Day in the life
A Day in the Life of an Animator
What animators actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for an animator?
Attend dailies and review feedback on shots. From there, the day usually includes create storyboards and concepts, model and rig characters and objects, and animate characters and scenes. Most work full-time; crunch periods before deadlines can mean long hours.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for an animator working full time.
- Attend dailies and review feedback on shots.
- Block a character animation in Maya.
- Refine timing and arcs.
- Simulate smoke effects in Houdini.
- Composite elements in Nuke or After Effects.
- Submit shots for review.
- Render overnight.
Where animators work
Animators work in studios or remotely at computers, often on teams with tight production schedules.
Hours and schedule
Most work full-time; crunch periods before deadlines can mean long hours.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Create storyboards and concepts
- Model and rig characters and objects
- Animate characters and scenes
- Create visual effects
- Composite and render shots
- Work with directors and teams
- Revise work based on feedback
Tools you’ll use every day
- Autodesk Maya
- Blender
- Houdini
- Adobe After Effects
- Nuke
- Unreal Engine
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Highly creative work
- Work on films and games
- Remote options
- Strong pay for skilled artists
What’s hard
- Competitive industry
- Crunch time
- Project-based employment
- Frequent revisions
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I love animation and games
- I’m artistic
- I’m patient with detail
- I take feedback well
- I enjoy technical software
- I want creative work
Not sure? Take the free Animator fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Use ergonomic setups
- Take screen breaks
- Manage crunch to avoid burnout
- Respect intellectual property