Junior animator apprenticeship

Produce the motions, gestures, expressions and performance of dimensional characters and inanimate objects

A junior animator creates animated assets and content, by producing the motions, gestures, expressions and performance of two or three dimensional characters and inanimate objects. This is a junior level role, so you’ll work closely with your colleagues, along with clients and team members. You must be able to take direction and feedback, in order to create the actions of your animated character, according to the story and the director’s wishes. To support this, you’ll learn to interpret a storyboard and any character layout or scene planning that has been done in advance. During the junior animator apprenticeship you’ll develop knowledge of timing and spacing within the story being animated and have excellent drawing skills. Using model sheets, and any given reference material, you’ll be able to visualise the character, object or creature in any number of poses, and stage them effectively according to the scene plan. You’ll learn how characters develop, and their role in that development, the principles of anatomy and how these affect movement, shot construction and composition, shot breakdown and continuity. This apprenticeship is offered as a core and four options, which depend on the specialism of the employer. They are 2D animation, stop motion animation, 3D animation, and interactive media and immersive reality.

Duration: 18 months

Relevant school subjects: Art and ICT

Entry requirements for the junior animator apprenticeship: Depend on employer but a talent for art or graphic design would be beneficial

Achievement upon completion: Level 4 (Advanced)—equivalent to A-levels

Potential salary upon completion: £22,000

Find out more: www.apprenticeshipguide.co.uk