Outlook for Film Animation Careers
Get the scoop on what to expect in the film animation industry.
Industry Statistics for Film Animation Careers
There's good news for aspiring animators. Job opportunities in film animation and other sectors of the animation job market are on the rise. That doesn't mean you won't face competition in your job search. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2012-13 Occupational Outlook Handbook, there were about 66,500 multimedia artists and animators in 2010. However, the overall demand for animators is increasing. Animators have opportunities to work in video game design, special effects, web animation, advertising and e-learning, in addition to opportunities in traditional film animation.
Top Animation Films
The potential for growth in the film animation industry is clearly evident in the box office statistics from 2012. According to Box Office Mojo, five of the top 15 grossing movies in 2012 were strictly animated films—and that's not even counting the computer-generated imagery (CGI) effects, which the other 10 other movies—such titles as Marvel's The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises and Snow White and the Huntsman among them—in the top 15 used.
| Rank | Title | Studio | DomesticBox Office (Millions) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Brave | Buena Vista/Pixar | $237,269,198 |
| 10 | Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted | Paramount/DreamWorks | $216,391,482 |
| 11 | Dr. Seuss' The Lorax | Universal | $214,030,500 |
| 13 | Wreck-It Ralph | Buena Vista | $178,465,000 |
| 14 | Ice Age: Continental Drift | 20th Century Fox | $161,168,962 |
More Opportunities for Animators
Another significant source of employment for animators, the video game industry, is also growing quickly. According to the Entertainment Software Association, computer and video game software sales in 2010 came to roughly $25.1 billion. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2012-13 Occupational Outlook Handbook, the software publishing field is expected to grow by a whopping 49 percent through 2020. With employment options for animators opening up in many different arenas, this is a great time to start your career.