Your day-to-day tasks will depend on the type of animation you're doing but may include:

• visualising storyboard and script ideas
• using animation software or hand drawn techniques to create characters and scenes
• adding lighting, shading and special effects
• painting in backgrounds and character colours
• adding textures to digital models
• using motion capture methods to create lifelike expressions and movements
• using stop-motion techniques to film 3D models
• combining separate layers of animation into one to create the final product

You could work in an office, from home or in a creative studio.

With experience, you could progress from animator to lead animator and animation director.

You could also work for larger animation studios, games developers, interactive media designers or video post-production firms.

You might decide to go freelance or start your own studio.