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Understanding Industry Evidence of research into industry roles and professional practice.

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Post 3 – 2D Animator Role

A 2D animator creates animated content by bringing static images to life in a two-dimensional space, often through frame-by-frame sequential drawing using specialised software. Their responsibilities include storyboarding, character design, and animating scenes for various media such as films, TV shows, and video games. This role requires strong storytelling skills in addition to artistic ability.

https://www.screenskills.com/job-profiles/browse/animation/production/animator-animation

I want to be a 2D or Traditional animator!!

Examples of productions include Ethel & Ernest, Horrid Henry, and The Tiger Who Came to Tea.

2D animators create each frame by hand. Nowadays, many animators use animation software in conjunction with a graphics tablet and pen for this purpose. These animators focus more on the overall action and character performance in a scene rather than on producing the finished ‘line’ that appears on screen. They typically create a few clean and on-model drawings as needed for the assistant animator to reference. These reference drawings are commonly referred to as tie-downs.

What are animators’ responsibilities?

  • Storytelling: The art of bringing characters and objects to life in a way that effectively communicates a story or message.
  • Design: The process of developing storyboards, characters, and backgrounds.
  • Animation: The technique of drawing each frame to simulate movement and action, often utilising a graphics tablet and animation software.
  • Visual Effects: The creation of special effects and the animation of scenes.
  • Collaboration: Working alongside a team of professionals, including art directors, fellow animators, and game designers.

What skills and Tools do you need:

  • Software: Proficient in animation software, including industry-standard programs such as Adobe Animate.  
  • Drawing: Skilled in sketching designs and understanding character drawing techniques.  
  • Storytelling: Strong understanding of narrative and the ability to use movement to convey emotions and meanings.  
  • Collaboration: Capable of both giving and receiving feedback and working effectively within a team.
GREAT EXAMPLE OF A 2D ANIMATION SHOWREEL

https://nuttyproductions.squarespace.com/showreel

What to include in a showreel??

Had a chat with Alina Besanidou, a 2D animator from Blinkink Studio, over coffee about what to include in the animation showreel, and she suggested rough animation, tie-downs, and a bit of cleanup. The animation doesn’t need to be entirely composed and clean.

If i had to define myself as an a 2D Animator and Illustrator, i think i would focus on puting my best 2D work in my showreel.
https://www.screenskills.com/starting-your-career/building-your-portfolio/how-to-make-a-showreel-for-film-or-tv/

How To Create A Great Animation Show Reel

Understanding Industry Evidence of research into industry roles and professional practice.

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Post 2:

As 2D Animation is my speciality and favourite art form, I am interested in working for a studio that focuses on this medium, such as The Line Animation Studio in London. Founded in 2013 by a team of six animators—Sam Taylor, Wesley Louis, Bjorn-Erik Aschim, James Duveen, Max Taylor, and Tim McCourt—the studio has produced music videos such as The Gorillaz and N.A.S.A., advertisements for various brands, including Nickelodeon, Virgin Media, Gucci, Doritos and many others. https://thelinestudio.com/

My favourite project of theirs and how I discovered the studio in the first place was Amaro & Walden – Joyride 2015. Director by Max Taylor & Tim McCourt

Amaro and Walden are two rowdy boy racers, hipster hybrids with a lads-on-tour attitude. Follow them as they race around London, acting like they’re the top dons in a music video.

Team Members:

I have followed and connected the team members on LinkedIn and instagram, its great way to start newtworking by keeping in contacted with creatives you admire. Effective networking in the animation industry is about building genuine relationships through online engagement, attending events, collaborating, and having a strong portfolio. The goal is to make “friends” rather than explicitly pushing for a job.

Bjorn – Erik Aschim – Director & Art Director 
Tabitha Kearney – Production Coordinator
Jesus Ovejero – Junior Production Manager
Viktoria V Milcheva – Studio Coordinator
Max Taylor – Managing Director 
Tim McCourt – Director
Anna Degenaar – Head of CG
Skye van der Walt – Development Production Coordinator
Wesley Louis – Director & Executive Creative Director

WALDEN MODEL AT INMOTION FESTIVAL, LONDON. PHOTO TAKEN BY ME

The area of the industry that I’m interested in working in:

FILM | TELEVISION | ADVERTISING

2D Animation & pre-production in Entertainment, commercials, short films and TV series.

Pre-Production Department

Production Department

Production Management Department

Networking

https://www.screenskills.com/starting-your-career/how-to-network-well

Online Networking

  • Social Media: Follow and engage with artists and studios that inspire you on platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. Leave thoughtful comments on their work to establish yourself as a familiar name in the community.
  • Online Communities: Join animation-focused forums and groups on platforms such as Reddit’s r/animationcareer or Discord servers where both professionals and aspiring artists interact.
  • Strong Online Presence: Keep an up-to-date online portfolio or personal website to showcase your best work. This is often the first impression potential contacts will have of your skills.
  • Targeted Outreach: Send polite, personalized messages or emails to industry professionals. Express your admiration for their specific work and ask thoughtful questions about their career paths or processes—avoid asking for a job. Most professionals are happy to share their experiences.

In-Person Networking

  • Industry Events: Attend festivals, conferences, workshops, and local meetups. Notable events include the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, SIGGRAPH, and the Manchester Animation Festival.
  • Networking Mixers and Talks: Look for events specifically designed for creatives. These settings provide casual opportunities to connect with others in the industry.
  • Volunteering: Offer your time to help at industry events. This is an excellent way to gain behind-the-scenes access and meet people that you might not otherwise interact with.
  • Be Approachable: Focus on having authentic conversations and being yourself. Keep a compact, portable card with your contact details and a link to your portfolio ready to distribute.
10 Top Tips: Get animation industry experience

Understanding Industry Evidence of research into industry roles and professional practice.

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Post 01

The animation industry combines creativity and technology to produce engaging content for films, television, video games, music videos, and other media. It encompasses various job roles, including animator, director, and producer.

https://www.screenskills.com/job-profiles/browse/animation

Through my online research and conversations with various creative individuals who have left university to pursue careers in the animation industry, I found that they all agree on one point: securing a job in the industry is quite challenging, but it is not impossible.

“Need to address the elephant in the room.“

During the pandemic, the animation industry thrived because remote work was possible. Studios hired many artists to keep up with the increased demand. However, once the market stabilised and the world returned to normal, studios had to scale back, which led to project cancellations and layoffs. Additionally, streaming services like Netflix generate less revenue than movie theatres.

Many animation studios are already experimenting with AI tools that can generate animation faster and more cost-effectively than humans can. Unfortunately, this advancement could potentially replace up to 90% of animation jobs. However, what many people don’t understand is that animation is fundamentally about human expression, real emotion, and authentic stories. If studios begin to treat filmmaking like a product rather than an art form, it will lose its creative essence. And by understanding why it’s happening, I can now seek job roles while keeping in mind that the reason it can be sometimes difficult is not because my work isn’t good enough, but because the industry is somewhat flawed.

“It’s a complicated situation, but I hope it gets better.”

I now have an optimistic view of everything. I decided to reach out to some Central Saint Martins graduates who are currently working as artists in studios. I wanted to learn how they are navigating their careers, hear their stories, and ask them questions about what I might face when I graduate from university next year. Additionally, I sought their advice on how to navigate the challenges ahead.

I began by sending coffee chat requests to artists and filmmakers whom I admire.

Beatriz Antunes – 2D Animator & Designer
https://www.beatrizanimates.com/

Alina Besanidou – 2D Animator and Illustrator
https://www.alinabeska.com

Targeted Outreach: Send polite, personalized messages or emails to industry professionals. Express admiration for their specific work and ask thoughtful questions about their career path or process, not for a job. Most professionals are happy to share their experiences.

Examples of Questions to ask 🙂 And dont be shy. Be polite and friendly.