Broadly speaking, animators in video games breathe life into all of the in-game objects made by 2D and 3D artists. These animators give video games things like motion, character, and authenticity using a range of different animation programs.
We spoke with a few outstanding animators who are now employed in the video game industry to learn more about what it takes to be a games animator and how to get started in this exciting field.
The main goal of an animator for video games “is to give characters and objects in a predefined world or universe real motion.” “Collaboration with other departments is required to learn more about the backstory or goals, or to gain a better understanding of how a character behaves and feels in the game.”
expressing, “I am in charge of designing and implementing the character animations in the game as a gameplay animator.” “To accomplish this, we consult with numerous different departments, like designers, developers, character and object artists, and more.”
This may be the job for you if you enjoy the fluid animations in the games you enjoy playing and believe you could contribute to making games come to life in a similar way.
Animator software for video games
Animators are knowledgeable about gaming engines and programming. Animation professionals create a library of the movements so they may repeat them for each character because game animation is frequently a complex synthesis of various sorts of movement.
They function inside a way that makes the most of the technologies of the code base and optimizes the opportunities for gaming and interaction.
- Game engine software (Unity, Unreal)
- 3DAnimation software (Adobe Suite, 3DS MAX, Houdini, Blender, Maya)
What are the skills of a game animator?
- Drawing: showing attitude, feelings, or atmosphere through a figure’s movement. You should also be spatially aware and have a sense of how a character moves over time.
- Understanding gameplay: be aware of how moves will appear when used in the game’s context.
- Understanding how to develop an animation that complies with a game engine’s technical limitations requires knowledge of game engines.
- Ability to respond to instructions and discuss things with other members of the team.
- Follow the production plan, maintain files, and adhere to deadlines.
Every animation studio has a hierarchy where artists are classified according to their skills and experience.
Junior
- Creativity
- Attention to detail
- Communication skills
- Open to feedback
- 2D/3D animation
- Animation software (Adobe Suite, 3DS MAX, Houdini, Blender, Maya)
Intermediate
- Game design
- Game engines (Unreal, Unity)
Senior
- Team management
- Project management
Video game animation is a highly creative industry that calls for a wide range of creative abilities.
Developing your technical skills in popular animation programs like Autodesk 3DS Max, Houdini, or Blender can equip you to make beautiful and lifelike animations.
However, in the video game industry, being able to work independently on animations is insufficient to offer you an advantage. Being able to work in a team and, more crucially, accept input and criticism from your team is vitally essential because game development is a highly collaborative process.
Encourage your team to provide feedback and to provide ideas for discussion. There is always something new to learn or teach, therefore communication between the staff and other departments is essential. The characters we design for video games at Talisman Animation Studio have spirit, which will improve your gaming experience.