National

Create special effects, animation, or other visual images using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products or creations, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.

Sample of reported job titles: Animator, Artist, Creative Director, Illustrator, 3D Animator, Animation Director, Animation Producer, Digital Artist, Graphic Artist, Media Producer

Tasks

• Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment.
• Create two-dimensional and three-dimensional images depicting objects in motion or illustrating a process, using computer animation or modeling programs.
• Make objects or characters appear lifelike by manipulating light, color, texture, shadow, and transparency, or manipulating static images to give the illusion of motion.
• Assemble, typeset, scan and produce digital camera-ready art or film negatives and printer's proofs.
• Apply story development, directing, cinematography, and editing to animation to create storyboards that show the flow of the animation and map out key scenes and characters.
• Script, plan, and create animated narrative sequences under tight deadlines, using computer software and hand drawing techniques.
• Create basic designs, drawings, and illustrations for product labels, cartons, direct mail, or television.
• Create pen-and-paper images to be scanned, edited, colored, textured or animated by computer.
• Develop briefings, brochures, multimedia presentations, web pages, promotional products, technical illustrations, and computer artwork for use in products, technical manuals, literature, newsletters and slide shows.
• Use models to simulate the behavior of animated objects in the finished sequence.

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Tools & Technology

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