Special Effects Artists and Animators

27-1014.00

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.

Occupation-Specific Information

Tasks

• 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.
• Create two-dimensional and three-dimensional images depicting objects in motion or illustrating a process, using computer animation or modeling programs.
• 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.
• Implement and maintain configuration control systems.
• Script, plan, and create animated narrative sequences under tight deadlines, using computer software and hand drawing techniques.
• 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.
• 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.

Technology Skills

• Computer aided design CAD software - Autodesk 3ds Max Design; Autodesk Alias Design; Autodesk Alias Surface; Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D 🔥; AutoDesSys form Z; solidThinking
• Configuration management software - Perforce Helix software
• Desktop publishing software - Adobe InDesign 🔥; QuarkXPress
• Development environment software - Adobe ActionScript; Adobe AIR; C 🔥; Code libraries; Component libraries; Crytek CryEngine; DX Studio; MaxScript; Maya Embedded Language MEL; Unity Technologies Unity; Unreal Technology Unreal Engine; XML User Interface XUI
• Document management software - Adobe Acrobat 🔥
• Enterprise application integration software - Extensible markup language XML 🔥
• Graphical user interface development software - Figma
• Graphics or photo imaging software - Ability Photopaint; ACD Systems Canvas; Adobe Creative Cloud software ; Adobe FreeHand MX; Adobe Illustrator ; Adobe ImageReady; Adobe Photoshop ; Ambient Design ArtRage; Apple DrawBerry; Aqsis Renderer; Autodesk Combustion; Autodesk Maya; Autodesk Mudbox; Autodesk SketchBook Pro; Autodesk SoftImage; AutoQ3D; Blender; Bohemian Coding DrawIt; Bunkspeed HyperDrive; Bunkspeed HyperMove; Caligari Corporation trueSpace; Celsys RETAS; Character Studio; Cheetah3D; Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite; Corel Painter; Cybermotion 3D Designer; DAZ Productions Bryce; DAZ Productions Carrara; e-on software Vue; Electric Rain Swift 3D Xpress; Freeverse Lineform; HASH Animation:Master; Indigo Renderer; Inivis AC3D; Luxology Modo; Luxrender; MagicTracer; Massive Jet; Maxon BodyPaint 3D; Mental Images Mental Ray; Microsoft Expression Design; Nevercenter Silo; NewTek Lightwave 3D; Next Limit Maxwell Render; NodeBox; NVDIA Gelato; Pixarra TwistedBrush; Pixelmator; Pixologic Zbrush; Quad Software Grome; RealFlow; Satori Paint; Serif DrawPlus; Side Effects Software Houdini; SideFX Houdini; sK1; Skencil; SmithMicro Anime Studio; SmithMicro Manga Studio; SmithMicro SoftwarePoser; SplutterFish Brazil; Sunflow Render System; Three-dimensional graphics software; Trapcode Particular; Trimble SketchUp Pro 🔥; Two-dimensional graphics software; VectorDesigner; Xara Designer Pro
• Object or component oriented development software - C++ 🔥; jQuery 🔥; Object-oriented programming languages; Python 🔥
• Office suite software - Microsoft Office software 🔥
• Operating system software - Apple macOS 🔥; Microsoft Windows 🔥; UNIX 🔥
• Presentation software - Microsoft PowerPoint 🔥
• Process mapping and design software - Microsoft Visio 🔥
• Spreadsheet software - Microsoft Excel 🔥
• Video creation and editing software - Adobe After Effects ; Adobe Director; Adobe Premiere Pro; Apple Final Cut Pro; Autodesk 3ds Max; Autodesk MotionBuilder; Chaos Group V-Ray; Maxon Cinema 4D; Pixar RenderMan Studio; TechSmith Camtasia; YouTube
• Web page creation and editing software - Adobe Dreamweaver; Google Sites; Social media sites
• Web platform development software - Adobe Flex; AJAX 🔥; Cascading style sheets CSS ; Drupal 🔥; Dynamic hypertext markup language DHTML; Extensible hypertext markup language XHTML; Hypertext markup language HTML ; JavaScript 🔥; Microsoft Silverlight; PHP 🔥
• Word processing software - Microsoft Word 🔥

Occupational Requirements

Work Activities

• Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
• Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
• Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment - Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment - Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment - Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Staffing Organizational Units - Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.

Detailed Work Activities

• Create computer-generated graphics or animation.
• Develop artistic or design concepts for decoration, exhibition, or commercial purposes.
• Coordinate logistics for productions or events.
• Prepare production storyboards.
• Draw detailed or technical illustrations.
• Construct distinctive physical objects for artistic, functional, or commercial purposes.
• Convert data among multiple digital or analog formats.