| Changes are inevitable. Newer ideas and concepts | | | | half the jobs are in California. According to the Bureau |
| replace older ones and the ones passed by seldom | | | | of Labor Statistics, Los Angeles employs 9,500 of |
| see a re-emergence. Before the advent of movies | | | | the 21,000 animators in the U.S. Greater New York |
| like The Little Mermaid and the crazy phenomenon | | | | City is a distant second with 3,500. From there, the |
| known as The Simpsons, animation seemed to be | | | | field is extremely localized to San Francisco, greater |
| going the way of the Hollywood silent movie. Those | | | | Seattle, Austin, Chicago and Atlanta. Animation is not |
| who produce these amazing creations may just have | | | | restricted to television and film. Major sources of |
| started out by getting their technology degree online. | | | | employment include video games, ad agencies and |
| The growth of animation is not limited to cartoon | | | | even the toy industry. |
| television series or just Disney movies, but has | | | | The rewards can be considerable. A Hollywood |
| exploded in video gaming, dedicated cartoon | | | | animator averages $80,000. Outside Los Angeles, |
| channels, and films that are opening new doors of | | | | animators' mean salary ranges from $52,000 to |
| wonderment, such as Avatar and Tim Burton's Alice | | | | $75,000. Depending on experience and track record, |
| In Wonderland. | | | | studio animators can earn over $100,000 with health |
| Being an animator means more than just drawing a | | | | life benefits. If they become supervisors, profit |
| straight line. These days a good cartoon man or | | | | sharing, retirement programs and other perks are |
| woman must also be quite adept with professional | | | | possible. It is also not uncommon for a successful |
| versions of a number of software packages. The | | | | animator to open up his own studio. Others, such as |
| computerized work station has become as common | | | | Mike Judge, Tim Burton and Terry Gilliam, move into |
| as the blue pencil and flip book. | | | | successful careers in live action films. |
| The primary source for new animators is still art | | | | There is one important proviso about animation. Many |
| schools. Because most on campus schools with solid | | | | in the field call it the greatest temp job in the world. |
| animation resources are few and far between, online | | | | The reason for this is employment with any particular |
| colleges have also become targets for recruitment. | | | | organization lasts as long as the project the animator |
| As for financial aid, students are certainly eligible for | | | | is working on. Once the movie is over or the TV |
| standard grants such as the Pell and local state aid. It | | | | series is canceled, it's time to update the resume and |
| should also be noted Hollywood studios, such as | | | | go job hunting. Luckily, as the talent pool is so small, |
| Disney and Dreamworks, have scholarship programs. | | | | animators usually don't stay out of work for long |
| Many general art grants include animators. | | | | stretches of time. |
| One thing a budding animator should realize is almost | | | | |