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Animator in Columbia, MO

Animator job description

Animators breathe life and personality into characters, scenes and other animation elements used to tell stories in cartoons, films, video games, commercials, social media and more. These creative professionals create and sequence multiple images, referred to as “frames,” to give the illusion of movement. An animator might employ digital images, hand-drawn illustrations, models or other types of images and props to create special effects and other animations using computer-generated animation, 2D or 3D model-making, or stop-frame tools and techniques. Employers seek animators with a vivid imagination who are collaborative and receptive to feedback and can work diligently under pressure. Multimedia experience, including in emerging areas like virtual reality (VR), and video editing expertise are highly valued. A bachelor’s degree in computer animation, fine arts or graphic arts is often preferred for this role. Most employers will require candidates to provide a solid portfolio of relevant creative work, including hand-drawn character designs and animation clips.

Typical animator duties:

Creating character sketches, designing backgrounds and other elements, and developing storyboards for animation projectsReading through scripts, and brainstorming and conceptualizing compelling images to help tell stories in an engaging, memorable wayWorking closely with a wide range of team members throughout projects, including artists, story editors, photographers, designers, other animators, voice actors and producersEnsuring final deliverables are high quality and delivered on time and on budget

Looking for an animator or an animator job?

Request candidates now and a specialized recruiter will typically contact you within one business day to discuss your staffing needs and help you hire an animator.Search animator openings and apply now or submit your resume to be considered for opportunities that match your experience.
Salary for Animator in Columbia, MO

58094 - 84289

Low
58094
The candidate is new to the role or has limited experience and is still developing core skills.
Mid
68234
The candidate has moderate experience in the role or one similar, meets most requirements and may hold transferable skills or relevant certifications.
High
84289
The candidate has extensive experience in the role, demonstrates advanced skills and often brings specialized certifications or industry experience.
Projected salaries for related positions Job title Low Mid High Creative Director 87246 114075 140059 Art Director 71825 87035 104991 Creative Services Manager 66121 81120 97175 Instructional Designer 64854 81965 98443 Motion Designer 64854 76895 91683 Presentation Designer 57883 71614 84923 Digital Designer 57671 69079 84923 3D Modeler 51756 64009 78796 Package Designer 47531 57249 70135 Graphic Designer 44574 57883 68445 Illustrator 46898 55770 66544 Video Producer 56193 75205 89570 Video Editor 51334 61051 76261 Digital Asset Manager 49433 62108 77740 Production Manager 56615 68234 79641 Production Artist 45841 55348 63586 Production Coordinator 39926 44151 51968 Photographer 38448 50278 63586

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The salary benchmarks in the Salary Guide From Robert Half are the result of a rigorous, multistep process designed to reflect projected market trends for 2027. They are based on actual compensation for professionals Robert Half has placed nationwide, along with third-party job posting data from Textkernel that we use for independent validation. Learn more about our methodology.
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