Outlook for Film Animation Careers
Get the scoop on what to expect in the film animation industry
Industry Statistics for Film Animation Careers
Film animation in all its forms—from special effects to 100% CGI—is a force to be reckoned with. The potential for growth in the film animation industry is clearly evident in the box office statistics from 2022.
According to Box Office Mojo, some of the top grossing movies of 2022, such as "Minions: The Rise of Gru" and "Puss and Boots: the Last Wish" were animated films.
And that doesn't include films with computer-generated imagery (CGI) effects, which includes movies such as "The Batman," "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," "Thor: Love and Thunder," and "Jurassic World Dominion," all in the top grossing films of the year.
Good News for Animation Students
That'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 stiff competition in your job search. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) current Occupational Outlook Handbook, there were about 58,900 special effects artists and animators in 2022, with employment expected to grow 8.2% through 2032. The overall demand for animators is increasing.
Why? Animation has moved way beyond just television cartoons and motion pictures.
Where Else Can I Work with an Animation Degree?
Animators now have opportunities to work in video game design, special effects, web animation, advertising and e-learning, in addition to opportunities in traditional film animation.
In fact, the BLS predicts video games, movies and television will be the three biggest career growth industries, as well as increased demand for animation on mobile devices and tablets. Statistics compiled by the Entertainment Software Association are extremely positive, with no sign of slowing down in the future: There were 227 million American playing video games in 2022; digital content, mobile apps and social networking games accounted for 57% of those game purchases.
With employment options for animators opening up in many different arenas, this is a great time to start your career. Getting an education may well be the best way to give you an edge when you begin searching for an internship or job within the field.
National long-term projections of employment growth may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, and do not guarantee actual job growth.