of Design | Gandhinagar |
| Brainware University | Kolkata |
| National Institute of Design | Ahmedabad |
| Amity University | Lucknow |
| IIFA Multimedia | Bengaluru |
| Apeejay Institute of Design | South Delhi |
| Zee Institute of Creative Arts | New Delhi & Cochin |
| Frameboxx Animation and Visual Effects | Multiple locations |
| Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematic (MAAC) | Multiple locations |
| NIMS University | Jaipur |
| World University of Design | Sonipat |
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Study Abroad to become Animator
There are different Diploma and Undergraduate degree on Animation offered abroad. A few of these courses focus on a specific type of animation. The eligibility criteria are as follows:
Below are a list of a few Diploma courses you can apply for abroad.
Note: The Advanced Diploma courses require an undergraduate degree as eligibility criteria.
| Sr.No. | Name of course | Duration |
| 1. | Diploma in Animation- 3D | 16 months |
| 2. | Diploma in 3D Computer Animation | 1 year |
| 3. | Advanced Diploma in 3D Animation | 3 years |
| 4. | Diploma in Graphic Design | 1 year |
| 5. | Diploma in Animation essentials | 1 year |
Here are a few popular undergraduate degrees in animation you can apply for abroad:
| Sr. No. | Name of the course | Duration |
| 1. | Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation) | 3 years |
| 2. | Art (Animation), BFA | 3 years |
| 3. | Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Design | 3 years |
| 4. | BA (Hons) 2D Digital Animation | 3 years |
| 5. | Bachelors of Design Innovation- Animation and Visual Effects | 3 years |
| Name of University | Location |
| Sheridan College | Canada |
| California Institute of the Arts | United States |
| Gobelins | France |
| Vancouver Institute of Media Arts | Canada |
| The Maryland Institute College and Art(MICA) | United States |
| Queen’s University | Kingston, Canada |
| Humber College | Toronto |
| University of Hertfordshire | Hatfield, UK |
| Arizona State University | Tempe, USA |
| Teesside University | Middlesbrough, UK |
Ensure to enroll in internships during and after under graduation. For someone to be successful in the field of animation, it is important for them to work on multiple projects and upskill themselves. It would also be a good time to identify your area of interest for future specializations.
Right from the certificate courses to the internship experiences, all the essential certificates and experiences highlighting your skills should be included in your portfolio. Your portfolio will also include 10-15 pieces of your original work such as life drawing, layout, character sketches, freestyle, movement, etc.
Freelancing is a viable option for many animators. Once you have built a profile with credible works to your credit, it makes you a trustable candidate. You can work on multiple projects and have diverse options.
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Here are the skills one should possess to become an animator:
Technical skills:
Tools you should be familiar with:
The average monthly income of animators differs based on the job title.
| Type on Animator (Job Title) | 2D Animator | 3D Animator | Key Frame animator | 3D Modeler | Texture Artist | Composite Artist |
| Average salary/month | 30,000 INR | 32,000 INR | 37400 INR | 44857 INR | 32859 INR | 32403 INR |
The income of animators in different countries.
| Name of the country | USA(in dollars) | UK(in pounds) | Japan(in yen) | Canada(Canadian dollars) | Australia(in Australian dollars) | France(in EUR) |
| Avg. annual salary | $69,896 | £35,260 | 1,550,000 yen | $58,316 | $70000 | 34,000 EUR |
| Toonz Animation India |
| UTV Toonz |
| Anibrain, Pune |
| Pentamedia Graphics, Chennai |
| Reliance Media Companies Ltd, Mumbai |
| MAKUTA |
| Arena Multimedia |
| Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics |
| ANTS (Animation Training School) |
| Industrial Design Centre (IIT Mumbai) |
| Birla Institute of Technology, Noida |
| Heart Entertainment |
| Padmalaya Telefilms |
| Nipuna Services Ltd |
| Jadoo Works |
| Crest Communications |
| Silvertoon Studio, Mumbai |
| Studio Ghilbi |
| Dreamworks Animation |
| Nickelodeon Animation Studios |
| Toei Animation |
| Warner Bros. Animation |
| Cartoon Network Studios |
| Disney |
| Pixar |
| Marvel |
| Blue Sky Studios |
There is a lot of scope for Animators in the film industry, gaming industry, businesses, advertising, and e-learning industry, etc. An analysis of the current job market suggests there will be a 17% rise in the demand for animators by the year 2030. This might not sound like a high number, but it is compared to other job industries.
The income of an animator differs based on the position. An average salary is estimated between Rs 2,00,000 to Rs. 6,60,000 annually.
One can choose to pursue a Diploma or bachelor’s after the completion of after 12th.
Animators work in Film and TV industry, Gaming industry, E-learning, and Businesses.
An animator compiles still live pictures and puts them in a sequence to show movement.
The duties of an animator differ based on the job position. For more info refer to “What are the duties and responsibilities of an animator”
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