Animator Text-Only Resume Examples
Years of Experience
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Anthony Gentile
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Santa Maria, San Francisco, CA 12345
Profile
A dynamic Animator with five years of experience in game development specializing in Maya, motion capture, and 3D modeling. A proven track record of coordinating with creative teams to develop complex human character animations for game cinematics and sequences.
Professional Experience
Animator, Excelsior Games, San Francisco, CA
July 2019 – Present
- Create animation content and visual assets during pre-production to design character animations to capture complex human emotions for action RPG titles generating over $5M in sales, including Revenant Sun, Arcadia Lost, and Starfall
- Create gameplay animations using Maya and keyframing techniques within the in-game engine, perform bug fixes and quality assurance testing, and support redesigns
- Perform 3D modeling and rigging and identify opportunities to enhance workflows and ensure alignment with strict game development deadlines
Animator, Starlight Gaming Inc., San Francisco, CA
May 2017 – July 2019
- Collaborated with a team of five animators to create high-quality visual assets and character animations for a mobile RPG title, Those We Save, which garnered 7M downloads over two years
- Utilized motion capture techniques to refine animation and character models and ensured alignment with the aesthetic vision of the director
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Animation
University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA September 2013 – May 2017
Key Skills
- 3D Animation
- Maya
- Motion Capture
- 3D Modeling
- Game Development
Certifications
- Final Cut Pro X Certification, Apple, 2017
- Adobe Animator Certification, Adobe, 2017
Hideo Araki
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 12345
Profile
An Animator with eight years of professional experience specializing in character animation, game development, and storyboarding. A proven track record of coordinating with cross-functional teams to create high-quality animation sequences for premiere gaming titles.
Professional Experience
Animator, Obsidian Studios, San Diego, CA
June 2017 – Present
- Collaborate with a team of art designers, animators, and directors to create storyboards, concept art, and animation sequences for premiere gaming titles, including the Outer Worlds, Pillars of Eternity, and Grounded
- Develop dialogue, character, and cinematic animations using motion capture techniques to support innovative storytelling and narratives for RPGs
- Identify opportunities to enhance facial animations and create compelling character designs by providing additional focus on key movements during dialogue delivery
Animator, Dark Star Studios, San Diego, CA
May 2014 – June 2017
- Created high-quality character animations using motion capture data to develop gameplay and cinematic animation sequences for a first-person walking simulator, Shadows in Dust, which received a 93% positive rating on Metacritic
- Interface with the art director and animation team to create character designs and animations for a choose-your-own-adventure game, Razia’s Dawn, which generated over $2M in sales within one year of launch
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Animation
University of San Diego, San Diego, CA September 2010 – May 2014
Key Skills
- Gameplay Design
- Game Development
- Character Animation
- 3D Animation
- 2D Animation
Certifications
- Final Cut Pro X Certification, Apple, 2014
- Adobe Animator Certification, Adobe, 2014
Yaling Zhang
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Bedford Avenue, New York, NY, 12345
Profile
A Senior Animator with 10+ years of experience within the film industry specializing in character animation, 3D modeling, rigging, and storyboarding. A strong history of developing high-quality character designs for feature films by Pixar and DreamWorks.
Professional Experience
Senior Animator, Pixar, New York, NY
October 2016 – Present
- Oversee the design of characters for feature films such as Moana, Soul, Onward, and Toy Story 4, provide concept drawings, perform 3D modeling and testing on character designs, and ensure alignment with the director’s vision
- Create dynamic character animations for film sequences and coordinate with the director to align character personality and expressions with acting delivery
- Manage a team of 20+ animators, coordinate with artists, conduct reviews on shots and sequences, and identify continuity issues with the director
Animator, DreamWorks, New York, NY
May 2011 – October 2016
- Supported the development of character animations for a variety of animated feature films, including How to Train Your Dragon 2 and Madagascar 3
- Coordinated cross-functionally with artists, animators, technical designers, and production teams to ensure cohesive acting performances for characters across all sequences
- Conceptualized animation sequences, defined visual aesthetics, and ensured alignment with artistic goals across pre-production and post-production
Education
Master of Science (B.S.) Animation
Columbia University, New York, NY May 2011 – May 2013
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Animation
Columbia University, New York, NY September 2007 – May 2011
Key Skills
- Character Animation
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- 3D Modeling
- Pre-Production & Post-Production Lifecycles
- Maya
Certifications
- Autodesk Maya Certification, 2013
- Final Cut Pro X Certification, Apple, 2011
- Adobe Animator Certification, Adobe, 2011
Tips for Writing a Better Animator Resume
Now that you’ve seen some strong examples of animator resumes, we’ll guide you on how to adopt our resume-building methodology to craft your content. As a technical professional, you’ll want to provide insights into the nuances of your career achievements within the entertainment industry. You’ll also want to demonstrate that you’re a creative thinker who can apply technical principles to bring the director’s artistic vision to life. Below, you’ll find three expert tips to help you draw attention to the most important aspects of your background in animation and secure your next job opportunity:
1. Feature key projects and titles.
Within the animation field, name-dropping can go a long way in grabbing the attention of prospective employers. If the hiring manager recognizes a project you previously worked on and is impressed by your background, you’ll significantly increase your chances of landing the interview. In the example below, the candidate draws attention to an array of well-known gaming titles they worked on for a highly regarded studio, which will speak to their credibility as an animator within the game development space:
- Collaborate with a team of art designers, animators, and directors to create storyboards, concept art, and animation sequences for premiere gaming titles, including the Outer Worlds, Pillars of Eternity, and Grounded
- Develop dialogue, character, and cinematic animations using motion capture techniques to support innovative storytelling and narratives for RPGs
- Identify opportunities to enhance facial animations and create compelling character designs by providing additional focus on key movements during dialogue delivery
2. Showcase your technical achievements.
Hiring managers want to see that you have the technical expertise to succeed in the position and provide valuable contributions to their team. The best way to highlight your technical knowledge is by giving specific examples of putting these skill sets into practice on specific projects. In the resume featured below, the job seeker uses specific examples to demonstrate their expertise in both hand-keyed and motion capture techniques, which will make a much stronger impact on prospective employers than simply listing these skills in a vacuum without context:
- Create animation content and visual assets during production lifecycles to capture a wide range of human emotions for action RPG titles generating over $5M in sales, including Revenant Sun, Arcadia Lost, and Starfall
- Create gameplay animations using Maya and keyframing techniques within the in-game engine, perform bug fixes and quality assurance testing, and support redesigns
- Perform 3D modeling and rigging and identify opportunities to enhance workflows and ensure alignment with strict game development deadlines
3. Highlight your leadership capabilities.
Large projects within the entertainment space require an immense amount of team collaboration across various segments of the organization. Your ability to thrive in fast-paced, cross-functional environments will help demonstrate that you’re the right fit for the company’s team culture. In the example below, the candidate showcases their experience coordinating effectively with directors, artists, and animation teams to bring feature films to life, which will be sure to make a positive impression on the hiring manager:
- Oversee the design of characters for feature films such as Moana, Soul, Onward, and Toy Story 4, provide concept drawings, perform 3D modeling and testing on character designs, and ensure alignment with the director’s vision
- Create dynamic character animations for film sequences and coordinate with the director to align character personality and expressions with acting delivery
- Manage a team of 20+ animators, coordinate with artists, conduct reviews on shots and sequences, and identify continuity issues with the director
Key Skills Hiring Managers Look for on Animator Resumes
Most employers utilize some form of Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to screen candidates during the initial phase of the hiring process. To ensure that your resume is properly optimized for the ATS screening, you’ll need to integrate specific keywords that match the position you’re applying for. While it’s important to list as many key terms as possible on your document, be sure to include some specific examples of you using these skill sets in your daily workflows, as you need to make a positive impression on the hiring manager after passing the initial ATS scan.
Below, you’ll find a list of potential keywords that you may encounter during the job hunt:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| 2D Animation | 3D Animation |
| Adobe After Effects | Adobe Animator |
| Animation | Art Design |
| Computer Animation | Character Animation |
| Cinematography | Cross-Functional |
| Final Cut Pro X | Game Development |
| Gameplay Design | Handkey Animation |
| Human Character Animation | Keyframing |
| Maya | Motion Capture |
| Motion Graphics | Rigging |
| Storyboarding | |
Common Action Verbs for Animator Resumes
As you begin to craft your bullet points, you may find yourself running short on action verbs to convey your professional experience. Writing a resume is a complicated process. As a technical professional, you may find that there’s only a limited number of verbs you can use to describe your career achievements accurately. To help you keep your content fresh throughout the document, we’ve provided a list of action verbs you can use to build out your resume:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyzed | Collaborated |
| Conducted | Coordinated |
| Created | Delivered |
| Designed | Developed |
| Diagnosed | Enhanced |
| Evaluated | Executed |
| Identified | Implemented |
| Led | Managed |
| Oversaw | Performed |
| Planned | Provided |
| Supported | |
How to Align Your Animator Resume With the Job Description
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for animators was $78,790 in 2021, with a 16% increase in projected growth over the next ten years. This field is highly competitive. You’ll need to build a strong, accomplishment-driven resume to differentiate yourself from the other applicants during your job search. Hiring managers will be very interested in reading about projects that you’ve previously worked on within the gaming, television, and entertainment industries.
Aligning your document with the job description is one of the most important aspects of the resume-building process. The resume is, for all intents and purposes, a marketing document. If you don’t tailor your content toward specific job opportunities, you may struggle to gain traction during the job hunt. For example, if you’re pursuing an animator position for a game developer studio, it’s important to showcase your technical expertise in both motion capture and hand-key techniques. When pursuing a role as an animator for a film studio, you’ll likely want to focus on your experience in coordinating cross-functionally with artists, animators, and directors to create storyboards and define character designs. As you build your resume, you’ll want to continually cross-reference the document you’re creating with the opportunities you intend to apply for.