A day in the life of a Character animator
The daily responsibilities of an animator vary depending on the type of job you are working on. As with every other step in the pipeline, once you receive your assignment, research is key. For example, Disney artists working on the film Zootopia spent time at animal wildlife reserves studying the behavior and movements of the animals in person. Following research, the artist then decides what techniques to use and starts blocking out the main poses of the object they're working on. Techniques include things like placing keyframes and choosing between IK and FK, which are different ways to have the bones move when animating. The main poses will include the starting pose, ending pose, and some poses in between. Once these poses are in place, the artist gets feedback from a supervisor and moves forward with perfecting the movements of their model.
An animator’s responsibilities vary due to company size. Smaller companies may be more likely to hire artists that also have the ability to rig models. The company saves time and money by having one person do both tasks. A larger company may hire specialized artists who focus on one specific task so that when more high-profile projects come through, they are handled as efficiently as possible.
Zootopia Progression Reel from Shaofu Zhang on Vimeo.
How to become a character Animator
Practice makes perfect. When you are first learning, it takes some time to get your animations as smooth and precise as you would like. Repetition will eventually make the tedious aspects quick and natural, which will then let you focus on the more in-depth nuances and personality of your animations.
Download some free rigged models (such as this free tiger rig) and practice animating characters, vehicles, and moving props. This will give you a reference as to how to work with soft vs hard objects as well.
As mentioned before, research is key. Prepare yourself for a career in this field by spending time gaining knowledge of:
- The motion of humans, bipedal creatures, quadruped creatures, and animals
- Facial movement and portraying different moods
- Mechanical design
- Mechanical operations
- Weight and physics
As technology improves, artists are expected to understand how motion capture works. Once the motion capture data is imported, animators will often have to tweak the keyframes to perfect the facial and body movements of the character.
One recent example of a successful use of motion capture tools is War of the Planet of the Apes. The actors who played the apes wore motion-capture suits, which were filmed by a series of cameras. The data was then sent to animators who made creative choices to enhance the personalities of the 3D modeled apes that would replace the actors. This process is becoming more commonplace by the day in both the film and games industries.
Get the skills
Check out job ads at companies you want to work for—see the skills they’re hiring for, then build your skills! There are many courses with varying levels of support and interaction. To fast-track your education, CG Spectrum’s career training includes personalized mentorship from industry professionals so you can progress faster as an animator, and a specialized curriculum updated regularly to reflect industry standards.
Stay ahead of trends
Google online tutorials, webinars, conferences, publications, and local events to stay on top of trends and keep your skills fresh.
Animate you own projects
The best way to understand the nuances of animation is to create your own short projects. This helps showcase your skills and knowledge to potential recruiters.
