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Animator in Minneapolis, MN

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 Minneapolis, MN

73563 - 106733

Low
73563
The candidate is new to the role or has limited experience and is still developing core skills.
Mid
86403
The candidate has moderate experience in the role or one similar, meets most requirements and may hold transferable skills or relevant certifications.
High
106733
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 110478 144450 177353 Art Director 90950 110210 132948 Creative Services Manager 83728 102720 123050 Instructional Designer 82123 103790 124655 Motion Designer 82123 97370 116095 Presentation Designer 73295 90683 107535 Digital Designer 73028 87473 107535 3D Modeler 65538 81053 99778 Package Designer 60188 72493 88810 Graphic Designer 56443 73295 86670 Illustrator 59385 70620 84263 Video Producer 71155 95230 113420 Video Editor 65003 77308 96568 Digital Asset Manager 62595 78645 98440 Production Manager 71690 86403 100848 Production Artist 58048 70085 80518 Production Coordinator 50558 55908 65805 Photographer 48685 63665 80518

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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.