How to become an Animator or Visual Effects Artist
Designs and creates visual effects or animated content to conceptualise or enhance characters, scenes, backgrounds and other elements for film, television video games or other media.
Main tasks
- Collaborates with directors, producers or other team members to understand the visual effects or animation requirements for a production
- Designs and creates visual effects, 2D or 3D animated elements, storyboards, frames, sequences and environments using digital art software
- Integrates visual effects and animated sequences with live-action footage or digital environments
- Troubleshoots and problem solves technical or creative issues that arise during the process of creating or integrating visual effects or animation
- May develop a sequence of key frames and character movements, providing a comprehensive visual script
Ways in
- University: Creative Arts & Design degrees, Offered by 38 universities in Australia
- TAFE and VET: Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media (CUA60620); Certificate III in Screen and Media (CUA31020); Certificate III in Visual Arts (CUA31120); Certificate II in Visual Arts (CUA20720); Certificate IV in Screen and Media (CUA41220); Diploma of Screen and Media (CUA51020); Diploma of Visual Arts (CUA51120); Certificate I in Visual Arts (CUA10320)
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Typical full-time pay: $96,200 a year
- About 55,700 people work in this job group now, and about 66,200 are projected by 2035. (+19%)
- AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.
Related jobs
Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz
Questions people ask
How do I become an Animator or Visual Effects Artist?
Ways in include: Creative Arts & Design degrees; Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media; Certificate III in Screen and Media.
How much does an Animator or Visual Effects Artist earn in Australia?
Median full-time pay is $96,200 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Is an Animator or Visual Effects Artist a growing career in Australia?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 19% by 2035, from about 55,700 to about 66,200 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Do you need a degree to become an Animator or Visual Effects Artist?
Not always. 57% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Creative Arts & Design degrees; Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media; Certificate III in Screen and Media.
Will AI change the work of an Animator or Visual Effects Artist?
AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.
Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04
Updated 2026-10-04