There are more animators chasing jobs than ever before.
But here’s the catch…
Knowing how to “animate” just isn’t enough these days. Studios want artists who are versatile, adaptable, and able to bring a strong creative background to every project they’re hired to work on.
That’s why interdisciplinary art training has become the standard for any serious animation career.
Here’s everything you need to know:
- The Animation Industry Wants More Than Just Animation Skills
- The Components of an Interdisciplinary Art Background
- The Skills Animators Learn From Interdisciplinary Training
- Why Digital Media Arts Degrees Are the Best Choice for Animators
- What to Look For In the Right Animation Program
The Animation Industry Wants More Than Just Animation Skills
Here are some facts:
Demand for skilled animation talent has grown by 30% globally as mobile gaming, streaming content, and online advertising all exploded over the last decade. There are now over 220,000 people working in the US animation industry — which is expected to grow 5% each year.
However.
More graduates are entering the field every year, which means studios can afford to pick and choose who they hire. Suddenly employers aren’t just looking for animation skills — they want people who understand storytelling, visual design, code, 3D modeling, and anything else they don’t have on staff.
Without familiarity with these concepts, graduates are already behind the curve before even starting to look for a job.
The Components of an Interdisciplinary Art Background
Okay, but what does “interdisciplinary” mean exactly?
Put simply: it’s an art background that draws from multiple fields of study rather than focusing on one specialty. Students enrolled in a digital media arts degree at RMCAD learn fine arts fundamentals alongside modern digital skills that open doors to any industry once they graduate. Specific disciplines include:
- Fine arts fundamentals (drawing, composition, colour theory)
- Graphic design (layout, typography, visual communication)
- Illustration (visual storytelling, character development)
- Game design (interactive media)
- Photography and film (lighting, timing, cinematic storytelling)
Becoming an animator who knows how all of these fields operate gives a massive advantage.
The ways these disciplines overlap and enhance each other become visible. Animation graduates without that knowledge just aren’t able to make those connections. It improves the craft immediately, and makes graduates infinitely more versatile long-term.
The Skills Animators Learn From Interdisciplinary Training
The truth is: studios hire animators who can…
Tell Stories. Whether it’s for film, games, or ads — every great animation has a story at its core. Learning how visual narratives are constructed — where the tension lies, how characters change, how to pace shots for impact — isn’t something learned in 3D animation software. It’s learned by studying art.
Think critically about visual design. Animators who have studied colour theory, composition, typography, photo lighting, and visual storytelling consistently create stronger work. That skillset doesn’t come from training in animation software packages alone.
Adapt to new technology. Production tools come and go. Around 60% of production companies now incorporate generative AI into their pipelines. Animators who only know one animation package will fall behind in an industry that’s constantly changing.
Collaborate across departments. Every production has more people than just animators. On a film there are directors, producers, editors, grips, lighting techs, and so on. In game design, teams include engineers, sound designers, 3D modelers, and more. Knowing what these roles do, and how they communicate, is vital.
The best animators — and the ones who consistently get hired — are the people who can handle more than just animation on a production.
Why Digital Media Arts Degrees Are the Best Choice for Animators
Okay but why does the type of degree matter?
Learning how to use animation software can be done at any number of programs. But being taught how to think across an entire creative pipeline prepares graduates for jobs animation-specific programs don’t.
Students who learn how to solve creative problems from every angle end up with a workflow built on real depth:
Skills-only animation graduates: when they hit a problem, they know one tool that can help solve it.
Digital media arts graduates: when they hit a problem, they know every tool at their disposal to solve it. They also understand how to use fine arts fundamentals to solve creative problems without software at all.
With animation roles in the gaming industry growing at 35% just between 2018 and 2023, animators who can throw their hat into every talent pool have a distinct advantage.
They’re also the ones who stay employed when growth levels out.
What to Look For In The Right Animation Program
When hunting for a program there are four key things to look for:
Does their curriculum draw from multiple disciplines? Animation programs should include courses in design, illustration, fine arts foundations, graphic design, game design, media arts, and more. Programs that focus too much on animation fundamentals risk producing graduates who only know one aspect of the pipeline.
Is their classwork practical and portfolio based? How will graduates show employers they’re ready to work on day one? If a program only offers theoretical knowledge, students will be graduating at a disadvantage. Programs that prioritise real world output and portfolio building produce graduates who are immediately hireable.
Are faculty members active professionals? When was the last time an instructor worked on a professional film, game, or animation project? Programs that employ instructors still active in the industry pass on modern techniques and methods to their students. When software and technology changes, faculty with up-to-date experience can adjust course material to meet those changes.
Does their program dive into multiple industries? Animators can work in film, advertising, gaming, e-learning development, and more. Students that are exposed to these industries through their curriculum will understand what each production is expecting when hired on day one.
Don’t just look for a school that can teach animation.
Look for an animation program that will produce a versatile graduate capable of adapting to the growth of the industry itself.
The Takeaway
Expectations are high for junior animators, and studios have more applicants than ever to meet that demand.
Graduates who know illustration, game design, film photography, graphic design, and fine arts in addition to animation produce higher quality work, can adapt to new tools and industries faster, and understand how to communicate with more people on a production.
Here’s your recap:
- Interdisciplinary art training produces well-rounded artists
- Studios are looking for artists with experience in more than just animation
- Digital media arts degrees provide the best foundation for versatile artists
- Look for programs with diverse course offerings, practical knowledge, modern faculty, and industry exposure
Studios want to hire the best animator. But in a pool of qualified candidates…
They hire the most versatile.