Computer Animation

Job opportunities for aspiring animators in Kentucky and beyond can be found at agencies and studios such as:

• Current360, Louisville
• DBS Interactive, Louisville
• Oculus Studios, Lexington
• PowerScoppechio, Jeffersontown
• Walt Disney

Notes on Pursuing Careers and Internship

• The BLS predicts 4% job growth for computer animators from 2018 to 2028.
   
• The Bureau says, “opportunities should be best for those who have a wide range of skills or who specialize in a highly specific type of animation or effect.”
  
  
• Most large companies are looking for candidates who are in college or who have recently graduated college for their computer animation internship program.
  
  
• There are several ways to demonstrate your ability and show why you should be chosen for one of the limited internship positions. In addition to a résumé you should make an effort to present a polished portfolio while pursuing a computer animation degree.
  
  
• Create your on-line portfolio that allows companies you are interested in interning or working with to view your work and get to know your style even if you aren't able to meet with them face to face. A website with a professional appearance can make your application more memorable. You can incorporate videos you have created as well as images of stills that you have drawn.
  
  
• Prepare a demo reel.
  • It should be no more than one minute long and should highlight only your best work. 
  • Focus on the strengths you have listed in your application. 
  • It is important to remember that quality is much more important than quantity in this instance.

Animation Careers in Kentucky Overview

Did you know that Kentucky offers filmmakers, producers, and crewmembers some of the best tax incentives in the nation? The Film and Entertainment Incentive Program managed by the Kentucky Film Office exists to encourage increased production activity in The Bluegrass State. The program covers feature films of all kinds—including animated features, as well as television shows, commercials, documentaries, and even Broadway productions. The program is so effective that a variety of major films were filmed in whole or in part in Kentucky. Just a few include Tammy (2014), Secretariat (2010), The Ides of March (2011), Elizabethtown (2005), Seabiscuit (2003), The Insider (1999), U.S. Marshalls (1998), and Rain Man (1988). 

In addition to an active film scene and an impressive collection of post-production animation studios that have been in business from a few years up to 28 years, Kentucky is home to a number of creative agencies and technology firms that often hire animators. To get your foot in the door, you will need a degree in animation or related program from an accredited school. 

Employment and Salary Trends for Kentucky Animators

Kentucky is home to 15,490 salaried professionals working in Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media occupations. Of this group, around 120 are multimedia artists and animators. The number of multimedia artists and animators in the state has doubled since 2013, when Kentucky was home to just 60 salaried animators. Salaries have increased as well. In 2013, the average salary for multimedia artists and animators was $51,260 per year. Today, the average annual salary is $56,340.

Nationwide, the mean annual wage for animators and multimedia artists is $69,410 and overall employment for this group is expected to increase by six percent for the 2012-2022 decade.

- Animation Career Review