Let’s dive into the dynamic world of animation and explore the myriad of roles that bring your favorite cartoons and films to life. In this blog post, we’ve compiled an extensive list of different roles within professional 2D animation studios.
Before we delve into the diverse roles, it’s crucial to understand that the animation industry is flexible and project-based. Not every role mentioned here may be present in every project, and titles can vary across different studios and projects. Roles may also be interchangeable, with responsibilities evolving based on project requirements.
Let’s start with the key players who drive the vision of an animated project:
- Show Runner or Series Director:
The visionary behind the project is responsible for ensuring alignment across all departments with the overall vision.
- Director, Episodic Director, or Head of Story:
Works closely with the showrunner, focusing on story and animation departments to ensure alignment with the project’s vision.
- Assistant Director:
Acts as a bridge between the storyboard artist and director, providing guidance and mentoring while ensuring alignment with the vision.
- Producer (Line Producer, Executive Producer):
Oversees the project’s budget and ensures that the production stays on schedule.
- Production Coordinators and Production Assistants:
Coordinate resources and assist teams to ensure smooth project execution. Production assistants often serve as entry-level positions.
- Writers:
Craft the script and storyline, working closely with the showrunner to bring the narrative to life.
- Script Coordinators:
Manage scripts, ensuring all departments have access to the most updated versions.
- Storyboard Artists:
Translate the script into visual sequences, incorporating draftsmanship, perspective, character acting, and camera movements.
- Storyboard Revisionists:
Make adjustments to storyboards based on script changes or feedback from the director.
- Animatic Storyboard Artists:
Assist in refining storyboards during the animatic stage, addressing immediate changes needed for a smoother final product.
- Editor and Assistant Editors:
Assemble and refine the animatic, ensuring pacing, timing, and sound elements align with the project’s goals.
- Art Directors:
Oversee the artistic elements of the project, ensuring alignment with the showrunner’s vision.
- Character Designers:
Create and provide options for character designs, including variations and sometimes background characters.
- Prop Designers:
Design non-living elements within the project, ensuring they match the overall style.
- Layout Artists and Background Designers:
Draw and layout backgrounds or settings, focusing on the 2D aspects of the project.
- Background Painters:
Paint over background designs, focusing on colors and sometimes lighting.
- Visual Development Artists:
Responsible for the overall look of the project, managing textures, colors, environments, and various visual elements.
- Color Designers or Color Stylists:
Focus on color choices for characters and scenes, providing variations based on the project’s needs.
- 2D Animators:
Animate 2D elements based on storyboards and directorial guidance.
- Story Consultants, Art and Design Consultants, Animation Consultants:
Provide guidance and opinions on story, art, or animation aspects as needed for the project.
Now, let’s explore roles specific to the world of 2D animation:
- Key Animators:
Draw key poses for animation sequences.
- In-betweeners:
Fill in the frames between key poses to create smooth animation.
- CG Modelers:
Translate 2D character designs into 3D models while preserving the original vision.
- Riggers:
Ensure the technical aspects of the 3D model are animation-ready.
- CG Animators:
Animate 3D models based on direction and storyboards.
- Look Development Artists:
Manage textures, lighting, and variations to maintain consistency in the CG world.
- Effects Animation:
Design and animate non-character elements such as fire, rain, or magical effects.
- Lighting Artists:
Focus on lighting scenes in different shots, ensuring consistency and collaboration with color key artists.
- Graphic Designers:
Design graphics for marketing, credits, or within the show itself.
In addition to these roles, some positions are project-dependent and may not be present in every animation endeavor:
- Story Consultant, Art and Design Consultant, Animation Consultant:
Provide temporary guidance and assistance on specific aspects of the project.
- Apprentices:
Intermediate roles with more responsibilities preparing individuals for potential full-time positions.
- Internships:
Introductory roles offering hands-on experience in specific departments.
The animation industry is known for its flexibility and project-based nature. While this can lead to job instability, it also provides opportunities for individuals to explore various roles and projects. If you’re considering a career in animation, internships and apprenticeships can serve as valuable entry points, allowing you to understand the industry’s ins and outs.
In conclusion, the animation industry offers a wide array of roles, each contributing uniquely to the creation of captivating animated content. Whether you’re drawn to storytelling, character design, or technical aspects like 3D modeling, there’s a role for every passion within the world of animation.
Thank you for joining me on this exploration of animation roles. If you found this information helpful, stay tuned for future videos where I’ll delve deeper into the animation industry.
