How to Become an Animated Cartoon Artist

Animated cartoon artists need excellent visual art skills.

Animated cartoon artists are the creative minds behind films, TV shows, advertising campaigns and websites featuring animated cartoon characters. Animated cartoon artists envision characters in realistic, life-like animation. Breaking into this competitive career can be tough, but talented, determined individuals can make it happen. Higher education is not absolutely essential but will help.

Instructions

1. Develop your skills as a visual artist. Take drawing, painting, sculpting, printing and graphic design classes. Watch lots of cartoons, paying close attention to trends and stylistic influences across different genres. Become as versatile as possible while at the same time creating your own visual style and artistic focus.

2. Start producing your own animations. Learn the fundamentals of handmade animation, starting with flip books and other basic techniques. Take animation classes to learn the basics. Move on to computer-based animation, such as Flash animation. Create a portfolio of your best work.

3. Pursue a bachelor's degree in visual art, illustration or animation. Take courses in drawing, design, caricature art, comic media, 3-D digital animation, computer graphics, storyboarding, character development and other related areas. Take classes in animation software, programming and image editing. Develop your portfolio while in college.

4. Complete a professional internship at an animation studio. Submit your portfolio, resume and cover letter to lots of studios. Use your professional network, including professors and colleagues, to find opportunities. Internships teach you about the real world skills you'll need to be an animated cartoonist and may lead to full-time positions.

5. Move to New York or Los Angeles, the two main entertainment capitals in the United States. Most television shows and movies are produced in these cities, and animated cartoon artists are most likely to find work there.

6. Apply for entry-level jobs at animation studios that produce television shows and movies. Stay positive and persistent if you don't find work at first. Expect to start out doing tedious, repetitive work that builds on the creative imaginings of experienced artists. Most animated cartoonists spend at least a few years doing this kind of work before they get the opportunity to develop and produce their own ideas for major productions.

References

• Education-Portal.com: Cartoon Artist: Educational Overview for a Career in Cartooning and Cartoon Animation
• A Digital Dreamer: Animation Career Information