In my previous post, ‘Animation Career Talks‘, I researched various people who are currently within the animation industry. From listening to their talks, I’m gradually getting to grips with the roles – personally, I’m gearing towards the visual development area of animation.

However, I found these videos below – which will shed some light on some animation jobs and what they entail.

The video above was really helpful, as it was a quick run through of a few roles within the animation industry and what they entail.

The Roles + Descriptions

1. Show Runner / Series Director / Creator: Pitches their own ideas to a studio, essentially the director of the project.
2. Director / Episodic Director / Head of Story: In alignment with the overall story provided by the ‘Show Runner / Creator’.
3. Assistant Director: Works closely with the story team, storyboarding and mentoring the story team.
4. Producer / Line Producer / Executive Producer: Making sure the project is running on time, and use of budget.
5. Production Coordinator: Help coordinate logistics and comms.
6. Production Assistants: Entry level jobs, similar to production coordinator – provide the needs for all depts.
7. Writers: Working closely with Director, and write out the screenplay.
8. Script Coordinators: Technicalities of the script, up to date script.
9. Storyboard Artist: Translates the script into storyboarding.
10. Storyboard Revisionist: Adjusting the storyboards.
11. Animatic Storyboard Artist: Help with identifying changes for the animatic.
12. Editor: Timing and pacing, just for the animatic.
13. Assistant Editor: Entry Level, helping editor.
14. Art Director: Overall vision and mood for the story, key concept art – overviewing all of the art dept.
15. Character Designers: Options for the characters, lineups and turnarounds.
16. Prop Designer: Design the props, non living things.
17. Layout Artist and Background Designer (2D): Draughtsmanship of the set. Line work.
18. Background Painter: More responsible for colour.
19. Visual Development Artist: Overall look of the project, draw / layout / colour and texture.
20. Colour Designer and Stylist: Colour keys or Scripts.
21. 2D Animators: Animating the characters.
22. Key Animator: Key frame animator.
23. Inbetweener: Inbetween Animator.
24. CG Modeler / Modeler: Creates the 3D Model.
25. Rigger: Rigs the model.
26. CG Animator: Animating the model.
27. Look Dev Artist: Textures, Lighting and variations of the character.
28. FX Animation: Special Effects animation.
29. Lighting Artist: Make sure the lighting is consistent.
30. Graphic Designers: Marketing Purposes or credits, logos.

Summary, My Top Roles:

1. Show Runner / Series Director / Creator: I feel like I would be competent enough to do this role. However, I am more inclined to be somewhat of a freelance, independent animator / film maker.
2. Producer / Line Producer / Exec Producer: My skills as a project manager would definitely come into play here and I think I’d work really well in this department. However, I feel there is not much creativity within this role – and that’s something I am definitely looking for. Production Assis. + Coordinators are an extension of this role, but entry level roles.
3. Background / Layout / Prop Designer: This role is very much in my ‘comfortable’ category. I think anything encompassing background design would be quite interesting to work on.
4. Visual Development Artist: This is the role that I currently aspire to be in. I love colour, texture and style. This role includes overlooking style and the vision of the animation.
5. Art Director: I think I would thrive in this role, if I ever got the chance to do it.