Hire the Top 3% of Freelance Animation Designers

Demand for Animation Designers Continues to Expand

Animation designers bring stories and concepts to life by creating engaging animations for interactive websites, applications, and marketing videos. In a landscape where visual content is crucial for engagement across platforms and industries like digital media, marketing, and entertainment, animators are essential for crafting varied and compelling visual experiences that captivate audiences. Their work goes beyond capturing viewer attention, though; it acts as a powerful tool for communicating messages with clarity and creativity.

The need for talented animators has surged, leading to a competitive job market. A recent report by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics states that employment of animation designers and special effects artists is expected to grow by 8 percent from 2022 to 2032, and that approximately 9,400 job openings for these profiles are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

Animators may specialize in one or more areas. Full-time and freelance animators can benefit all types of companies, from startups and small businesses to midsize and large animation studios. To find the appropriate animation designer for your project, you first need to determine the type of animation your project requires, such as 2D, 3D, motion graphics, character, UI/UX, or stop-motion animation.

This hiring guide discusses what an animation designer does and how to select a skilled candidate who fits your animation project’s goals. It also covers how to write an animation designer job description and includes examples of important interview questions to ask.

What Attributes Distinguish Quality Animation Designers From Others?

To find an animation candidate who can infuse your digital media project with compelling motion, look for someone with the following skills:

Understanding of Animation Principles

The 12 principles of animation, initially formulated in the 1930s, were popularized by Disney animators Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas in their seminal work, The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation, published in 1981. These principles are guidelines for creating visually compelling and technically sound animations—fundamental for effective communication and audience engagement.

Among these principles are squash and stretch, which give objects or even characters a sense of weight and flexibility, and exaggeration, which is a way to heighten drama or emotion by extending regular movements/gestures well beyond what they would typically do in real life (such as the jaw drop, often used in cartoon animation).

Animation experts will show a deep understanding of animation principles in their portfolio. Look for animations featuring smooth, lifelike movements characterized by meticulously timed and well-spaced sequences. Evaluate the designer’s ability to animate characters with expressive poses and detailed facial expressions; these skills help strengthen the narrative impact. Observe whether they create realistic motions using anticipatory actions and follow-through and how well they utilize staging to focus viewers’ attention.

Quality candidates will also know how to align subtleties in gesture and movement with the narrative, which is crucial in forming an emotional bond with the audience and advancing character arcs. By having their gestures and movements synchronized with the storyline, characters can convey nuanced emotions, motivations, and internal conflicts more authentically, leading to a more immersive and engaging viewer experience.

Knowledge of Storytelling

When hiring animation designers, it’s critical to evaluate their ability to animate visual and narrative story elements—like character models and story sequences—typically crafted by concept artists, writers, and storyboard artists. You should also assess how well they understand character movement, scene transitions, and visual storytelling, as these qualities are key for translating static elements into engaging narratives.

Professional animators will have a strong portfolio that showcases their comprehension of storytelling through animations that are not only fluid but carry the story forward, enhance character development, and highlight thematic elements. During the hiring process, look for evidence of their ability to create purposeful sequences that effectively move the plot and hold the viewer’s attention. Note how their creative choices in framing, pacing, and character expression enhance the story. These qualities indicate an expert animation designer whose work not only entertains but also resonates deeply with the audience, contributing to the success of your projects.

Expertise in Composition

Composition in animation design refers to the arrangement of visual elements (e.g., typography and user interface components such as buttons and icons) within a frame or sequence. Competently applying composition principles—including contrast, scale, and hierarchy—can direct the viewer’s attention, create visual balance, and evoke the intended emotional responses.

In seeking an expert animation designer, hiring managers should examine the candidate’s ability to create balanced and visually appealing frames, strategically guiding the viewer’s attention throughout each scene. Look for animation samples that carefully consider how characters, backgrounds, and actions are placed within the scene to guide the viewer’s eye and emphasize key narrative points. A proficient animator will employ compositional techniques such as the rule of thirds, leading lines, and thoughtful framing to enhance focus and add depth. Assessing a candidate’s application of these methods will help identify those with the ability to deliver animations that are not just visually appealing but also communicate a message effectively.

Command of Color Theory

When looking to hire animators, it’s essential to consider their ability to use colors efficiently, as color can affect the viewer’s emotional response and the cohesion of the animation. Look for candidates who have a refined understanding of color theory, often the result of an academic or professional background in art, which is beneficial for complex animation tasks.

During the hiring process, evaluate how candidates apply color palettes to convey specific moods, define character identities, and distinguish thematic elements. Ideal candidates will demonstrate a strategic application of color schemes that evoke the desired emotional responses and maintain visual consistency. Effective color application indicates a candidate’s ability to create visually striking animations that captivate viewers.

Technical Proficiency

A wide range of tools and software can accommodate different project requirements, styles of animation, and the animator’s personal workflow preferences. However, all quality animation designers should be proficient in standard animation software, such as Adobe Animate, Adobe After Effects, Toon Boom Harmony, and Unreal Engine.

Beyond this, programs like Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and CorelDRAW are used to create visual effects and illustrations for animation. 3D animation software programs like Autodesk Maya, Cinema 4D, and Blender are commonly used to create and render 3D models, environments, and characters. For character animation, tools like Adobe Character Animator and Duik Ángela are used for rigging and creating skeletal structures. Adobe After Effects is also popular for video editing and animated video tasks, such as compositing and adding special effects.

The best animators will exhibit proficiency in animation software tools and techniques, which is visible in their work, from detailed character rigging to naturally flowing motion. Examine their animations for seamless transitions, the absence of errors, and command over the technical aspects of animation. Additionally, evaluate their awareness of current industry standards, ensuring they can deliver creative, cutting-edge work that performs reliably across different platforms and devices.

Does Knowledge in a Specific Software Matter, or Are These Skills Transferable?

While expertise in specific software is beneficial for producing high-quality animations, many tools have overlapping or similar features, simplifying switching between programs. For example, an animator proficient in Adobe Animate could easily transition to Adobe After Effects since both are part of Adobe Creative Suite and have similar capabilities and techniques.

However, an animator skilled in a 2D tool like Adobe Photoshop, known for its raster graphics editing and frame-by-frame animation capabilities, may find it challenging to transition to 3D software like Autodesk Maya, which offers different features, such as polygonal modeling, rigging, and 3D rendering, that are not present in 2D programs.

How Can You Identify the Ideal Animation Designer for You?

When hiring an animation designer, you must first decide whether your project requires a junior or more seasoned designer. Deciding which candidate is a better match depends on several factors, including project requirements, time constraints, budget, and team dynamics. To make the most of this extensive screening process, evaluate the following points carefully to determine the type of designer who best suits your organization’s needs.

Junior animation designers can bring new perspectives and fresh ideas to your project. Designers looking to expand their skill set or experience level are enthusiastic about exploring new techniques and design trends that lead to innovative solutions. Junior animators are often more flexible about changes and eager to learn. If you have a tight budget, hiring an animator early in their career could be a good option since they are usually more affordable. However, junior candidates have limited experience and may need support for complex tasks.

Senior animation designers have years of experience successfully creating animations for different companies and can work on complex projects, assuming leadership roles. They prioritize quality and meticulous attention to detail in their work. Senior animators excel at effectively conveying messages through animations and finding creative solutions that align with the company’s goals. If your project has a tight deadline, hiring a senior animation designer is better, as their extensive experience makes them adept at meeting stringent time frames without compromising on quality. Nevertheless, they tend to charge higher rates due to their expertise and specialized design skills.

It’s also important to assess whether you need one animator or a team of animators to create the visual assets and specialize in the animation process. While some freelance animation designers are skilled at both creating and animating assets, providing a unified vision that’s particularly valuable for smaller or more style-focused projects, others excel exclusively in animation. These specialists focus on rigging, scene motion, and perfecting the animation of preexisting assets, dedicating their expertise to ensuring that every movement is lifelike and expressive. Whether a project utilizes multitalented designers or those with focused specialties often depends on the project’s scope, the size and structure of the team, and the precise needs of the animation.

Choosing the right animation designer goes beyond their suitability for a specific project and includes evaluating their fit on your team. Hiring an animation designer who shares your company’s core values and has a strong skill set beyond animation services will help foster a collaborative and productive work environment. A careful selection process, focusing on both technical ability and interpersonal qualities, is key to the long-term success of your project.

What Should an Animation Designer’s Portfolio Look Like?

When reviewing an animation designer’s portfolio, pay attention to the quality of the animations. Are they cohesive and visually appealing, with smooth movements and correct timing? You should also evaluate attention to detail in animations. Are there subtle movements of elements in the background? These small details will enhance the animation and demonstrate quality and professionalism.

Another critical element to look for in a portfolio is storytelling and the ability to convey messages well. Look at the storyline of the animation and how it follows from beginning to end. Is it predictable, or is it unique and interesting? Does the animation have engaging characters or evoke certain emotions? A skilled animator will include creative ways to convey messages that captivate viewers.

While some animation designers maintain a consistent style throughout their portfolio, others may show greater versatility. Animators showcasing a variety of styles demonstrate their ability to adapt to unique project requirements and client needs.

Common animation portfolio styles include video reels and project case studies that showcase the final interactive content, as well as storyboards, sketches, and development stages. Work presented through diverse mediums emphasizes both the achieved outcomes and the designer’s work process.

How to Write an Animation Designer Job Description for Your Project

Given animation’s wide-ranging applications, an animation designer’s job description must communicate the role’s requirements and the type of candidate you seek. To increase your chances of finding a suitable candidate, consider what type of animator you require:

2D Animator

2D animators create frame-by-frame animations or use vector-based techniques to produce sequences in two dimensions. This type of animation is commonly used in traditional animation, where all the images in frames are primarily flat and, therefore, hand-drawn on paper. Modern 2D animation is done using specific software like Adobe Animate or Toon Boom Harmony. This type of animation is commonly used in cartoons, educational videos, commercials, digital platforms, and social media.

2D animation is particularly useful for businesses focused on digital marketing, educational content, and online media. It offers a relatively quick and cost-effective way to produce compelling, engaging animations that can easily be integrated into web platforms and social media.

3D Animator

3D animators create detailed digital models and bring visions to life with motion. This style involves sculpting, rigging, and animating characters and environments within three-dimensional software like Autodesk Maya or 3ds Max or Cinema 4D. These animations can range from hyperrealistic to stylistically unique, depending on the project’s requirements. 3D animation is commonly used in animated films, TV shows, and video games. It is also widely used in advertising to showcase products or in real estate to create realistic virtual tours.

3D animation is used in industries that rely on visual accuracy and depth, such as video games, film and TV production, and product and graphic design. It’s also increasingly used in virtual reality applications and simulations, offering immersive experiences for training, education, and entertainment.

Motion Graphics Animator

Motion graphics animators specialize in creating dynamic graphic elements that combine text, images, and effects to communicate messages engagingly. They often work in advertising, broadcasting, and live events, creating visuals to quickly catch the viewer’s attention.

Motion graphics are highly effective in broadcast media, digital advertising, social media, and corporate presentations. They are also used for title sequences, educational videos, and logo animations. These graphics help companies enhance brand visibility and explain complex information in a digestible format, which is valuable for marketing and instructional content.

Character Animator

Character animators focus on bringing characters to life by creating convincing emotional expressions and interactions with the environment. Character designers consider aspects such as silhouette, color palettes, costume design, facial features, body proportions, and expressive qualities to present compelling characters who effectively convey emotions, reinforce narrative themes, and resonate with viewers through their visual representation. Character animators work closely with voice actors and directors to ensure that movements and expressions are synchronized with audio and narrative elements.

Character animation is critical in storytelling, making it a key component in the entertainment industry, including movies, TV shows, and video games. It is also valuable in advertising, where brands use characters to build emotional connections with the audience.

UI/UX Animator

UI/UX animators improve the interactivity and aesthetic appeal of digital interfaces. They design animations that guide users fluidly through a software application, infographic, or web design, enhancing user engagement and satisfaction. This often involves creating micro-interactions, transitions, and feedback loops that make the user’s journey intuitive and enjoyable.

As digital interfaces become the main point of customer interaction, UI/UX animation plays a pivotal role in making products user-friendly and engaging. This is especially important for technology companies, e-commerce businesses, and any organization that uses digital platforms to interact with users.

Stop-motion Animator

Stop-motion animators create physical models and settings and photograph them one frame at a time to create the illusion of movement. This requires a meticulous process of manually adjusting the models between shots.

While it is more labor-intensive, stop-motion animation offers a distinctive, tactile quality that can be highly appealing in commercials, music videos, and independent film and video production. It is particularly attractive to brands that value artistic craftsmanship and wish to differentiate themselves through unique visual stories.

What Are the Most Important Animation Designer Interview Questions?

When searching for the right animation designer, consider asking candidates the following questions during the interview process to make a well-informed decision:

What type of animation do you specialize in? What software do you use?

At the start of the hiring process, you need to determine the specific animation style needed for your project, whether it’s motion design, character animation, 3D animation, or another style. Your ideal candidate should have skills that align seamlessly with your project’s goals. Before scheduling interviews, you might also request specific samples of the animation style the candidate is most experienced with and confirm their expertise in the relevant animation software.

Describe your animation design process. How do you accurately depict a story through animation?

Ask about their process of creating animations from start to finish. Talking through the candidate’s design process reveals their problem-solving approach and ability to translate a narrative into a visual format. It also showcases their technical expertise, creativity, organization, and attention to detail. Furthermore, a candidate’s workflow reveals a great deal about their ability to collaborate and communicate efficiently—skills integral to the iterative design process, in which ongoing feedback and revisions are crucial for refinement. The ideal candidate will also have experience in project management to ensure efficient workflows, meet project deadlines, coordinate resources effectively, and maintain project goals and quality standards throughout the animation creation process.

Let’s look at those examples of your previous animation work. What was your role?

Reviewing an animation designer’s portfolio offers valuable insights into their style and the quality of their work. In reviewing their work alongside them, ask about their role in each project and whether they created the animation from scratch or collaborated with other animators, illustrators, or graphic designers. Discussing the projects they are most passionate about can shed light on the aspects of animation they excel in, which is crucial for aligning their strengths with the specific needs of your project. Additionally, for freelance roles, inquire about their prior freelance experience to gauge their ability to manage deliverables and communication in a freelance capacity.

Why Do Companies Hire Animation Designers?

When companies hire animation designers, they invest in creative talent and technical expertise to bring static visuals to life, enhance storytelling, and engage audiences. An animator’s skills are essential for showcasing products in commercials, simplifying complex topics in explainer videos, and enriching content across diverse platforms.

Custom animation also helps companies stand out in a crowded market. Animation designers create unique, recognizable content that can become a key part of a brand’s identity, whether it’s through logos, advertisements, or social media content. A unique and distinctive animation style can help companies captivate an audience and leave a lasting impression.