Character Animation

Character animation is a specialized area of graphic design that involves bringing animated characters to life. The visual development of an animated character involves a multitude of components including facial expressions, body mechanics, and texturing. Character design is a very important part of the animation process and is the foundation that gives real-time life and movement to images.

Character animation is not free. In fact, full-time graphic designers work in this field, creating high-quality 2D animation and 3D animations. Character animators make an average salary of $68,738 per year and charge on average $30-$50 per hour. Character animators can work for large companies such as Walt Disney or Pixar, or they can work for boutique companies creating animations for video games or single cartoon characters for logos or social media advertisements.

While there isn’t a mandatory degree for creating character animations, most of these professionals study graphic design, 3D animation, computer animation, or fine arts. Also, having a robust portfolio that showcases character animation and expertise in animation software, 2D characters, visual effects, or even game design experience is typically preferred.

The workflow of creating a 3D character begins with a storyboard concept and a preliminary sketch. From there, the designer may need to use multiple templates and many hours within the animation studio to complete the 3D character. Various software programs are used to create a 3D character that seamlessly incorporates physical attributes, visual effects, or motion graphics.

Some of the most popular software programs used for character modeling include:

• Adobe Suite (Photoshop and InDesign)
• Maya
• After Effects
• ZBrush
• Creative Cloud