animator
Key facts
Bring stories and ideas to life! As an animator, you’ll use digital tools to create the illusion of movement, crafting engaging visuals for entertainment, education, and beyond. This role combines artistic talent with technical expertise.
Animators are responsible for creating moving images using specialized software. Your daily work might involve sketching storyboards, modelling characters and environments, rigging these elements for animation, and then meticulously creating sequences of images that, when played rapidly, appear as fluid motion. Collaboration with directors, designers, and other artists is essential to ensure the final product aligns with the project's vision.
- • Developing storyboards and animatics to visualize scenes.
- • Creating 2D or 3D models and characters.
- • Rigging models and characters for animation.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Science and engineering professionals — 274 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Malta.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person's chances. It describes a market.
Explore More
Find your career path and explore the science behind our recommendations.
Could animator fit you?
Answer three quick questions. This is not a full assessment — it is a teaser to help you decide whether to compare your profile.
Do you enjoy tasks that require Attention to Detail?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Cooperation?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Integrity?
Future Outlook for animator
The outlook for animator reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could animator change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How could animator change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- follow a brief
- follow work schedule
- finish project within budget
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- provide multimedia content
- create animated narratives
- study media sources
Tasks most exposed to automation
- analyse a script
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Arts, Entertainment, & Design
A typical day as a animator
09 09:00 · Morning adapt to type of media
10 10:30 · Mid-morning analyse a script
12 12:00 · Midday create animated narratives
14 14:00 · Afternoon create moving images
15 15:30 · Late afternoon develop animations
17 17:00 · Wrap-up provide multimedia content
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
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computer equipment
The offered computers, computer peripheral equipment and software products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
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ICT software specifications
The characteristics, use and operations of various software products such as computer programmes and application software.
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3D lighting
The arrangement or digital effect which simulates lighting in a 3D environment.
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Adobe Illustrator
The computer program Adobe Illustrator CC is a graphical ICT tool which enables digital editing and composition of graphics to generate both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics. It is developed by the software company Adobe.
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Adobe Photoshop
The computer program Adobe Photoshop is a graphical ICT tool which enables digital editing and composition of graphics to generate both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics. It is developed by the software company Adobe.
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Capture One
The computer program Capture One is a graphical ICT tool which enables digital editing and composition of graphics to generate both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics.
- computer graphics
- graphic design
- motion graphics
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follow work schedule
Manage the sequence of activities in order to deliver completed work on agreed deadlines by following a work schedule.
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finish project within budget
Make sure to stay within budget. Adapt work and materials to budget.
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create animated narratives
Develop animated narrative sequences and story lines, using computer software and hand drawing techniques.
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develop animations
Design and develop visual animations using creativity and computer skills. Make objects or characters appear lifelike by manipulating light, colour, texture, shadow, and transparency, or manipulating static images to give the illusion of motion.
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create moving images
Create and develop two-dimensional and three-dimensional images in motion and animations.
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design graphics
Apply a variety of visual techniques in order to design graphic material. Combine graphical elements to communicate concepts and ideas.
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follow a brief
Interpret and meet requirements and expectations, as discussed and agreed upon with the customers.
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adapt to type of media
Adapt to different types of media such as television, movies, commercials, and others. Adapt work to type of media, scale of production, budget, genres within type of media, and others.
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analyse a script
Break down a script by analysing the dramaturgy, form, themes and structure of a script. Conduct relevant research if necessary.
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study media sources
Study various media sources such as broadcasts, print media, and online media in order to gather inspiration for the development of creative concepts.
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provide multimedia content
Develop multimedia materials such as screen shots, graphics, slide shows, animations and videos to be used as content integrated in a broader informational context.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
See whether this role fits your Career DNA
Take the free Career DNA assessment to see how animator aligns with your interests, work style, and future path. In less than 10 minutes, you will get a personalized fit signal and a roadmap for what to do next.
Scan to continue on mobileGrowth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does animator fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What software do animators typically use?
- Common software includes Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, After Effects, Animate), Autodesk Maya, Blender, Toon Boom Harmony, and Cinema 4D. Proficiency in several programs is often expected.
- Is a formal education required to become an animator?
- While a degree in animation, illustration, or a related field can be beneficial, it's not always mandatory. A strong portfolio demonstrating your skills and creativity is crucial. Many animators build their skills through online courses, workshops, and self-study.
- What are the typical work arrangements for animators?
- This occupation is primarily employee-based, with many animators working for studios, production companies, or advertising agencies. However, freelancing is also a common arrangement, offering flexibility and the opportunity to work on diverse projects.
- Animator — what does it pay in the United States?
- $99,800 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $47,530 to $133,480. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.