Animated Movies Director: Job Outlook & Career Info

Learn about a career as an animated movie director. Read the job description, duties, education requirements, salary and employment outlook to decide if this is the right career for you.

Job Description

An animated movie director collaborates with designers, cinematographers, editors, musicians and animators, in addition to directing the voice actors who make the film come to life. While an animated movie director may not contribute to the animation of the film, they are typically skilled animators themselves, experience that is needed to coordinate several teams of animators and produce a cohesive animated feature. Animated movie directors are also responsible for completing a production on time and within budget. Common duties include choosing scripts and overseeing rewrites, auditioning and hiring voice actors and crewmembers, and creating an overall vision for the production. During filming, animated movie directors ensure that the camera work, lighting, sound and acting adhere to this vision.

Animated movie directors typically work very long hours, including weekends and holidays. They may spend extended periods of time on location where the film is shot. Due to the short-term nature of the work, many animated movie directors have periods of unemployment while searching for their next projects. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that in 2010, roughly 29% of producers and directors, including animated movie directors, were self employed.

Educational Requirements

While there are no formal training programs for film directors, most directors earn bachelor's degrees in areas such as acting, writing and communication. Animated movie directors may also pursue programs in art, animation or computer graphics to learn the fundamentals of animated filmmaking. Modern animation techniques rely heavily on computer-generated imaging, or CGI, so it's important to be familiar with current technologies. Training in the fundamentals of art history and visual art is equally important.

Required Skills

The BLS reported that animated movie directors typically must have the following qualities:

• Passion for the art of animation
• Leadership qualities, since directors must inspire and manage a large number of artists and technicians
• Creative thinking skills
• Ability to tell a compelling story
• Technologically minded personality
• Ability to handle high levels of stress and career instability
• Employment and Salary Outlook

Earnings for movie directors depend on many factors, including the box office success of their films, but the BLS estimated that the median annual salary for producers and directors, including animated movie directors, was $71,350 in 2012. Employment in the field was expected to grow 11% from 2010-2020, about as quickly as the national average for all occupations.

In the most famous animation studios, the job market is more competitive, and those just beginning their career may find it difficult to break into. Small or independent studios provide better entry-level opportunities. Overall, candidates with industry experience, such as directors' assistants, actors, writers and film editors, should have the best prospects.

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Animated Data Videos

Datalabs’ animated data videos are designed as motion graphics with the narrative driven by numbers, insights, and ideas. They are a content form that can explain your business’s data in a simple and visual story. Think of them as animated business dashboards, explaining the key points found in your sales, social, web, marketing analytics or customer relationship management (CRM) data.

Animated data videos combine both visual and auditory stimuli to cater to multiple learning styles and evoke stronger emotion than static imagery alone. By using an animation of your data, you can present the process to understanding complex data in a clear and captivating way with the aim to: explain, educate and inform. With Datalabs’ help, your insights will be told in story form and communicated in an innovative format rarely used by businesses today. You and your insights will stand out.

Using animated videos to tell data stories bridges the communication gap between executives and key stakeholders like: corporate shareholders, financial analysts, marketing managers, sales managers, even your customers. By providing additional insight to these key stakeholders in this user-friendly and engaging format, you will find your other data reports will be sought after. Engagement is up, because the hard-work of simplification and extracting the key insights from your data is done by our data journalists and data visualisers. Imagine your reports as an animated video with a voice-over, explaining next quarter’s financial outlook, or the key numbers that are impacting your business right now.

So give new life to a stale report. Order your animated data video from Datalabs today.

Uses for Animated Data Videos

• Financial Reports
• Advertising Metrics
• Sales Dashboards
• Content Analytics
• Competition Dashboards
• Marketing Analytics
• Executive Presentations
• Quarterly Briefings
• Social Media Metrics
• Mobile Statistics
• Annual Reports
• Web Analytics
• Social Media Monitoring
• Human Resource Stats

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When is an animated video production most appropriate?

The popularity of animated video within a digital marketing strategy is growing, and whilst it was once limited to those with massive production budgets, improvements in technology mean it is now widely accessible. Studies have proven that online video is a vital part of your marketing strategy (web visitors are 64%- 85% more likely to purchase after watching a product video, and you are 53 times more likely to appear on the first page of Google if you are using video on your site Forrester, 1/2010) – but with the wealth of video options out there, which is best for your business?

We find that many of our clients come to us confused by the array of video types and need some guidance on understanding what type of video is most suitable for their specific aims. In this article, I will be looking at the pros and cons of animated video, how it can be used most effectively, and when there are better alternatives.

Nowadays, internet visitors want information fast, and this is what has lead to the “video boom”. We have all heard the phrase “a picture speaks a thousand words”, and video allows you to capture, retain and convert visitors to your site.

Animated video communicates through a powerful mix of pictures, motion, text, voice, sound effects and music in a short amount of time, and its’ popularity
is on the rise. It can be a great way of increasing your likeability factor – most of us are sceptical the first time we visit a website, and a relaxed, whimsical whiteboard drawing, sketch or animated character can help us lower our guard, and provides an easy-to-watch viewing experience that viewers like and can identify with.

It will also help people to remember your business. The left side of the brain turns thoughts into images, while the right side ignites emotion and feelings.

Animation, therefore, is far more likely to appeal to right-side thinkers – and if it is entertaining, they will remember it.

However, the use of Motion Graphics within Live Action video can serve the same purpose to some extent, and the truth is, both animation and live action videos have their strengths in conveying diverse messages and can achieve different objectives.
The Pros of animated video production
Flexibility

Animated video allows far greater flexibility – your imagination is your only limitation. If you wanted your CEO flying across the sky with your company banner, for example, it would take a massive budget to achieve the required special effects, yet a simple drawing can convey the same message at a fraction of the cost (and your CEO gets to keep his feet firmly on the ground!).
Simplify your message

If you have a complicated product, an animated video is a great way of simplifying your message, and if the subject matter is dry, it can create an emotional connection by adding an element of fun. People prefer to learn through audio/visual methods, rather than reading through pages of text – and if they understand what you are offering them, how it will benefit them and are enjoying the experience at the same time, you are onto a winner.

Tell a Story

If you are offering a service, rather than a product, animated video can be a wise choice, as it allows you to tell a story and solve a problem that would be more difficult to portray using live action video. Here is an example of a video we made that takes the viewer on an animated journey, and lightens a dry subject.

Build your Brand

Animation also allows you to maintain a strong brand identity – logos, corporate colours, fonts and the general “look” of the brand, can all be incorporated into the artwork and also played with.

There are, however situations where live action video will be more appropriate to achieving your goals. One of the greatest strengths of live action video is its ability to create a connection between the viewer and the person on screen. A charismatic, captivating on-screen personality will draw people in and create a rapport and sense of trust in your brand.
When is an animated video production less appropriate?

There are some occasions where a different type of video production may be more appropriate than an animated video; here are some of those situations or factors for opting for another kind of web video.
The Human Touch

People relate to people. If, for example, you were a homeless charity whose goal were to increase donations, a video showing someone sleeping outside in the snow, wrapped in a meagre blanket, would be a far greater tug on the heartstrings than a cartoon drawing of the same.
Testimonial videos

Testimonial videos are another example of where animated video would not be appropriate. These are tremendously powerful within a marketing strategy, as it puts a face to the testimonial which makes it far more believable.

Products, people, places

If your message focuses on existing products, people or places – generally, live action video is a better choice. The Spanish Tourist board, for example, would want to show real people enjoying the beautiful scenery, sunny climes and lively atmosphere of the destination.

If you are in an industry where the viewer is buying a physical end product, showing the finished product in action will boost viewer engagement and their comfort level with the product. With live video you can show a real-life demonstration – when someone is researching a product, they want to see the finished product in action. but with that said animated videos can be incredibly effective in showing how something works or outlining a process or steps to using a complex product.

Live action video also works brilliantly if you have a strong human face to the brand. Richard Branson, for example, has been appearing in the Virgin TV and Online ads. His name is synonymous with the Virgin brand, and by adding a touch of self-deprecating humour to the adverts, Virgin have increased the likeability of the brand. They have taken it from being a cold, faceless, corporate image to one that is associated with the dynamic, charming founder. At the end of the day, passion speaks volumes – and whether it is a charismatic CEO in front of the camera, or a dedicated, caring customer service representative – putting a face and personality to your brand can help build a relationship with potential customers.

Both animated and live action videos have their pros and cons, and when it comes down to creating a video marketing strategy, your customers and their needs hold the answer. With all types of video, the key is in creating content that is useful and engaging, which in turn turns visitors into customers. Using video animation to promote your business allows you to break through the boundaries of reality, and is a fun, quirky way of engaging your visitors. Just be careful to think your objectives through carefully!

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How to Become a Video Game Designer

One of the most exciting jobs out in the market today is video game designing. Many have the impression that it would take too much time and skills to accomplish this. Well reality check people...it does not! If you are into video games and love spending your leisure time (even your work time!), playing games then you have already passed the qualifying stages to becoming a video game designer. May it be for console, arcade, or PC; video game designing reaches all these platforms. Now, let me explain to you some of the basic principles to get you an idea of how to make this dream job work for you.

Throughout the years, games have evolved from the simple Atari and first generation Nintendo graphics to the complex 3D and multi level games of the present. There are just no limits to game designing these days. This multibillion-dollar industry is ballooning and encompassing other industries at a pace no one ever thought was possible. A major factor to this can be attributed to the gamers who are in their 20's and 30's and have never stopped picking up on the latest games and game platforms. Walk into any gaming shop and you will find adults mingling with kids to check out latest releases and try them out...together! So combined with the teenage market, this raving monster called the Gaming Industry is eating chunks out of the adult and teenage market today.

Need for video game design teams have increased dramatically because of this growth in the industry and the demand for better and more creative games by consumers. Therefore, the outlook for anyone trying to enter this industry is not bad at all. If you have the love and drive to create games then there is more than a lot of opportunities to do that. Become a video game designer and you could take part and even play a major role in producing legendary games such as Sims, Unreal tournament and Halo to name a few. Get a chance to team up with the best companies and game studios by becoming a video game designer. If there ever was a time to take that leap of faith and trust your gut instincts then it is now! A genuine love for games is one of the most important qualities a game designer must possess. For natural love for gaming spawns creativity and a drive to excel in producing games people will endear themselves to. You could even ask yourself a question. Why would I do a job that I do not have the talents and passion for? Now, if your answer is I am doing this because it is what I love to do, then you are the right man for this job.

This natural passion, even though very important, is only one of the aspects that makes a good video game designer. Companies who hire designers are also looking for someone with good problem solving skills and who is inhumanly patient. There are so many bugs and potential problems when designing a game that it could drive someone mad. These problems range from collision detection to making things look convincing animation-wise. Many of these complex problems need to be resolved quickly and with ingenuity. You should always strive to improve and to innovate the game at any point of the production. This can be profoundly stressful and take up huge amounts of your time even to the point of exhaustion but the rewards are more than worth it. The experience brings a completely new meaning to the phrase sleeping on the job!

Being a perfectionist is also a quality sought after by many of these gaming companies and studios. Making sure everything is up to the highest quality standards and done as efficiently as possible in as little time as possible are talents which are definitely sought after in this fast paced industry. Now, if you have all or even just some of these qualities then this job is just waiting for you out there... so go out and grab it.

So now, you are ready to proceed and create games huh? However, wait, you just cannot walk right into one of these companies and apply for this job if you do not have the skills! Knowledge about such things as graphic designing, computer animation and game development is necessary here. You need very specific training on these and other elements in order to be a certified video game designer. Below is a listing of where you can get the best training in these areas of expertise. With no further ado, here are some of the premier video game design schools you will need to enroll in to become a top video game designer.

The Art Institute Online: The Art Institute Online courses have been designed with extensive input from game-industry professionals and focus on the artistic side of games - not on computer programming. You will concentrate on the specifics needed as a professional game artist: Scene and set design, Motion capture, Character development, Visual storytelling, Game design strategies, 3D animation, Low-polygon modeling, Game level design, Texture mapping... In other words, a lot of the fun stuff.

Full Sail University: You know good video game graphics when you see them, and if you're interested in a career creating the content you see up on screen, Full Sail's Game Art Bachelor's Degree Program can help you learn the same production methods used to create 3D art in the professional gaming industry. This degree program focuses on the fundamentals of interactive graphics development – including character creation, scene design, asset production, in-game effects, and the physics of motion.

DeVry University: Offers something more towards the programming end of things with their hot Game and Simulation Programming program. This should really get your feet nice and wet. Take it Online, or check out the various campus locations.

ITT Technical Institute: The ITT Technical Institutes offer a bachelor degree in Digital Entertainment and Game Design. Courses in this program offer a strong foundation in digital game design through the study of subjects such as gaming technology, game design process, animation, level design, and general education coursework. In addition, with over 85 locations nation-wide, there is a good chance that you can find a school near you.

Westwood College of Technology-Online: Strong creativity, design, computer, and problem solving skills are the keys for success in this exciting and growing field. With these specialized skills in mind, Westwood College has designed a Bachelor degree program in Game Art and Design.

Digital Media Arts College: Learn from industry experts from leading companies such as SEGA, ImageWorks, Disney, and more. They are one of the United States' most technologically equipped digital artist colleges. They have the tools and techniques to empower your creative career.

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How to Hook New Customers with Your Explainer Video

Surf in any category on the Internet and you will find words, words, words, and more words.

But our brains are hardwired to detect motion. So it’s easy to understand why YouTube is the #2 search engine and the #3 social media site in the world.

Because our brains are wired for motion, we skim through pages and pages of information, our eyes overloaded with letters and numbers. Yet we will endure a drab video to its end because it’s visual.

For your business, the home page or landing page explainer video is the communication gold mine that you want to get just right. How do you do this? Well, let me explain…

1. Good Explainer Videos use Motion to Inform and to Entertain

Competition online is fierce. One germ of a concept may spawn hundreds of copy cats. What differentiates a good explainer video from a mediocre one?

It answers the 3 W’s through motion, information, and entertainment.

The creative use of moving objects in a visual format, followed by an entertaining overview of the WHO•WHAT•WHY of your business, separates a good explainer video from a trite one.

Take a good look at your landing page. Most likely, you have a “Welcome” blurb. That won’t cut it in a highly competitive market. In less than a minute, a well-made explainer video will show us what we need to know about your business:

•     Who you are
•     What you do
•     Why we should use your products or service

The three W’s are answered through motion, information, and entertainment:

•     Who – Web app for managing social networks and group communication
•     What – Easy to use and navigate software that boosts productivity
•     Why – Clean and beautiful, and very reasonably priced

Are you not compelled to try the Message app? Did your eyes not follow the action animation to its end? That’s the power of a good explainer video as our brains are wired to detect movement. And when it’s visually entertaining, then it’s even better.

2. Good Explainer Videos can Evoke or Provoke an Emotion

A very engaging method that makes a good explainer video is to build a thoughtful and meaningful visual story with characters to evoke an emotion in the viewer.

This charming explainer video feels more like a mini short film, yet it still informs on the WHO•WHAT•WHY of their business. It’s full of visual motion and loaded with information and heartfelt entertainment.

You understand Attentive.ly’s social media match service. What they do is help you connect with your clients’ social network preferences. Why you should use their service is they can help you promote events and campaigns and find out what your clients are saying on social media sites.

After seeing this creative style of storytelling explainer video, you’re intrigued to learn more about Attentive.ly to see how their services may promote traffic campaigns for your business.

3. Good Explainer Videos combine Live Action with Animation

Animation is fun and entertaining, but you may want to add a personal touch – a human connection. A good explainer video can couple graphics, animation, and illustrations with an actor who can personalize the WHO•WHAT•WHY of your business.

Notice how the scene continually changes, but the focus on the girl remains the same. There is constant motion instead of a static still shot.

You’re captivated. Signals fire in your brain to keep your eyes on the female actor and the little animations.

Suddenly, you’re inside all kinds of different homes. That’s the human personal factor. There is a home that feels warm and inviting. Then there is another one that’s entirely different, yet it also looks comfortable and welcoming.

Graphics continue as the female actor expresses the WHO of Airbnb as a company that helps you find an interesting place to stay, the WHAT of Airbnb with a variety of places available and easy searching for and/or listing a property, and WHY you should use Airbnb as there really aren’t any other companies doing something like this – it’s different.

Now that you’ve seen this explainer video, the next time you go on vacation, you may want to consider renting a room and/or listing your home through Airbnb.

4. Good Explainer Videos influence You to Buy or Use a Product or Service

The above three explainer videos were about services, but maybe your business sells products.

People may not have a need for your particular product, but after watching a visual presentation, people may impulse-buy your product because they will want it.

Human hands exhibit the product in this visual presentation, which is, again, a warm human connection. The headphones are given almost a lifelike appearance as they prop straight up. Vibrant colors change continuously throughout the video.

WHO they are is a company that manufactures headphones in Stockholm, Sweden. WHAT they do is connect you to your music with colorful headphones that pack a punch in a featherweight size. WHY you should buy the product is it’s an open headphone that allows you to listen to music and the outside world at the same time.

The constant change of vibrant colors and scenes happens so quickly that you’re bound to watch the video again.

You may not need headphones, but now that you know this company exists through the explainer video, you will recall this information the next time you want to buy a headphone for yourself or as a gift.

5. Good Explainer Videos let People Know You Exist

When someone uses Google or YouTube to search for a product or service, there is a chance they will find your video. If you put effort into developing a better explainer video, you create the chance for opportunities like these:

    Team members of organizations may share the video to discuss the possible benefits your service has for them.
    Prospects and potential customers will see your product or service in action. (That’s always a more visceral way to demonstrate usefulness.)
    Because video can be much more efficient at communicating, you can increase the number of sign ups and purchases – sometimes by factors of 2x, 3x and more.

Visual media generates interest for you in a way that words cannot by showcasing the WHO•WHAT•WHY of your business through motion, information, and entertainment.

A good explainer video will make any business unforgettable.

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8 Animators Share Their Secrets to Animated Video Production

Every studio approaches animated video production differently. Some swear by animatics, others prefer storyboards. Some take weeks scripting and developing a concept, others dive into production. We’re all unique snowflakes.

But the top studios and artists consistently create great animation day in and day out.

So what’s their secret?

I asked eight leading animators to share the most important step in the animated video production process. Turns out they have a few things in common.

Pre-Production is the Key.

Pre-production eliminates the majority of my headaches. It’s worth the time it takes to storyboard and create an animatic. The client is less likely to ask for any major changes after seeing it laid out in a rough form.

Transitions are key in a motion graphics piece. Taking the time to plan those out before you start setting keyframes will keep you sane. There’s usually something that looks off or doesn’t transition well even after doing all the pre-pro work but it’s usually pretty minor and doesn’t take long to fix.

* Ryan Woolfolk is a Senior Motion Designer at LEAPframe

Lay the Groundwork: Pre-Production.
Animators Share Their Secrets to Animated Video Production

Storyboarding, and pre-production in general—scripting, style frames, layout, casting, animatics, planning…

The more groundwork you can lay before getting into asset creation and animating the better. Everyone involved is clear on the story, how to get from point A to point B, and how things will look and feel. It’s also much easier to spot problems and change direction at this stage.

* Paul Conigliaro is a Motion Designer and Editor of Code42, co-founder of the Motion League and organizer of the weekly animation podcast, Motion Chat.

Identify Your Passion.

As the vision and passion develop the initial idea, think about where those inspiring thoughts are coming from in your mind. A childhood memory, a loved one, a mentor that inspired, or even a form of divinity.

Recognizing the source of your passion will fuel you beyond production challenges, discouragements, outside expectations and empower you with the belief that you are the creating something unique to this universe.

* Ryan Woodward is the animator and illustrator behind the “Thought of You” video. See his more recent work at ryanwoodwardart.com.

Define Your Deliverables. Select Your Style.

I don’t know that there is just a single “most important” step, because what I like to prioritize changes from project to project. A simple way of putting it might be to break it down two ways:

1) For fast-turnaround projects, my priority to is to lay out what the deliverables are for an animation. How many frames do I need to worry about, how many shots are there?

2) For longer projects, my priority is to settle on a style first and foremost, which I usually create in Cinema 4D and After Effects. I like to know that whatever I end up designing, I’ll be able to animate when I need to without re-building.

* Dave Glanz is freelance motion graphics designer who’s worked with ESPN and the Discovery Channel.

It’s All in the Script.

We spend hours crafting the perfect script. Invest time writing an effective script aimed at accomplishing a single objective. That’s how you create a successful video. A great script makes the design and animation easier.

And don’t rush the script to stay on schedule. Changes in the later stages of production are always more costly and time-consuming.

* Will Gadea is the founder and Creative Director of IdeaRocket

You Gotta Have Heart.

The most important step in animated video production is heart. You need heart to come up with a worthwhile concept. You need heart to tell a good story. You need heart to hone your craft and put the right people in place to execute the pipeline.

And you’re gonna need a lot of heart to see the concept through to completion.

* Christopher Levin is the lead Motion Designer at Hungry Mind

Stamp of Approval.

Approval of pre-production like initial designs and script storyboard.

Oh and money. :)

* Jacques Khouri is a freelance animator and illustrator. Check out his fantastic book cover redesigns and superhero illustrations at ijotalot.com.

You Need a Game Plan.

Planning! Planning, planning planning! Sometimes you can let projects take you to new places, but in the planning stages of the actually animation, you will find out what works, and what doesn’t.

In the long run, it will make your idea and actions clearer, and save you precious time from having to make and delete, over and over.

* Dorian Heller is a Motion Designer and founder of Seattle-based Heller Studios.

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How Much Does an Explainer Video Cost?

If you’re not familiar with explainer videos, they’re short, engaging, online videos that explain and promote a company, product, or service (you can find plenty of examples on our sample page, or head over to StartupVideos for more). So why invest in an explainer video you ask? There are oodles of statistics that show the positive effect video can have on conversion rates, sales, and information retention, but the bottom line is this - if you could learn about something by watching a quick, entertaining video, or read a page of text, which would you choose?

How much does an explainer video cost?

The number one question we hear from people is “how much does an explainer video cost?” For our purposes here, we’re talking about a 60-second animated explainer video, which is typically the most popular offering. As you’d probably expect, you can find a wide range of prices out there, anywhere from $1,500 to $15,000. However, if you’re working with a reputable producer, expect to spend between $5,000 and $10,000. The amount charged depends on a wide variety of factors, including quality of work, customization and detail, experience level, and how busy or “in demand” the producer is.

A lot of people are surprised, even shocked, when they first hear how much an explainer video can cost. But if you don't understand the amount of time and effort that go in to producing one, it's hard to wrap your head around just what your money is buying. So here's a quick run-down (including samples) of the explainer video production process and what happens at each stage.

What is the process for creating an explainer video?

The typical project takes 4-8 weeks to complete and involves 6 stages. Let’s take a closer look at each.

Stage 1: Research and scripting (week 1)

A well written script is the foundation of a great video. But it takes time for writers to fully understand your company, product, or service and synthesize it into 150 words. And don’t forget that each video requires a creative direction and storyline, something that can take time for all parties to agree upon.

Stage 2: Style and illustration (week 1)

In most cases, all of the characters and assets in a video are illustrated by hand, scanned into a computer, digitized, colored and so forth. Some illustrators like to do everything digitally with a tablet. During the style stage, the illustrator will create a few variations of characters and assets to show the client.

Stage 3: Storyboarding (week 2)

With a final script and style in place, the illustrator assembles a storyboard. The storyboard is a static scene-by-scene representation of the video in its final, animated form.

Stage 4: Voiceover (week 3)

Based on the script and storyboard, a professional voice artist will record an audio version of the script. Typically artists provide multiple takes so the sound engineer has options to work with.

Stage 5: Animation (weeks 4-5)

The most time consuming and work-intensive part of the process is the animation. At this point, an animator is taking all of the finished assets, like the illustrations and voiceover, and importing them into a piece of software like Adobe After Effects (AE). Once in AE, the animator spends hours assembling the assets and making each movement just right. There’s no “Auto-Animate” button...yet.

Stage 6: Music and Sound Effects (week 6)

Last but not least, a sound engineer mixes the sound together, including the music, voiceover, and sound effects. Nothing ruins a video like poor sound quality, so never underestimate the importance of a professionally mixed voiceover, music track, and sound effects.

Conclusion

So there you have it. If it seems like a lot of work, it is. And that doesn’t even include the many hours of meetings, calls, emails, revisions, renderings, uploads, and more.

For some other perspectives on explainer video pricing, make sure to check out the blog post from Miguel over at Grumo (includes an average hourly breakdown), along with these answers on Quora.

We want to hear what you think! Does the pricing and timeline surprise you? Have you had a different experience somewhere else? Let us know in the comment section.

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