Animation studio Image: By Stansberry from Cali - World of ColorUploaded by themeparkgc, CC BY 2.0, (Wikipedia)

10 Fun Facts About Working in Animation

Animation is older than film soundtracks
One scene can involve hundreds of hands
Rigging is modern-day puppetry
Many animators start as generalists
Speed and quality both improve with iteration
Animation careers are everywhere (not just movies)
Small teams can make big art
You’ll learn storytelling, not just drawing
The tools keep changing — and that’s good
Your portfolio tells the story employers hire for

Thinking about a career in animation? Great choice. Behind the films, shows, and games you love is a wide mix of craft, collaboration, and a few delightful surprises. This post collects ten fun — and useful — facts about working in animation. Use them to guide your portfolio, your studies, or simply to get excited about the path ahead.

1. Animation is older than film soundtracks

Before synchronized sound, animators were already telling stories frame by frame. Early animation studios paired live musicians or organ players with screenings to bring silent cartoons to life. This history matters because it shows how animation has always been a multidisciplinary craft — part art, part performance, and part technology. If you like mixing disciplines, animation is a natural fit.

2. One scene can involve hundreds of hands

A single animated scene — especially in feature films or high-end TV — often passes through many specialists: concept artists, modelers, riggers, layout artists, animators, lighting artists, compositors, and more. Even small shots require collaboration, so communication and flexibility are as important as technical skill.

3. Rigging is modern-day puppetry

Rigging is the process that gives characters their underlying skeleton and controls. Think of it as building a digital puppet. Good riggers let animators focus on performance instead of fighting controls. If you like problem-solving and animation at once, rigging can be one of the most satisfying roles in a pipeline.

4. Many animators start as generalists

Early-career artists often learn a bit of everything — modeling, texturing, basic animation, and compositing — before specializing. That breadth makes you a better collaborator and helps you land your first job. The generalist path also lets you discover which part of the pipeline excites you most.

5. Speed and quality both improve with iteration

Animation thrives on iteration. The first pass is rarely the final pass. Learning to iterate quickly — blocking, refining, polishing — is a career superpower. Faster prototyping lets you test ideas, fix problems early, and ultimately make stronger performances and cleaner shots.

6. Animation careers are everywhere (not just movies)

Studios hire animators for more than feature films. Games, advertising, VR/AR, UI motion, medical visualization, education apps — all need animation. If your goal is a stable career or freelance variety, knowing where animation skills apply widens your options dramatically.

7. Small teams can make big art

Indie studios and solo creators are producing cinematic short films and commercial-quality games with tiny teams, thanks to accessible tools and smarter workflows. That means you can make impressive showreel pieces without a Hollywood budget — dedication and clever pipelines matter more than huge headcounts.

8. You’ll learn storytelling, not just drawing

Animation is applied storytelling. You’re not just making pretty images — you’re creating performance, timing, and emotional beats. Strong animators understand acting, cinematography, and pacing. Learning these story fundamentals will make your work stand out to recruiters and directors.

9. The tools keep changing — and that’s good

New software, game engines, and machine learning tools regularly shift how production works. Rather than seeing this as a threat, treat it as an advantage: people who embrace new tools can iterate faster and take on more ambitious projects. Keep learning; tool fluency is a multiplier for your creativity.

10. Your portfolio tells the story employers hire for

Recruiters and studio leads look for evidence of thought, not just finished pixels. Show process: thumbnails, key poses, breakdowns, and short iterations. A short, focused reel that highlights your best animation and demonstrates problem-solving beats the “kitchen sink” reel that tries to show everything.

Quick tips for students and aspiring artists

Build short, focused projects you can finish. Completed work shows you can ship.
Practice gesture, timing, and posing — these are animation fundamentals that travel across styles.
Collaborate on small game or film projects to learn pipeline and teamwork.
Keep a short, clear demo reel (30–90 seconds) and a separate portfolio page with breakdowns.
Learn one engine (Unity or Unreal) and one DCC (Blender, Maya) to be versatile.

Final thoughts

Working in animation is a mix of craft, teamwork, and constant learning — and it’s often more playful than people expect. Whether you aim to work at a studio, join an indie team, or create your own shorts and games, the field rewards curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to iterate. If you’re excited by storytelling and visual performance, animation is a rich and forgiving place to grow.

VANAS teaches practical animation, VFX, and game production skills for aspiring artists. Learn more at https://www.vanas.ca