Also called: Supervising Animator, Director (animated film)
Leads the creative direction of an animated film, series, or game, guiding animators to bring characters to life.
They review shots in daily sessions, giving notes like 'make her blink later' or 'push the anticipation on that jump.' They work with writers, storyboard artists, and producers to keep the story on track. Projects can last years.
Estimate. Animation Guild union scale for directors is well above $150k at major studios.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 12 years after high school. Bachelor's in animation plus 10+ years as an animator and lead.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Animation, Film, Fine Arts.
Growing about average (about 2% over 10 years). Follows animator projections.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI may generate in-betweens and backgrounds, shrinking crews; directing performance, story and style stays human leadership.
Classes: AP Studio Art, Film or video production, Drama.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-1014.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.