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By Tou Lee
Animators are people who make 2-D and 3-D images that show a character in motion or illustrates the process of motion. 2-D animators draw their ideas or "cartoons" on paper, which is then later run through a scanner where it can be edited, colored, texured, and given motion in a computer. 3-D animators do drawings, but not on paper. Instead they do it on a modeling program. This enables them to create realistic and complex images, but the program tends to be expensive and requires a high level of skill. However to acquire these skills an animator has to have education of course. They have to learn how to use 2-D and 3-D computer animation skills, edit digital images, understanding of sketch imades and storyboards, ability to do and be patient for very detailed work, character development, color theory, story development and communication, and of course a real love for the work. Although they also need technical skills as well. They need to know how to scan, use Adobe Photoshop, a computer-aided design tool that is used for dealing with the articulation of 3-D spaces and 3-D forms, 3-D modeling, drafting, animation, and rendering such as Form-Z or 3-D Studio Max. Other skills is the ability to be flexible with their artwork as they tend to work with professionals who will voice or do the audio of their animations, which will have many revisions.

Now when it comes to applying for jobs for an animator, they should've started their own portfolio of work and samples. Although having a portfolio is sort of required for anyone whose applying for a job, so its a good thing to keep in mind to start collecting your own work. In an animator's portfolio, they should have samples that contain their own work, which is mainly on a CD-Rom, video tape, or interactive format (self-extracting). It should contain examples on storyboards, character studies - motion, anatomy, expression, full color frames, and preliminary sketches that can be included if followed by the finish character or frame (meaning the original work and then the final work of the idea or character). Although digitally, they shoula have characters in motion, character expression, voice/music/audio, and complete enviroments; including lighting, perspective, atmosphere, and texture mapping.

With all these skills animators do make a lot of money annually. Although I can't say its that big a wage for animators, but I think enough for a living. For beginning animators, they get from $25,000 and those with a little more experince get $75,000. 2-D animators have a wage of $25/hr to $75/hr, while 3-D animators have a wage of $100/hr to $200/hr. However their salary depends on the nature of the project and skills of the animator. So the more skills you have the better.

For more information on Animators click on the following links below: Here are some videos of animators such as Butch Hartmen and a video called "Bored Animator".