Animation

Animation is broadly divided into four main sectors – 2D drawn (where every movement and facial expression is painstakingly drawn, then transferred onto film); 2D computer generated and 3D computer generated (both of which require expertise in sophisticated software); and stop frame (using models rather than drawings as the base). Individual companies typically specialise in just one of these fields (although a few do all four).

The conditions

Most work in this sector is contract or freelance, the difference being that contract work is usually longer lasting and less ad hoc. Some permanent positions do exist – in fact, in some of the more specialist fields, companies are beginning to invest in their own training programmes for staff, to make up for what they see as a lack of appropriate skill-building on some courses. Contract or permanent, you will certainly face time pressures in this field, and intense periods of working as films near completion are common.

The upside: unlike other sectors in the audiovisual industries, animation has a number of successful centres of excellence outside London, including Manchester and Bristol.

The downside: keeping up with the ever-advancing technology and skill sets that are required in this field.