Animation and Visual-Effects Jobs Key Terms

Know the key terms for animation and visual-effects jobs to achieve career advancement

By Rachel Davy, Writer/Editor

For artists seeking employment as animators, it is vital to learn the key terms used for various animation techniques. Knowing these key terms and the animation techniques they describe will give you more opportunities for employment and career advancement. Take the time to learn the key terms for animation and visual effects jobs to achieve success as a professional animator.

Storyboard artists

Storyboard artists work with an animated movie script to draw panels that illustrate the movie's story in drawings. Storyboard artists detail action sequences and character movements for animated films. They work alongside directors and writers to create the images that result in an animated film.
Try: See the work of a storyboard artist at Storyboards Inc.

Character animators

Character animators draw the faces and bodies of characters in animated films. They are responsible for detailing things, including facial emotion, body movements and creating recognizable personalities. Unlike other kinds of animators such as those who create backgrounds, character animators deal only with the characters in animated films, computer games and software programs.
Try: Learn about the software programs used by character animators at The Gnomon Workshop.

Stop-motion animation

Stop-motion animation is the technique of shooting objects frame-by-frame so it appears as if they are moving. There are many types of stop-motion animation, including clay animation, cut-out animation and model animation.
Try: Review the resource information for stop-motion animators at Dragon Stop Motion.

Computer-generated animation, or CGI

Computer-generated animation, or CGI, is the technique of creating animated images and films with a computer. Computer animation includes both 3-D and 2-D computer graphics. Animated characters or images are drawn and then displayed on computer screens. Many live-action films, computer games and software programs use CGI to create exciting visual effects.
Try: Read about how to get a job in computer animation at CG Channel.

Rotoscoping artist

A rotoscoping artist manually traces over live-action films one frame at a time. The device used to do rotoscoping is a projection device called a rotoscope. Since this technique can take a lot of time, many animators use CGI, though many still prefer to use rotoscoping. Though this technique isn't as widely used as it once was, there are still companies that hire artists skilled at rotoscoping.
Try: Learn about the services in rotoscoping offered by Lazy Movie.

Traditional animation

Traditional animation is the oldest form of animation. It is also the most popular form of animation. Artists who use this technique manually draw every frame of an animated film. Many animated films and commercials still use traditional animation.
Try: Find information about traditional animation by visiting Animation Arena.