Career Options in Animation & VFX: Film, Gaming, AR/VR & More

Have you ever wondered how movies like Kalki 2898 AD, Baahubali: The Beginning, and Pushpa make it to the big screen so successfully? The answer needs no inference, thanks to Animation and VFX Courses​!

Today, almost all movies, whether Bollywood, Hollywood, or Tollywood, have some element of Animation & VFX engraved within them. This is mainly due to the extravagant technological advancements this field offers that let viewers stick to their couch until the movie finishes.

According to a report, “The Animation And VFX Market is projected to grow from USD 415.30 Billion in 2025 to USD 691.69 Billion by 2034” (Market Research Future). In this blog, we’ll share the spotlight on the top career choices in Animation & VFX after pursuing Animation and VFX Courses​ you can choose to propel your career forward.

But before that, let’s understand why you must choose Animation & VFX as your career destination in 2025. Let’s dive in!

Why are Animation and VFX a Smart Career Move?

There are several reasons to choose Animation & VFX as your career choice. The most common reasons include the high level of creativity and innovation in every film. The other reasons are as follows:

1. Flexibility and Global Career Prospect: VFX and Animators are in demand worldwide, which allows candidates to work in diverse cultures and countries. Moreover, it provides flexibility to work remotely and as a freelancer, further contributing to better work-life balance and work culture.

2. Large-scale Demand: With the rise of the film and television industry, producers are actively seeking new Animation and VFX professionals to leverage its benefits for their profitability and success. It also carries huge demand in advertising, where Animators can create amazing and visually appealing commercial and promotional materials. These professionals also help make learning more dynamic for academies and edtech platforms like Coursera and Udemy by creating animated explainer videos and other educational materials.

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3. Lucrative Job Offers: Animation and VFX specialized professionals, after completing their VFX Animation Courses,​ have a decent salary package compared to other professionals. Additionally, you can advance your career quickly from a junior artist to a senior-level managerial position. This is due to the vast learning opportunities it provides, helping professionals with seamless career growth

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Top Career Choices in Animation & VFX

The Animation & VFX field is filled with opportunities to help students upgrade themself into full-fledged professionals. Here are a few of those listed:

Career Choice	Average Pay Scale (INR per month)	Key Skills Required	Ideal Courses
Animator	20,000 to 47,000	Motion capture software, Color Theory, Visual effects, 3D Rendering, drawing and composition, design and animation software, character rigging, animation fundamentals, Storyboarding	Diploma in 3D Animation and VFX   B.Sc. in Animation
VFX Artist	18,000 to 40,000	Project Management, Sculpture and Anatomy, Drawing Techniques, Communication Skills, Mechanics and Movement Skills, Composition Techniques, Visual Aesthetics Skills, Critical Thinking, Photography Skills, creativity skills	Diploma in 3D Animation and VFX   B.Sc. in Animation
Character Designer	14,000 to 35,000	Creativity skills, IT skills, Research and development (R&D) skills, Art, collaboration skills	B.Sc. in Animation
Storyboard Artist	20,000 to 40,000	Computer skills, artistic skills, communication, Cinematography, collaboration skills, creativity skills	B.Sc. in Animation
Game Designer	42,000 to 1,00,000	Communication skills, problem-solving skills, creativity skills	B.Sc in Game Design       M.Sc in Game Design
Motion Graphics Designer	33,000 to 67,000	Timing skills, adaptability, organizational skills, communication skills, 3D modeling skills, understanding of perspective skills	Diploma in 3D Animation and VFX   B.Sc. in Animation
Compositor	22,000 to 60,000	Rules of Composition, photography skills, Color Theory skills, photographic eye training skills, software tool mastery, Cinematography skills, excellent work ethics, detail orientation skills	Diploma in 3D Animation and VFX   B.Sc. in Animation
Art Director	50,000 to 92,000	Leadership skills, communication skills, time management skills, artistic proficiency skills, project management skills, computer proficiency skills, presentation skills	M.Sc in Animation   M.Sc in Game Design
Visual Development Artist	33,000 to 42,000	Critical thinking and conceptual skills, technical proficiency, adaptability skills, creative and artistic ability, business acumen and self-promotional skills	B.Sc. in Animation   Diploma in 3D Animation and VFX
CGI Specialist	42,000 to 98,000	Artistic skills, management skills, problem-solving skills, Web design skills, video editing skills, time, creativity skills, Software skills (Maya, SketchUp, Autodesk Revit Architecture, V-Ray, 3ds Max, Adobe Creative Suite), model optimization skills, interpersonal skills	Diploma in Unreal Engine   Diploma in 3D Animation and VFX

1. Animator

Animator is undoubtedly the most sought-after profession in the Animation & VFX industry. They bring imaginative characters, environments, and stories to life through impeccable 2D and 3D animation graphics in films, TV shows, and other digital content.

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Moreover, with time, these Animators will be in huge demand in the digital market. They not only make film & TV producers’ lives easier but also help provide visual depth and add a glance at a futuristic world.

2. Visual Effects (VFX) Artist

VFX Artists act as the backbone of any blockbuster film. They are responsible for adding high-quality visual effects to scenes that cannot be captured through traditional filming. Whether it’s an epic war scene or a supernatural power character, VFX Artist has the key role to make it believable on screen.

They use Nuke, Houdini, Adobe After Effects, and other advanced software to seamlessly blend live-action footage with Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI). Moreover, as audiences’ expectation for realism and grandeur grows, VFX Artists continue to be in high demand across films, gaming, OTT platforms, and Virtual Reality (VR).

3. Character Designer

Character Designers serve as the creative minds behind the look and feel of each character in a story. They create detailed drawings and digital models that serve as Animators’ blueprints. Their designs reflect personality, emotion, and unique character traits.

With storytelling being every visual medium’s core, the character designer’s role has become increasingly vital in animation studios, gaming companies, and advertising agencies. From quirky cartoon characters to realistic superheroes, their creative input gives the audience characters they can display connection with.

4. Storyboard Artist

Storyboard Artists works to transform scripts into an event’s visual sequence. They create rough sketches and drawings that outline the playing of each scene, complete with camera angles, character movements, and key actions. They also play a key role as guides to directors, animators, and VFX artists by pursuing top-level Animation and VFX Courses​.

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Storyboard Artist is a perfect role for anyone who is inclined towards storytelling and has a knack for creating beautiful sketches. They often work closely with directors and producers, making it a collaborative and exciting profession in the field of pre-production films, TV shows, and animated series.

5. Game Designer

With gaming becoming a billion-dollar industry, Game Designers have emerged as high-demanding professionals. They develop the storyline, gameplay mechanics, rules, characters, and game challenges. Their job requires a blend of robust creativity, technical skills, and a player engagement understanding.

Game Designers typically work with Animators, programmers, and sound engineers to help bring their vision to life. However, this field is not limited solely to PC or console games; it extends to mobile and AR/VR games.

6. Motion Graphics Designer

Motion Graphics Designers create animated graphic elements that are widely used in advertisements, music videos, news broadcasts, and websites. They work with Adobe After Effects, Cinema 4D, Illustrator, and other software to add motion to text, logos, and illustrations.

Their work helps in viewer engagement maximization and conveys information in an effective and visually effective way. Moreover, it’s a great career path for those who possess graphic design skills blended with a flair for animation.

7. Compositor

Compositors play a crucial post-production role through all scene elemental integration, ranging from background plates to VFX, live-action footage, and CGI, together. They ensure that everything blends and seamlessly maintains consistency in color, lighting, and tone.

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Their expertise makes the final visual output look polished and cinematic. Compositing is an essential function in animation studios, post-production houses, and VFX departments of film companies.

8. Art Director

Art Directors oversee the project’s visual aspects after possessing their VFX Animation Course certificates​. From deciding on the overall visual style to guiding the designers, Animators, and illustrators team, they ensure their creative vision aligns with the project’s goals seamlessly.

Whether it’s an animated movie, game, or advertising campaign, the Art Director makes sure every visual element resonates with the intended audience.

9. Visual Development Artist

Visual Development Artists, or VisDev artists, are responsible for mood crafting, colour schemes, and the overall look of a scene or character before the beginning of production. They paint environments, create lighting guides, and help define the visual language of a story.

They play a crucial role in shaping the initial artistic direction and closely collaborate with concept artists, Animators, and directors to turn ideas into visual realities.

10. CGI Specialist

CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) Specialists are tech-savvy artists who create 3D assets, films, games, and virtual experience effects. From designing outer worlds to building complex machinery, they leverage software Maya, Blender, and 3ds Max to create scintillating masterpieces.

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CGI specialists are highly valued for their technical precision and ability for handling complex simulations like fluid dynamics, hair and fur animation, and crowd simulation.

Final Thoughts

Choosing a career through Animation and VFX Courses has endless creative opportunities to explore. Whether you enjoy sketching characters, game mechanics development, or realistic effect composting, this field has a spot for every kind of talent.

The industry’s rapid growth, high earning potential, and flexibility make it a dream career for many aspiring Animators and VFX professionals. Moreover, with the steep surge of content consumption across platforms like YouTube, Netflix, and Instagram, the demand for skilled Animators and VFX professionals is only expected to increase.

Get ready to fuel up your passion with AAFT’s Animation and VFX Courses ​in Delhi. With expert training and ample practical exposure, we can turn your Animation fascinations into unforgettable success stories! Stay curious, stay animated! Let AAFT be the guiding light to your prosperous career journey!