Special effects artists and animators create graphics and animation using hand drawings and computer software and equipment.

In general, special effects artists and animators work for:

• Advertising companies
• Movie and video industry
• Computer design firms

They create the animated effects in films, TV shows, video games, and commercials. They may also develop images and designs for product labels, brochures, and presentations. They also help design websites.

Special effects artists and animators use their judgment and creativity to design complex graphics and animation. They create images that are three-dimensional (3D) by working with light, color, and shadow. Special effects artists and animators also make images appear to have texture to make the image look as real as possible. In addition, they put several images together to make it appear that the object or character is moving.

Special effects artists and animators create storyboards by hand to develop the storyline and outline the characters. Storyboards are drawings that show the sequence of the story to be developed on film. They may also integrate photos and digital art into the final design. In addition to working by hand, special effects artists and animators use computer software and equipment.

Animators may use models to simulate how an animated object will look and act in the final product. They may also create images on pen-and-paper, scan them into a computer to add sound and color.