Animation Careers in North Carolina Overview
North Carolina has one of the most accommodating film commissions in the nation. Before January 2015, the North Carolina Film Office offered a 25 percent film incentive to productions. Today, the commission offers a grant program that rebates productions up to 25 percent of qualified expenses/purchases caped at $9 million for video television series per season, $5 million for feature films, and $250,000 for commercials. Thanks to programs such as this, North Carolina attracts productions of all kinds—including animated productions.
In addition to the film and video industries, North Carolina animators work in advertising and public relations, computer systems design, software publishing, education and more. The state is home to hundreds of creative agencies and PR firms, as well as 100+ computer systems and design firms. Animators interested in teaching will find opportunities at many of the state’s 139 colleges and universities, as well as 2,600 plus elementary and secondary schools.
Employment and Salary Trends for North Carolina Animators
North Carolina is home to 40,150 professionals working in Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media occupations. Nearly 800 are salaried animators and multimedia artists. They average $60,800 per year, up from $57,190 in 2013 when the state was home to 950 multimedia artists and animators. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that overall employment growth for animators and multimedia artists will average six percent for the 2012-2022 decade. This means that the industry will see 4,300 new jobs in the coming years.
It is important to keep in mind that many animators and multimedia artists are self-employed.The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the “Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers” group has the second highest concentration of employment in this occupation. Further, at an average annual salary of $75,150, this group is the fourth highest paying “industry” for animators and multimedia artists.
It is also important to note that individual salaries will vary by education, experience, industry, location and more. For example, the states with the highest employment levels for animators and multimedia artists are California, New York, Washington, Texas, and Georgia. Further, the Raleigh-Cary, NC Metropolitan Area has the ninth highest employment level for animators and multimedia artists, of the nation’s top 10 metro areas for this occupation, and the fourth highest concentration of jobs and location quotients. However, although the population is not as high, the Winston-Salem, NC Metropolitan area has the ninth highest average salary for this occupation (among the top 10 highest paying metro areas) at $75,700 per year.
The highest paying states for animators and multimedia artists are:
- California ($82,170)
- Washington ($75,740)
- Massachusetts ($73,470)
- New York ($70,660)
- Idaho ($69,450)
In North Carolina and across the U.S., the industries with the highest levels of employment are:
- Motion Picture and Video industries
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services
- Software Publishers,
- Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services
- Other Information Services
The top paying industries for animators and multimedia artists are:
- Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers ($81,760)
- Other Information Services ($80,310)
- Software Publishers ($76,090)
- Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers ($75,150)
- Motion Picture and Video Industries ($73,950)
Animation Career Opportunities in North Carolina
As mentioned, North Carolina is home to a variety companies that hire animators and multimedia artists. Some promising options include:
- 3pm Creative Group, Charlotte
- Animink, Huntersville
- BG Digital Group, Morehead City
- Coyne &Co., Kernersville
- Digital Hyper Studios, Rock Hill
- Dusty Buzzard Productions, Wilmington
- E.O. Studios, Shelby
- Emery Advertising, Raleigh
- Epic Games, Cary
- Episode XI Studios, Charlotte
- EUE/Screen Gems, Wilmington
- Funcom, Durham
- Howard, Merrell & Partners, Raleigh
- Insomniac Games, Durham
- JLF Animation Studios, Charlotte
- John Lemon Films, Charlotte
- Ks Productions, Charlotte, Asheville, Raleigh
- Lewis Advertising, Rocky Mount
- Limerick Studios, Charlotte
- Lyerly Agency, Charlotte
- MullenNC, Winston-Salem
- Out of Our Minds Animation Studios, Winston-Salem
- Red Storm Entertainment, A Ubisoft Studio, Cary
- ReelWorks Studios, Charlotte
- The Burris Agency, Greensboro
- The Goss Agency, Asheville
- TheeDesign Studio, Raleigh
- Trailblazer Studios, Raleigh
- Virtual Heroes, Inc., Raleigh
- Wildfire Ideas, Winston-Salem
- WilsonMcGuire Creative, Winston-Salem
Although employment opportunities are available in many cities throughout the state, North Carolina’s largest cities may have a bit more to offer. Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Durham, Fayetteville, and Cary are the state’s top seven largest cities. Although not as large as these cities, the North Carolina Film Office says that artsy Asheville is also a great place for productions.
North Carolina Animation Training Programs
Many North Carolina schools offer animation programs that have been accredited by the prestigious National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Others may be regionally accredited. The following schools offer some of the best programs for aspiring animators:
Western Carolina University, Cullowhee
North Carolina State University, Raleigh
University of North Carolina, Asheville
University of North Carolina, Greensboro
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Winston-Salem
University of North Carolina, Wilmington
Appalachian State University, Boone
East Carolina University, Greenville
University of North Carolina, Charlotte
North Carolina Central University, Durham
University of North Carolina, Pembroke
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University, Greensboro
Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem
Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville
Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City
In addition to offering everything from a BA in Art + Design: Animation + Interactive Media to an MA or MFA in Animation, a number of these North Carolina schools offer one-year animation programs that lead to an animation certificate, enrichment courses, or other non-degree animation programs.
More Animation related programs to consider:
- San Francisco & Online
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#14) - 2021
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#37) - 2021
- Top 50 Nationally for Illustration (#24) - 2021
- Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#38) - 2021
- Winter Park, FL & Online
- Computer Animation - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
- Game Programs - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
- Graphic Design & Digital Arts - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
- Film & Digital Cinematography - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
- Mobile Development - Bachelor's - Online
- Simulation & Visualization - Bachelor's - Campus
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#11) - 2021
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#10) - 2021
- Top 25 in the South for Graphic Design (#10) - 2021
- Online
Awesome Animation Fact: Judge Doom (Christopher Lloyd) was originally supposed to be revealed as the hunter who shot Bambi's mother in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1998) –E! Loves