Earn More MoneySeptember 14, 2020October 12, 2020

How Much Money Can An Animator Make?

Many people who have a passion or talent for drawing tend to have trouble finding work. However, similar to our graphic design article, we illustrated that there are a number of ways to earn money. While graphic designing may be one of them, there are many more. For example, being an animator. While animators may not draw 100% of the time, there are many ways that they go about their work. Furthermore, there are multiple career paths that an animator can follow when in the industry.

The term “animation” can represent a number of things. From the cartoons that air on tv to the YouTube videos that are viewed daily. In terms of entertainment, animation can be seen as a staple. Many people make their living off being an animator. Furthermore, that are quite a few people who’ve made a vast wealth from animation as well. It’s all about how you use the skill and monetize it. Therefore, we’ll take a look into what animators do, how to become one, and how much you’re able to earn in the industry.

What Are Animators And What Do They Do?

As an animator, your focus is to create cartoons. This is done through a variety of ways which include but are not limited to hand drawing and computer-generated. Any cartoons you’ve ever seen has been created by a group of animators. Furthermore, although anime is not considered “cartoons” the shows are still created by animators. Therefore, there are a few perspectives that this can be viewed by. What do you do as an animator? Well, that is entirely up to you. You can create a YouTube channel and tell stories through animation. There are many people who’ve found monumental success through this method. You could create animations for commercials. In other words, use your animation skills for marketing. Maybe video games are your thing. You could be an animator and help bring a game to life.

Another option is freelance animation. Offer your services on Fiverr or Upwork and create animations for clients who request it. If you’re freelancing, you’re not restricted to these websites. You could create your own client base and essentially start a lucrative company.

A popular option for most people is working with a studio that creates cartoons. For example, you could develop your skill and land a job at Nickelodeon Animation Studios. For those who don’t know, this studio is responsible for long-running shows such as SpongeBob SquarePants. Maybe you’re more into anime and want to see that passion come to life. You could apply to studios such as Bones, move to Japan, and carry out your passion there. Don’t forget, you’ll most likely be working with a team. Creating shows and animation takes a long time and is a lot of work. Therefore, developing personal and teamwork skills will only be advantageous in your career.

How To Become An Animator

There are a few ways to become an animator. Furthermore, your path to becoming an animator will depend on what type you want to be. As stated above, there are video game animators, 2D, 3D, and so on. Therefore, before you do anything, you need to decide which type of animation you’re interested in. For the sake of this article, we’ll discuss 2D animation.

Now that we’ve discussed the type of animation, we need to know what field is the most optimal. If you want to become a YouTuber and create videos through animation, you won’t need a degree of any sort. That’s why YouTube is a great resource. The barrier for entry is low and the potential for wealth is high. However, to become an animator on YouTube, you’ll need a few things. First is usually a tablet to do your drawings. Next is a software to both edit the drawings and the videos. This software usually comes separate and can cost hundreds of dollars. Lastly, you’ll need some of the traditional recording equipment such as a microphone, camera, etc.

Now, let’s say that you’re truly inspired by an anime or cartoon you watched and want to start your career in animation. Although I’d love to tell you that hoping on Indeed.ca and applying is the right way to go, it may not be. There are a few things that need to be considered. First, are you good enough? Second, do you have the credentials? That’s right, many animation studios require both experience and a degree for you to even be a potential candidate.

As you can see, there are quite a few qualifications that need to be met. Both of which are experience and a degree. However, this company is interesting because they’re willing to trade that degree for an adequate amount of experience. As for the other qualifications, they require a portfolio (which is customary within the industry) and knowledge on specific software.

Many people prefer to go to school to learn a skill. Learning on your own can take up more time and requires far more dedication. Take Sheridan for example. Above is a 4-year program in animation that Sheridan college offers. It may have a steep price of nearly $10,000. However, like YouTube, filming, and editing equipment, it is an investment. Furthermore, it offers the ability to check off the degree box when applying to studios.

How To Earn Money As An Animator

Exactly how much money can be earned? In terms of being an animator on YouTube, that amount of money can greatly vary. In the beginning, you’ll most likely operate at a deficit. However, there are YouTubers who earn over $200,000 per year from sponsors, ad revenue, and merchandise. Of course, this number isn’t going to be the same for everyone. It is merely a reference for the potential that YouTube offers.

YouTube aside, how much money do animators earn on average?

Above is an average on how much money 2D animators earn yearly. As you can see, animators earn around $50,000 a year. These are people who work in studios that produce 2D images and animations. Although the amount of money you earn at the beginning may not seem “worth it”. Much like any industry or occupation, there is always room to earn more. For example, the picture we looked at above that listed the qualifications are proof that some companies value experience more than paper. This gives reason to believe that once you’ve become more experienced and skill, you’ll be able to earn exponentially more.

Lastly, you can learn new tools in order to increase your chances of earning more money. For example, Adobe Illustrator. A good example of this is within the same picture we just reference. In that picture, it says that knowing how to use Toon Boom is required. This exemplifies that learning software and having various amounts of experience can earn you more money. Furthermore, with experience comes opportunity. If you’re starting out, don’t expect to earn $50,000 per year. Although it is completely possible, like most careers, work on your skillset. Before you know it you’ll be earning significantly higher than $50,000 per year.

Shameed Chris Khan

Shameed is just a man on a mission to help those around him gain financial success. Obsessed with writing about all things finance, this GTA native is constantly learning and sharing his experiences with others.