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Creature Animator

Everything you need to know about the job of a creature animator including required skills, responsibilities and salary.

What does a creature animator do?

A creature animator is a specialization of a 3D animator. They animate real-life creatures as well as imaginary or fantasy creatures for films, TV shows, and video games. They specialize in the movements of animals, reptiles, insects, birds, etc., recreating them in a virtual environment.

When developing fantasy characters they may draw on the traits of humans or animals, and may even integrate both to bring these original beings to life.

This can be the most inspired form of animation, as creature animators need to imagine creatures that don’t exist in the natural world. Imbuing such creatures with human qualities requires a keen eye and understanding of what connects us all.

Creature animator job description

Creature animators create animations of non-human characters. These could be from the natural world such as animals, reptiles, bugs, dinosaurs, etc., or they could be fantasy, myth, or alien creatures. While these creatures are not human they may sometimes need to be imbued with human traits, in these cases the creature animator must be able to give ‘personality’ to imagined beings while rendering their non-human physical characteristics. 

Role & responsibilities of a creature animator in film and games:

  • 'Breathing life' into 3D rigged creature models
  • Researching visual style, genre, and technologies to produce each individual project
  • Applying motion capture to enhance performances
  • Identifying key scenes and sequences
  • Transforming storyboards into animated sequences
  • Managing files, animation libraries, and updating procedures documentation
  • Integrating sound and syncing dialogue
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How much does a creature animator make?

From now to 2028, 3D animation jobs are expected to rise by 4%, making it a great career choice with growth in opportunity and advancement. 

$72k Jnr. Animator
$125k Snr. Animator

Skills required to become a creature animator

This role is highly specialized and not usually an entry-level animation job. Consider taking a 3D animation course to learn the skills you need to get started as an animator, then narrow your focus once you've built up some experience and high-quality character animation work to show potential employers.

Film and game studios may look for the following skills in creature animators:

  • Understanding of movement of limbs, the effect of weight, and the behavior of skin, fur, feathers, scales, flesh
  • Ability to visualize 3D iterations of two-dimensional storyboards and artwork
  • Great instinct for timing, movement, and editing cuts
  • Highly experienced working with 3D models and rigs (provided by 3d modelers and riggers, respectively)
  • Understanding of acting techniques, cinematography, and visual storytelling
  • Knowledge of film and animation genres, and ability to work within these styles
  • Advanced concept of visual language - perspective, point of view, proportion, color, composition, framing, etc.
  • Working knowledge of the laws of physics - gravity, acceleration, and the laws of energy

What software and tools do creature animators use?

Creature animators work with computer software. Some studios work with their own customized software, so animators must be fast learners. 

Creature animators may need knowledge of a combination of the following software:

maya
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Maya is a comprehensive 3D animation software used for creating detailed models, animations, and visual effects. It's popular in film, TV, and game development for its powerful tools.

3dsmax
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3ds Max is a professional 3D computer graphics program for making 3D animations, models, games and images. It is developed and produced by Autodesk Media and Entertainment.

motionbuilder
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MotionBuilder is a 3D character animation software produced by Autodesk. It is used for virtual cinematography, motion capture, and traditional keyframe animation.

unreal
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Unreal Engine is a 3D computer graphics game engine developed by Epic Games, first showcased in the 1998 first-person shooter video game Unreal

substance painter
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Substance Painter: The tools you need to texture your 3D assets, from advanced brushes to Smart Materials.

lightwave 3d
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LightWave 3D is a 3D computer graphics program developed by LightWave Digital. It has been used in films, television, motion graphics, digital matte painting, visual effects & more

A day in the life of a 3D creature animator

The daily responsibilities of an animator vary depending on the type of job you are working on. As with every other step in the pipeline, once you receive your assignment, research is key. For example, Disney artists working on the film Zootopia spent time at animal wildlife reserves studying the behavior and movements of the animals in person. Following research, the artist then decides what techniques to use and starts blocking out the main poses of the object they're working on. Techniques include things like placing keyframes and choosing between IK and FK, which are different ways to have the bones move when animating. The main poses will include the starting pose, ending pose, and some poses in between. Once these poses are in place, the artist gets feedback from a supervisor and moves forward with perfecting the movements of their model.

An animator’s responsibilities vary due to company size. Smaller companies may be more likely to hire artists that also have the ability to rig models. The company saves time and money by having one person do both tasks. A larger company may hire specialized artists who focus on one specific task so that when more high-profile projects come through, they are handled as efficiently as possible.  

Zootopia Progression Reel from Shaofu Zhang on Vimeo.

How to become a 3D Animator

Practice makes perfect. When you are first learning, it takes some time to get your animations as smooth and precise as you would like. Repetition will eventually make the tedious aspects quick and natural, which will then let you focus on the more in-depth nuances and personality of your animations.

Download some free rigged models (such as this free tiger rig) and practice animating characters, vehicles, and moving props. This will give you a reference as to how to work with soft vs hard objects as well.

As mentioned before, research is key. Prepare yourself for a career in this field by spending time gaining knowledge of:

  • The motion of humans, bipedal creatures, quadruped creatures, and animals
  • Facial movement and portraying different moods
  • Mechanical design
  • Mechanical operations
  • Weight and physics

As technology improves, artists are expected to understand how motion capture works. Once the motion capture data is imported, animators will often have to tweak the keyframes to perfect the facial and body movements of the character.

One recent example of a successful use of motion capture tools is War of the Planet of the Apes. The actors who played the apes wore motion-capture suits, which were filmed by a series of cameras. The data was then sent to animators who made creative choices to enhance the personalities of the 3D modeled apes that would replace the actors. This process is becoming more commonplace by the day in both the film and games industries.

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Tips to break into the animation industry

Spend as much time as you can on your best pieces of work. Pick a few and perfect them the best you can for your 3D animation portfolio or demo reel. Show versatility in the types of animations you complete, and demonstrate your ability to portray true emotions through facial animation and accurately emulate weight and physics.

Use the networking opportunities available to animation artists to build up your contacts. This can be one of the best ways to get a job. Searching online, you can find many industry meetups and events, which often include guest speakers like professional artists and software creators. The knowledge gained by listening to these types of guest speakers talk about their personal experiences is irreplaceable.

Read more on creating an animation portfolio or demo reel that stands out or how to get 3D animation projects.

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Industry Pathways

Mark Pullyblank, Department Head of 3D Animation at CG Spectrum, shares how he broke into the industry later in life, and what strategies he used to quickly move forward in his career. This episode is chock-full of actionable tips for artists starting out in the industry - don't miss it!