Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Node Editor • Appeal • Lip Sync

Character Animation

Term from Animation industry explained for recruiters

Character Animation is the art of bringing drawn, digital, or 3D characters to life through movement. It's like making puppets move on screen, but using computers or traditional drawing methods. Animators make characters walk, talk, and express emotions in movies, TV shows, video games, and advertisements. This can be done using different methods like hand-drawing (2D animation), computer software (3D animation), or stop-motion. The goal is to create believable movements that make audiences connect with the characters emotionally. Think of movies like Frozen or Toy Story - the way those characters move and express themselves is the work of character animators.

Examples in Resumes

Created compelling Character Animation for main protagonist in animated short film

Led Character Animation team for mobile game project with over 50 unique character movements

Developed Character Animations for background characters in major animated TV series

Typical job title: "Character Animators"

Also try searching for:

Character Animator Animation Artist Motion Designer 3D Animator 2D Animator Animation Specialist Game Animator

Where to Find Character Animators

Online Communities

Job Boards

Events & Conferences

Professional Networks

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you approach managing a team of animators while maintaining consistent character performance across a project?

Expected Answer: A senior animator should discuss creating style guides, reviewing team members' work, setting up efficient feedback processes, and ensuring all animations maintain character personality consistency throughout the project.

Q: Tell me about a challenging character animation problem you solved and how you approached it.

Expected Answer: They should describe a specific example showing leadership, problem-solving skills, and ability to balance creative and technical requirements while meeting deadlines.

Mid Level Questions

Q: How do you ensure your character animations convey the right emotions and personality?

Expected Answer: Should explain their process of understanding character personality, using reference materials, and implementing animation principles to create believable character performances.

Q: What's your process for receiving and implementing feedback on your animations?

Expected Answer: Should discuss their approach to accepting critique, making revisions efficiently, and balancing different stakeholder inputs while maintaining quality.

Junior Level Questions

Q: Can you explain the 12 basic principles of animation?

Expected Answer: Should be able to name and give simple examples of fundamental animation principles like squash and stretch, anticipation, and timing.

Q: What's your process for planning out a new character animation?

Expected Answer: Should describe basic workflow including reference gathering, thumbnail sketches or blocking, and timing out actions.