Junior animator

KSBs

Knowledge

K1: How to use own surroundings and research of visual, written and empirical and physical references to inspire and inform animated creations Back to Duty

K2: Know and understand the traditional and digital methods for producing animated sequences such as hand drawn or computer generated animation Back to Duty

K3: Understand the brand guidelines or subject matter of the animation to be created Back to Duty

K4: Understand the history and development of the animation industry and animation genres including, but not limited to, children’s, family, adult, experimental, information content Back to Duty

K5: Know and understand the different animation styles, core techniques and technologies used such as 2D, 3D and Stop Motion Back to Duty

K6: Understand the dynamics of the animation sector and current and future trends in animation Back to Duty

K7: Know and understand own responsibility for identifying and reporting risks relating to Health and Safety Back to Duty

K8: How to work effectively, both individually or as part of a team Back to Duty

K9: Understand the context within the production of own role, the department they are working in, and the subsequent stages of the workflow process Back to Duty

K10: Understand the animation production pipeline and how own role interacts with this Back to Duty

K11: Know and understand the technical and production parameters and client requirements for the project, such as; the schedule, timelines, budget, animation medium, frame count, field size, aspect ratio and format Back to Duty

K12: Understand the particular operational and technical standards of others departments and the challenges they face Back to Duty

K13: How good, timely communication can contribute to productive working relationships with clients and customers Back to Duty

K14: Understand the brand, market position, departments, communication methods, financial processes, culture and ways of working for animation productions you work on Back to Duty

K15: How live action reference can influence your ability to animate characters Back to Duty

K16: Understand character development and your role in that development Back to Duty

K17: The principles of anatomy and how these affect movement Back to Duty

K18: Understand shot construction and composition Back to Duty

K19: Understand shot breakdown and continuity Back to Duty

K20: How to present ideas and information effectively using story/playboards or story telling Back to Duty

K21: How to use language which is clear, avoids jargon and is appropriate to the audience Back to Duty

K22: Understand the effect your voice tone, pace, volume and body language can have on your audience during presentations Back to Duty

K23: How to encourage questions in both oral and written presentations Back to Duty

K24: Understand the creative style, overall concept and level of animation required for the production Back to Duty

K25: Understand any performance guidelines for the characters they are working on, such as how they may react and behave in different situations Back to Duty

K26: Understand the logic of physical motion, weight, balance, texture and form Back to Duty

K27: Understand character movement and lip sync Back to Duty

K28: Know how to use the relevant graphics, animation and compositing software for an animation production Back to Duty

K29: How to maintain record systems of drawings and associated information Back to Duty

K30: Understand the possibilities and constraints offered by the software you are using for the animation production Back to Duty

K31: Understand the importance of maintaining data security and following your organisation’s guidelines and file structures for storage Back to Duty

K32: The legal and regulatory requirements which apply to animated assets such as copyright and intellectual property rights Back to Duty

K33: Understand the rendering requirements for the production Back to Duty

K34: Understand the intended appearance and required degree of realism of the finished image you are working on Back to Duty

K35: Know and understand the factors affecting render speed, such as size of texture map, ray and reflection depth, global illumination, ambient occlusion, anti-aliasing, blurry reflections or area shadows Back to Duty

K36: Know and understand rendering techniques, such as: ray tracing, texture mapping to define the colour, texture and reflectance of objects and environments, exposure depth of field to alter the sense of depth or focus on objects and environments, toon rendering and stereo rendering Back to Duty

K37: How to use z-buffering techniques to simulate a sense of perspective to describe the distance between objects and environments Back to Duty

K38: How creative blurring and transforms give the appearance of live-action Back to Duty

K39: Understand the surface properties and how shading models can be applied to represent variations in different materials Back to Duty

K40: How to save and duplicate render settings across multiple files Back to Duty

K41: Understand the principles of 2D animation Back to Duty

K42: How to use interpolated morphing to make animation more fluid Back to Duty

K43: How rotoscopy is used in 2D animation Back to Duty

K44: Understand the concepts of key animation and in-between animation Back to Duty

K45: Understand shot breakdown and continuity Back to Duty

K46: Recognise and understand the drawing skills that are needed for the animation or artwork being produced Back to Duty

K47: Understand the traditional and digital methods for producing animated sequences Back to Duty

K48: Understand how to use industry-standard 2D animation software Back to Duty

K49: Understand the use of 2D vector graphics and manipulation of images Back to Duty

K50: Understand why it is important to evaluate progress and seek feedback on your work in animation Back to Duty

K51: The principles of stop motion animation Back to Duty

K52: Understand the media and techniques used in stop motion animation Back to Duty

K53: The materials used and how they are resistant to movement e.g. joints, stability, plasticine preservation Back to Duty

K54: How to improvise rigging and when it is appropriate for you to do so Back to Duty

K55: Understand the capabilities and limitations of models Back to Duty

K56: Understand the importance of lighting, camera angles and frame rates for stop motion Back to Duty

K57: Understand shot construction, composition, breakdown and continuity of shots Back to Duty

K58: Understand the development of the animated character through its movement and timing Back to Duty

K59: Understand the need to work methodically in an organised and concentrated manner, paying attention to detail Back to Duty

K60: Understand the principles and techniques of digital animation, such as hi and low resolution modelling, meshing, colouring, matte making, digital sculpting of 3D animation Back to Duty

K61: Understand the physics of motion and resistance Back to Duty

K62: Know and understand the techniques, issues, costs and output of motion-capture, and when it is appropriate to use it Back to Duty

K63: How to use industry-standard 3D animation software Back to Duty

K64: How to achieve different looks in computer generated assets including shininess, reflectivity, texture, roughness Back to Duty

K65: Understand the physical properties and mechanics of particle systems, structures, cloths, fluids and crowds and how they react and respond to different stimuli Back to Duty

K66: How to create renditions of naturalistic physical or magical phenomena such as fire, water, clouds, smoke and physical destruction Back to Duty

K67: Understand the requirements and expectations of other team members who will use the animations you create Back to Duty

K68: Understand relevant standards and conventions relating to user-interface design Back to Duty

K69: Understand the principles of interaction design, especially regarding usability and accessibility Back to Duty

K70: When and why an animation might be cut-off prematurely, and how to minimise the risk of this adversely affecting the user’s experience of the product Back to Duty

K71: Understand the impact on own work of technical parameters such as the processing power, memory, bandwidth, screen size, resolution, colour depth, physical user interface etc. of the target platform(s) Back to Duty

K72: Which of the events or user interactions will trigger your animations Back to Duty

K73: Understand how each animation will be used in the product (for example, whether it will play once, loop several times or indefinitely, etc.) Back to Duty

K74: Understand the purpose and target users for the animated assets being created Back to Duty

Skills

S1: Determine what is required for their own work as a junior animator by analysing briefs, specifications, visual references, technical and production parameters Back to Duty

S2: Research ideas and information for the animation being created Back to Duty

S3: Read and interpret the relevant sources of information for the production, such as; the script, animatic, x-sheet or dope-sheet, character, colour and model reference and soundtrack Back to Duty

S4: Continue to update own animation skills, use new tools, software, data and other related technology Back to Duty

S5: Adapt and be able to meet the requirements of the animation style or genre specified for the production Back to Duty

S6: Use reliable information to keep-up-to date with the laws, regulations, codes of practice, standards and guidelines that govern animation and how they affect your work Back to Duty

S7: Maintain an awareness of the current priorities, constraints and opportunities of your work as junior animator at all times Back to Duty

S8: Comply with relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures such as Health and Safety Back to Duty

S9: Work methodically in an organised and concentrated manner, paying particular attention to detail Back to Duty

S10: Identify the information you need to carry out your work to expected standards on each animation production Back to Duty

S11: Work effectively both individually and as part of a wider animation team Back to Duty

S12: Operate within and adhere to agreed organisational policies, standards and procedures Back to Duty

S13: Maintain an awareness of the current priorities, constraints and opportunities of the client’s budget or production requirements at all times Back to Duty

S14: Move characters on set in whatever style is required to meet the creative, narrative and technical demands of the production Back to Duty

S15: Respond to feedback about the animated material you create in a positive way, making refinements as requested by clients or supervisors Back to Duty

S16: Deliver good customer service in a creative environment Back to Duty

S17: Develop an animated character/object/creature through its movement and timing Back to Duty

S18: Contribute ideas to aid the creative development of the character, shot and overall production Back to Duty

S19: Create animations using given camera angles, or make adjustments to camera animations according to the production demands and schedule Back to Duty

S20: Create the assets that meet the requirements of the animation department Back to Duty

S21: Plan story/playboards to communicate key ideas with the team or clients Back to Duty

S22: Create story/playboards that depict the script and narrative Back to Duty

S23: Present work in progress, or completed animations to colleagues or clients Back to Duty

S24: Respond carefully to questions, making sure you provide the information the audience is asking for Back to Duty

S25: Animate primary and secondary characters/objects/creatures and elements Back to Duty

S26: Interpret the personality and traits of the character/object/creature, conveying the emotions, behaviours and actions within a scene Back to Duty

S27: Ensure that animations are in sync with the soundtrack Back to Duty

S28: Create animation in line with production demands, and ensure the output is correct for the next stage of the process Back to Duty

S29: Select and use the industry standard software package required by the particular animation production Back to Duty

S30: Adapt to the various styles, techniques, procedures and software that may be required by the animation production Back to Duty

S31: Prepare and store files in line with production requirements, to enable the next stage of animation production to run efficiently Back to Duty

S32: Undertake test renders at appropriate times to determine the length of time required for rendering and check for errors Back to Duty

S33: Establish the render settings that gain the required appearance and create sufficient flexibility for compositing Back to Duty

S34: Apply render settings that enable the required degree of realism Back to Duty

S35: Prioritise renders in accordance with production priorities Back to Duty

S36: Calculate render times and storage space required to meet production requirements Back to Duty

S37: Create a series of key frames to structure the animation that are appropriate to the animation production Back to Duty

S38: Provide the key frames and check they meet the needs of the production with the director Back to Duty

S39: Work in line with shot breakdown ensuring continuity Back to Duty

S40: Create the movement and performance required by the production to in-between the animation, adding frames or cleaning up as required Back to Duty

S41: Test animated sequences to confirm the effects and continuity meet requirements Back to Duty

S42: Use the appropriate software for the techniques and procedures required Back to Duty

S43: Use rotoscoping to produce animated frames Back to Duty

S44: Create animation according to the production demands Back to Duty

S45: Review output with relevant people and offer suggestions to assist others with the production Back to Duty

S46: Respond positively to feedback about the animations you create, making refinements as needed Back to Duty

S47: Remain constantly flexible and adaptable to new directions, creative requirements and software developments Back to Duty

S48: Adjust lighting and camera equipment to meet production and aesthetic requirements of specific scenes throughout the production Back to Duty

S49: Plan and block through shots under direction, where appropriate recording real life videos to try out the performance as a reference Back to Duty

S50: Create pop through or rehearsal movie and agree with the director an appropriate series of key frames to structure the animation Back to Duty

S51: Time out each shot that is appropriate to the production and agree these with the director Back to Duty

S52: Prepare for and re-animate individual shots according to the director’s notes Back to Duty

S53: Move characters on set in whatever style is required to meet the creative, narrative and technical demands of the production Back to Duty

S54: Review models with relevant people and offer suggestions that assist others with the animation production Back to Duty

S55: Test the stop motion animation characters and sequences you have created against the production specifications Back to Duty

S56: Review animations created with the relevant people, offering suggestions to assist others with the production Back to Duty

S57: Respond positively to feedback about the stop motion animations you create, making refinements as needed Back to Duty

S58: Remain constantly flexible and adaptable to changes in the creative requirements of the production Back to Duty

S59: Prepare and store assets and files in line with production requirements to enable the next stage of production to run efficiently Back to Duty

S60: Block animation using stepped or spline techniques, structuring the animation appropriately for the production and in agreement with the director Back to Duty

S61: Create animation layers that work on top of existing motion capture data and polish captured performances to meet production requirements Back to Duty

S62: Create the movement and performance required by the production to in-between the animation, adjusting the curves and adding extras keys as appropriate Back to Duty

S63: Script rigs for animated characters in line with production requirements Back to Duty

S64: Ensure rigging techniques and references create credible animation with movements that are realistic for the type of object being modelled and the style of animation required Back to Duty

S65: Ensure that animations maintain continuity of character/performance with other shots in the sequence and/or other animators work Back to Duty

S66: Create animations using given camera angles or make adjustments to camera animations according to the production demands and schedule Back to Duty

S67: Test the 3D animations you have created against the production specifications Back to Duty

S68: Review animations created with the relevant people, offering suggestions to assist others with the production Back to Duty

S69: Respond positively to feedback about the 3D animations you create, making refinements as needed Back to Duty

S70: Design animations within specified parameters and constraints relating to the target platform and medium Back to Duty

S71: Create animations that are attractive, easy to use and fit for purpose Back to Duty

S72: Save your animations in appropriate formats so that they can be easily incorporated into the product Back to Duty

S73: Provide clear documentation for others to incorporate your animations into the product Back to Duty

S74: Organise animations using appropriate filing and naming conventions so that they can be located easily by others Back to Duty

S75: Liaise with colleagues, such as designers and developers, to ensure your animations are appropriate and meet requirements Back to Duty

S76: Test the animated assets you have created against the production specifications and to ensure they are easy to use and fit-for-purpose Back to Duty

S77: Review assets created with the relevant people, offering suggestions to assist others with the production Back to Duty

S78: Respond positively to feedback about the assets you create, making refinements as needed Back to Duty

Behaviours

B1: Self motivation – a self-starter, with a proactive approach to tasks and managing own development Back to Duty

B2: Adaptability- Adapts positively to changing work priorities and patterns, ensuring productions deadlines continue to be met Back to Duty

B3: Flexibility – A positive approach to working independently and collaboratively as part of a team Back to Duty

B4: Strong work ethic – motivated, proactive, committed punctual and reliable Back to Duty

B5: Maintains company and customer confidentiality, acting as an ambassador for their employer Back to Duty

B6: Displays a passion for animation and creative media creation Back to Duty

B7: Displays a positive attitude – constructive thinking and motivated to succeed Back to Duty