Profession animation layout artist

Animation layout artists work with the cameramen and director to coordinate and create optimal 3D animation shots. They translate 2D storyboards into 3D animated shots and are responsible for camera angles, frames and lighting of animation scenes. Animation layout artists decide which action takes place in which animation scene.

Personality Type

• Artistic / Enterprising

Knowledge

• Motion graphics

  The techniques and software for creating the illusion of motion such as keyframing, Adobe After Effects, and Nuke.

• 3D lighting

  The arrangement or digital effect which simulates lighting in a 3D environment.

• ICT software specifications

  The characteristics, use and operations of various software products such as computer programmes and application software.

• Graphic design

  The techniques to create a visual representation of ideas and messages.

• Multimedia systems

  The methods, procedures and techniques pertaining to the operation of multimedia systems, usually a combination of software and hardware, presenting various types of media such as video and audio.

Skills

• Set up animation elements

  Test and set up characters, props or environments to ensure they appear correctly from all required camera positions and angles.

• Study relationships between characters

  Study characters in scripts and their relationships to each other.

• Follow work schedule

  Manage the sequence of activities in order to deliver completed work on agreed deadlines by following a work schedule.

• Edit digital moving images

  Use specialised software to edit video images for use in an artistic production.

• Study media sources

  Study various media sources such as broadcasts, print media, and online media in order to gather inspiration for the development of creative concepts.

• Finish project within budget

  Make sure to stay within budget. Adapt work and materials to budget.

• Follow a brief

  Interpret and meet requirements and expectations, as discussed and agreed upon with the customers.

• Ensure visual quality of the set

  Inspect and amend the scenery and set-dressing to make sure the visual quality is optimal with in constraints of time, budget and manpower.

• Adapt to type of media

  Adapt to different types of media such as television, movies, commercials, and others. Adapt work to type of media, scale of production, budget, genres within type of media, and others.

• Analyse a script

  Break down a script by analysing the dramaturgy, form, themes and structure of a script. Conduct relevant research if necessary.

• Operate 3D computer graphics software

  Use graphical ICT tools, such as Autodesk Maya, Blender which enable digital editing, modelling, rendering and composition of graphics. These tools are based in mathematical representation of three-dimensional objects.

• Consult with production director

  Consult with the director, producer and clients throughout the production and post-production process.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB