Occupation Details
Special Effects Artists and Animators
Create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.
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Interests
Investigative
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Artistic
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Work Values
Achievement
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Working Conditions
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$56,340.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$103,460.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$125,720.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
5,170
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
6,250
+108 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
683
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.2%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Degree Needed - Four-year college
Experience Requirements
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Education Requirements
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Design
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Communications and Media
Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Sales and Marketing
Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Geography
Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Digital paper
- Digital pens
- Panoramic digital cameras
Technology
- ACD Systems Canvas
- AJAX
- Ability Photopaint
- Adobe Systems Adobe AIR
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Systems Adobe ActionScript
- Adobe Systems Adobe After Effects
- Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Cloud
- Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Suite
- Adobe Systems Adobe Director
- Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver
- Adobe Systems Adobe Fireworks
- Adobe Systems Adobe Flex
- Adobe Systems Adobe ImageReady
- Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- cut, shape, fit, or join wood or other construction materials
- develop budgets
- mix paint, ingredients, or chemicals, according to specifications
- shape clay
- set type in compositional sequence
- provide customer service
- edit written material
- operate cameras
- operate film or sound editing equipment
- operate scanner
- operate special visual effects equipment
- review assembled film or video tape on monitor
- schedule work to meet deadlines
- establish production schedule
- proofread printed or written material
- determine locale or period of story
- distinguish details in graphic arts material
- identify color or balance
- organize story elements
- use film production techniques
- use graphic arts techniques
- use object-oriented computer programming techniques
- use oral or written communication techniques
- use knowledge of multi-media technology
- use project management techniques
- achieve special camera effects
- use creativity in graphics
- use creativity to art or design work
- set page layout or composition
- create art from ideas
- prepare artwork for camera or press
- write story copy
- sketch or draw subjects or items
- achieve special lighting or sound effects
- edit video film scenes
- use characteristics of graphic design materials
- establish pace of program or sequence of scenes
- use computer graphics design software
- use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
- use word processing or desktop publishing software
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment.
- Create basic designs, drawings, and illustrations for product labels, cartons, direct mail, or television.
- Participate in design and production of multimedia campaigns, handling budgeting and scheduling, and assisting with such responsibilities as production coordination, background design, and progress tracking.
- Implement and maintain configuration control systems.
- Script, plan, and create animated narrative sequences under tight deadlines, using computer software and hand drawing techniques.
- Create two-dimensional and three-dimensional images depicting objects in motion or illustrating a process, using computer animation or modeling programs.
- Develop briefings, brochures, multimedia presentations, web pages, promotional products, technical illustrations, and computer artwork for use in products, technical manuals, literature, newsletters, and slide shows.
- Create and install special effects as required by the script, mixing chemicals and fabricating needed parts from wood, metal, plaster, and clay.
- Make objects or characters appear lifelike by manipulating light, color, texture, shadow, and transparency, or manipulating static images to give the illusion of motion.
- Apply story development, directing, cinematography, and editing to animation to create storyboards that show the flow of the animation and map out key scenes and characters.
- Assemble, typeset, scan, and produce digital camera-ready art or film negatives and printer's proofs.
- Convert real objects to animated objects through modeling, using techniques such as optical scanning.
- Create pen-and-paper images to be scanned, edited, colored, textured, or animated by computer.
- Use models to simulate the behavior of animated objects in the finished sequence.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Artists and related workers
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn MoreBank Street School Upper Camp II Digital Technology
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Learn MoreColumbia University Summer Program For High School Students, Junior - Senior Division
The Summer Program for High School Students in New York City is renowned for its academic rigor, instructional excellence, and the unique opportunity to experience college life in the Ivy League and life in New York City. Intensive summer study includes a variety of coursework in Engineering, Mathematics, and Science and Computers.
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National Computer Camp aims to provide campers with life long computer skills. As its primary focus, NCC provides a solid foundation in programming, focusing on languages and applications, hardware, video game and web page design.
Learn MorePurchase College: Summer Tech Day Camp
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Learn MoreSummer Computer Camp at New York Institute of Technology - Manhattan NY
When it comes to learning cool new technologies at your own pace, Cybercamps gives you a lot of options. All of the courses are project based, which means you'll learn by making cool things. The courses are grouped into three main subject areas, User (Graphics),Coder (Programming), and Gamer (Game Design)!
Learn MoreSummer Computer Camp at Solomon Schechter School Westchester, NY
When it comes to learning cool new technologies at your own pace, Cybercamps gives you a lot of options. All of the courses are project based, which means you'll learn by making cool things. The courses are grouped into three main subject areas, User (Graphics),Coder (Programming), and Gamer (Game Design)!
Learn MoreSummer Computer Camp at The New School Manhattan, New York
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Learn MoreWestchester Community College Children and Teens 2007
Westchester Community College Children and Teens 2007 programs include Ossining Summer Science Academy, Computer Arts for Teens, and Computers for Kids in Peekskill.
Learn MoreiD Tech Camps: Columbia University Computer Camp, NY
<p>iD Tech Camps offers summer computer camps for kids and teens. The courses are for beginner to advanced levels, and vary from creating video games and producing digital movies to designing web pages and learning programming and robotics.</p>
Learn MoreiD Tech Camps: Vassar College Computer Camps,NY
iD Tech Camps offers summer computer camps for kids and teens. The courses are for beginner to advanced levels, and vary from creating video games and producing digital movies to designing web pages and learning programming and robotics.
Learn MoreiD Tech Camps:Fordham University Computer Camps, NY
iD Tech Camps offers summer computer camps for kids and teens. The courses are for beginner to advanced levels, and vary from creating video games and producing digital movies to designing web pages and learning programming and robotics.
Learn More