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Animator in Knoxville, TN

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 Knoxville, TN

64625 - 93765

Low
64625
The candidate is new to the role or has limited experience and is still developing core skills.
Mid
75905
The candidate has moderate experience in the role or one similar, meets most requirements and may hold transferable skills or relevant certifications.
High
93765
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 97055 126900 155805 Art Director 79900 96820 116795 Creative Services Manager 73555 90240 108100 Instructional Designer 72145 91180 109510 Motion Designer 72145 85540 101990 Presentation Designer 64390 79665 94470 Digital Designer 64155 76845 94470 3D Modeler 57575 71205 87655 Package Designer 52875 63685 78020 Graphic Designer 49585 64390 76140 Illustrator 52170 62040 74025 Video Producer 62510 83660 99640 Video Editor 57105 67915 84835 Digital Asset Manager 54990 69090 86480 Production Manager 62980 75905 88595 Production Artist 50995 61570 70735 Production Coordinator 44415 49115 57810 Photographer 42770 55930 70735

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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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