- Digital Media Producer
- Art Director
- Digital Video Specialist
- Motion Graphics Designer
- Special Effects Designer
Shape the way we engage with our world and build practical skills for an innovative new industry by studying an animation course.
You’re creative, quick-thinking and see the world in a different way. Turn your talents into an exciting new career by studying an animation course.
As an animator, you’ll create computer animations, video and graphic images, and multimedia files for use in games, presentations, websites and web applications, and use your canny creative mind to see clients’ ambitious dreams realised.
A small and competitive industry in Australia, the animation sector required highly skilled and motivated individuals. By studying an animation course, you’ll build the critical skills, fundamental knowledge and essential personal insights required to compete and thrive in the exciting and ever-changing world of animation.
In an animation course, you’ll learn to identify emerging media trends and new creative markets, and build the skills required to produce a range of engaging visual and audio media. You’ll learn how to manage projects and creative teams, and learn the technical skills and contextual knowledge required to succeed in a challenging and changing media industry.
You may study an animation course as certificate or diploma course or as part of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in digital media. After completing an animation course, you’ll be qualified to work in animation, visual communication, video production, visual effects, web and interactive media, user experience design and learning communication, in a broad and changing range of roles.
Challenging and exciting, an animation course offers the unique opportunity to build skills, develop your artistic vision and use your creative skills and insights to develop compelling media that engages, challenges and excites people.
If you’re interested in technology and the way we engage with modern media, consider using your creative skills for an exciting new career working in animation.
What do animation graduates do?
After completing an animation course, you’ll likely work as an animator, performing tasks such as:
- Consulting with clients and stakeholders to determine the objectives and constraints of a creative design brief;
- Researching and analysing assignment communications requirements and selecting appropriate animation medium and tools;
- Reviewing references and researching creative elements;
- Producing sketches, illustrations, diagrams, designs, sketches and draft shorts to communicate design concepts;
- Providing informed advice on use of composition, light, colour, patterns and trends in production design to clients and stakeholders;
- Detailing and developing a storyboard or script for a production;
- Managing the production, shooting, photography or illustration of animation elements;
- Manipulating creative elements using computer programs or physical manipulation;
- Editing film and photos;
- Submitting draft footage or content for review and revision;
- Managing the overall execution of design projects, including managing and briefing staff, and managing budgets and other resources; and
- Managing invoicing and other administrative tasks.
After completing an animation course, you may also seek employment as an illustrator, graphic designer, video producer or other multimedia producer, performing varied creative tasks related to those roles.
Career Outcomes
Career Outcomes
After completing an animation course, you’ll likely seek employment as an animator, working either in a creative production company, within a larger communications or content production firm, or working as an independent artist.
You may also choose to work in animation academia, lecturing or tutoring students of animation or digital media courses.
An animation qualification will equip you to pursue employment as a:
You’ll enjoy working in animation if you:
- Are creative
- Can express yourself well
- Have big ideas
- Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Are curious about the world
- Like using technology
- Can work independently
- Are proactive and enterprising
- Are a natural leader
- Enjoy detailed work
- Have excellent organisational and project management skills
- Enjoy problem-solving and testing
- Work well with people
- Are an innovative thinker
- Enjoy new ideas and opportunities
Job opportunities
The Australian Government’s Job Outlook reports that the animation profession in Australia is relatively small and stable.
Currently employing approximately 10,300 people, the multimedia sector has been growing modestly for the past decade, and is predicted to continue growing at a similar rate to employ approximately 10,600 people by 2020.
While the size of the multimedia profession indicates roles are available in most areas of Australia, Job Outlook notes that the sector is concentrated in Victoria and New South Wales, with nearly 70 per cent of producers working in these two states.
Average Salaries
PayScale reports that animators in Australia can expect to earn between $30,000 and $78,000 per year, with an annual average salary of approximately $52,000. PayScale notes that approximately three-quarters of animators have less than five years of professional experience, indicating that people may move on from this profession as their careers progress.
PayScale reports that other digital media specialists in Australia can expect to earn between $44,000 and $102,000 per year, with an average annual salary of $64,000. Graduates of animation courses may also be able to work as graphic designers, and may earn between $39,000 and $68,000 per year, with an average salary of approximately $51,000 per year, according to PayScale.