In this assignment I am required to keep a research blog on 1 or 2 job roles in the animation industry I am interested in. I will find what skill set is required, what should and shouldn’t be in a portfolio/reel for this job, if it is an entry role or requires previous experience, and any other interesting insights. By the end of this research I hope to find 1 or two job roles I am interested in, and learn and understand the requirements of these jobs, so that I could be prepared to apply for a job in this industry for the future.
At first, it was difficult for me to choose a specific job role, as I do enjoy trying out every aspect of animation in this course. I also couldn’t figure out what aspect I am best at. However most recently I found out from a class we had, that I do enjoy 2D Animating a lot, and have some experience with it. I am also quite interested in a concept artist job as a lot of pieces of work I admire/inspired by, are based off concepts of a project.
So I will research about the job roles:
2D Animator, and Concept Artist
2D ANIMATOR
Sources
https://www.cgspectrum.com/career-pathways/2d-animator
https://www.cgspectrum.com/blog/what-is-2d-animation
https://learn.org/articles/What_are_the_Job_Duties_of_a_2D_Animator.html
https://www.nfi.edu/career-in-animation/
Job applications
https://www.reed.co.uk/jobs/junior-mid-animator/44331581?source=searchResults&filter=%2fjobs%2f2d-animator-jobs-in-united-kingdom
https://www.reed.co.uk/jobs/2d-animator/44611201?source=searchResults&filter=%2fjobs%2f2d-animator-jobs-in-united-kingdom
https://uk.indeed.com/viewjob?cmp=Zest-Exec-ltd&t=Animator&jk=43146c7484c6877a&q=2d+Animator&vjs=3
A 2D Animator is the role of creating movement in a 2-dimensional space in cel, traditional drawings, or on computer software. 2D Animators convey stories, life and messages through their work by making characters, objects, and backgrounds move.
A 2D Animator could be working with many people to produce their work. They will work with writers and head of story to learn how to communicate this story they have made. They will work with concept, background, layout and character artists to determine the visual of the animation and how to portray it. They will work with sound designers and voice actors to accurately animate in beat and in time with any sound played.
A 2D Animator has roles and responsibilities they take on to do their best job. These include:
- Producing frames
- Rigging characters
- Producing special effects & graphics
- Inking and colouring
- Animating scenes
- Preparing actions & timing to dialogue & music
- Cleanups
A 2D animator can work with many software and skills to produce animation, such as:
- Pen and paper
- Paint and cels
- Artistic skills
- Creative skills
- Anatomy
- Puppetry – traditional and digital
- flexibility within projects
- Toon Boom
- Adobe Photoshop / Illustrator / After Effects
- Krita
- Blender
Now I will present 2 – 3 job applications that are looking for a 2D Animator at the moment. I will analyse their job description to see what skills they require, what they would look for in a portfolio / reel, and if this is an entry level position or not.
1. Junior-Mid Animator – Creative Recruitment
The first job I found was on Reed.co.uk. This is for a recruiting branch called Creative Recruitment and it is offering a Junior-Mid Animator job based in London. This is a client job offer for corporate and promotional briefs.
Their essential skills for this job is to:
- have intermediate After effects skills in 2D Animation & motion graphics
- decent at video editing in Premiere Pro
- be highly creative and thrive in lively creative environments
- be self-motivated
- have awesome showreel / website with range of projects
- work on tight deadlines
- love to interact with clients
This job application states it is ideal to have agency experience beforehand, however they advertise this job role as junior-mid which some graduates with 2D Animation experience could fall into.
They are looking for a showreel submission and a portfolio website with a range of projects. This ensures the studio of what you have previously worked on, and showcases your skills in action.
2. 2D Animator – Vanilla Recruitment
This next job role was also found on Reed.co.uk. The recruiting branch is called Vanilla Recruitment and they are looking for a passionate 2D Animator to join a commercial marketing service company to help international brands communicate with digital innovations. This is based in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire and contains flexible working.
They list the duties that you will undertake in this role:
- Create 2D text flashes & animations
- generate creative content for digital screens and social media
- work closely with other creatives & client services team to understand requirements
- use initiative and working at pace whilst maintaining quality
- work on diverse projects with consumer brands
They also list skills and experience required:
- experience with 2D animation,, or an open minded animation graduate with practical work experience
- Creative skills and experience with illustrator, After effects, Photoshop, InDesign
- Ability to work to deadlines
- excellent communication skills
Alternatively to the last job, this application is offered to ‘open-minded’ animation graduates with some work experience. This is ideal for graduates looking for their first big role in the industry.
3. 2D Animator – Zest Exec ltd
This last job I found was found on Indeed.com This is for a company/recruitment branch called Zest Exec ltd and they are looking for a 2D animator / motion designer to join the animation team. They will provide the chance to work with clients on a global scale, and the opportunity to work in a studio environment. They are based in Midlands, Nottingham, and they prefer to work in studio.
The requirements they look for are:
- At least 2 years experience, but also consider graduate level appointments
- require proven commercial proficiency in editing, asset creation and motion design with software After effects, Illustrator and Photoshop.
- Experience in 2D design and motion
- 3D not required but added benefit
They also provide a list of skills to have:
- Adobe After Effects, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, Indesign – bonus
- A solid communicator at all levels – both written and verbal
- A passion for the sector, a willingness to learn and develop
This recruitment branch says they can consider graduate level appointments for this role, which means graduates have an opportunity to apply for this role depending on their experience.
This application requires the skills and qualities for being a 2D Animator, but also suggest 3D skills is a ‘benefit’ to the role. This could suggest that there are some range of tasks within the job role, relating to 3D aspects.
From these three jobs I can summarise what kind of skills a studio would look for in a 2D animator, and what to include in our portfolio/showreels for these roles.
The most required skills that these applications look for are:
- After effects skills
- video editing skills
- experience with illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign
- communicator
- to work on tight deadlines
When showcasing your portfolio and showreel, It would be ideal to include any work experience you have – especially agency work. You would include an indication that you have projects to show with experience in the software they mention the most etc. After effects, Illustrator, Premiere Pro; You would also include the types of mediums you have experimented with such as 2D Animation, video editing, design experimentation, and motion graphics.
It would be ideal to include any experience you have taken as an animation student or as an animation graduate – to present your industry work at the moment, or show you are prepared for the industry.
What I would guess that you shouldn’t include for this job role would be showing little, different, or no work experience at all. You would avoid indicating you have experience with software that is too distinct from the likes of After effects, Photoshop etc. Lastly, it would not be ideal to include work the opposite of 2D Animation eg. 3D art, 3D mechanics, rendered illustrations, or unfinished work.
CONCEPT ART
Sources
https://www.screenskills.com/job-profiles/browse/animation/development/concept-artist-animation/
https://www.skillshare.com/blog/concept-art-what-it-is-examples-and-how-to-become-a-concept-artist/
https://www.cgspectrum.com/blog/what-is-concept-art
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/concept-artist
Job applications
https://www.reed.co.uk/jobs/concept-artist/44719486?source=searchResults&filter=%2fjobs%2fconcept-artist-jobs
https://uk.indeed.com/jobs?q=concept%20artist&l&vjk=fd669d241e3e3dbc
A concept artist is the role of creating visual development for a project. Concept artists explore and experiment with the looks and ideas for an animation. They can visualise character, props, environments and assets – as detailed illustrations, or as quick sketches. Each serve a purpose, and are used later on as reference for the whole production.
A concept artist could be working with others to produce their work. They work with types of designers such as character designers, and background designers, to provide initial ideas and reference for their progress. They would also work with the director and producer to produce artwork that reflects the story’s vision.
A concept artist has roles and responsibilities they take on to do their best job. These include:
- Working from a brief
- produce artwork of creatures, characters, environments, assets and more
- providing attention to detail
- explain and present pitch ideas clearly to team
- adapt and refine work when needed
- follow reference
A concept artist can work with many software and skills to produce concept art, such as:
- Traditional pen and paper
- Adobe photoshop / illustrator
- Anatomy
- Artistic skills
- Creative skills
- Graphic design
- Zbrush
- Clip studio Paint
- Procreate
- Krita
- Autodesk Maya
- Blender
Now I will present 2 – 3 job applications that are looking for a concept artist at the moment. I will analyse their job description to see what skills they require, what they would look for in a portfolio / reel, and if this is an entry level position or not.
1. Concept Artist – X4 Group
This first job role was found on Reed.co.uk. The recruitment company called X4 Group is looking for an experienced concept artist to work for a UK indie studio. They are offering a short-term contract to produce engaging visuals and concepts for a game in the production stage. They are based in London, UK and are currently working fully remotely.
They specify the role you will undertake at this studio:
- Join the team for a PC & Console co-op survival horror game
- Requires additional concept support for environments, characters and props
- expertise in concept art
- passion for creating fun and engaging visuals
The Concept Artist requirements:
- A good track record of creating high quality art pieces
- To produce quick rough drafts to aid communication and direction
- strong work ethic, ability to work well with a team
- Liaise productively with other team members and collaborate on ideas
The studio require someone with a passion for creating fun and engaging visuals. They also look for a strong portfolio of previous concept art work – to prove your skills and present your abilities.
The application states they are looking for an experienced concept artist, which could work out for a graduate if they are primarily focused on concept art.
2. Concept artist UK – Double Eleven
This job was found on Indeed.com. The studio called Double Eleven is looking for a concept artist to develop initial concepts, and work with Art and design leads to produce a range of work from environments / characters / storyboards to marketing content. This studio is based in Middlesbrough UK, and they are currently working remotely until it is safe to return to their HQ.
They list what roles you will take in the position:
- Creating concept art for characters, environments, objects
- Finish work within deadlines
- Create high quality illustrations
- Work with the Art Manager & leads to create high quality consistent visuals
- Work with the design team to solve problems where Art and Design meet
- create inspirational concepts and prototype art to pitch game ideas
- Iterate on ideas using quick sketches and thumbnails
The skills and type of applicant they are looking for are:
- Photoshop and / or Painter
- Good communication skills
- Good team player
- Creativity, motivation, enthusiasm, adaptability
- Strong sense of colour theory, lighting
- Strong sense of design and composition
- A passion for games art and games development
- Knowledge of multiple art styles and techniques
This job role specifies ‘All relevant qualifications considered’ so it could be possible a graduate could apply for this role. In addition, they ask for a portfolio submission to support their application.
They let the applicants know that all without an accompanying portfolio will not be considered, so it is vital to include one, or else they will not look through your application.
From these two jobs I can summarise what kind of skills a studio would look for in a Concept artist, and what to include in our portfolio/showreels for these roles.
The most required skills that these applications look for are:
- Collaborator
- High quality illustrator
- Photoshop skills
- Strong sense of design
- communicator
When showcasing your portfolio and showreel, It would be ideal to include any personal or group project experience, especially if you were in the concept artist role. You would include an indication that you have projects to show with experience in the software they mention the most etc. Illustrator, Photoshop, pen on paper. You would also include the types of mediums you have experimented with such as character design, background design, colour study, equipment design etc.
It would be ideal to include any experience you have taken as an animation student or as an animation graduate – to present your industry work at the moment, or show you are prepared for the industry.
What I would guess that you shouldn’t include for this job role would be showing little, different, or no work experience at all. You would avoid indicating you have experience with software that is too distinct from the likes of Photoshop, and other 2D drawing software. Lastly, it would not be ideal to include work the opposite of Concept Art eg. 3D mechanics, Animation, or unfinished work.