Computer animators use a combination of 2D and 3D animation techniques, digital production techniques, and character design and animation to create visual images and special effects. Computer animators are also skilled in drawing, storyboarding, concept drawing, and Photoshop. Computer animators create visual images and special effects for video games, movies, music videos and commercials.

In order to become a computer animator, you will need a bachelor’s degree in computer science with an animation focus, art with a computer animation focus, digital art with a computer animation focus, or computer animation. No matter which degree you choose, it must be from an accredited college or university, design school, art & design school, film school, or technical school. Fortunately, there are more than 300 accredited art and design programs to choose from and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) has accredited most of them.

If you are interested in exploring different learning formats, computer animation degree programs are readily available on-campus, entirely online or through blended formats. Blended formats allow students to complete half of the degree program on-campus and the other half online. If you decide to pursue your computer animation degree online, you will find literally hundreds of programs if you do a simple Google or Bing search. Unfortunately, you will come across a large number of schools that you might not be familiar with. Fortunately, with a little research, you can protect yourself from plunking down thousands of dollars for an inferior animation degree program.

» Read more: Computer Animation Degrees – How to Choose the Best Animation Program