Ensure your CV format is structured to best highlight your unique experience and life situation.
Animation CV Template (Text Format)
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Dynamic and creative Animator with 6 years of experience in the video game industry, specialising in motion graphics, character animation, and storytelling. Skilled in utilising industry-standard tools such as Spine and After Effects, I bring ideas to life with a strong understanding of animation principles and game pipelines. Eager to contribute my expertise to the upcoming projects at Action Media.
KEY SKILLS
- Motion graphics
- Character animation
- Storytelling
- Skeletal animation (Spine)
- Adobe Photoshop
- Game pipeline integration
- 3D animation and rigging
- Animation principles
WORK EXPERIENCE
Animator, Push Gaming, Belfast
January 20XX – Present
- Develop high-quality motion graphics and character animations for mobile and online gaming platforms, enhancing user engagement and player experience
- Apply advanced animation principles, including timing, key poses, and anticipation, to create fluid and lifelike character movements
- Collaborate with game designers and developers to compile animations into a game pipeline, ensuring seamless integration and performance optimisation
- Utilise Spine for skeletal animation, creating versatile character animations adaptable to various game scenarios
- Produce and refine storyboards and mockups to guide the animation process, ensuring alignment with the overall game narrative
After Effects Animator, Animatic Media, Leeds
July 20XX – December 20XX
- Created dynamic motion graphics and 2D animations for a variety of media, including commercials, explainer videos, and digital content
- Employed Adobe After Effects and other animation programs to produce visually compelling animations aligned with client objectives
- Worked closely with creative directors to develop storyboards and animation concepts, ensuring a clear and coherent storytelling approach
- Integrated animations into post-production workflows, collaborating with editors and sound designers to deliver polished final products
- Utilised Photoshop and other Adobe packages to create and manipulate visual assets, enhancing the overall quality of animations
Junior Animator, Toonmatic Studios, Cambridge
June 20XX – June 20XX
- Assisted in the creation of character animations and motion graphics for children’s television programmes and online content
- Gained hands-on experience with animation principles such as squash and stretch, contributing to more dynamic and engaging animations
- Learnt and applied foundational skills in animation programs, including Animate and Toon Boom, to support senior animators in various projects
- Developed basic storyboards and mockups, receiving mentorship in storytelling and animation design
- Participated in team meetings and feedback sessions, learning the importance of collaboration and continuous improvement in animation production
EDUCATION
BA (Hons) Film Production
London South Bank University
20XX – 20XX
HOBBIES & INTERESTS
- Film blogger with a focus on cinema and animation, sharing insights and reviews on various film genres
- Digital art and illustration: Explore new techniques and styles to enhance creative expression
- Coding: Self-teaching programming languages to integrate coding skills and animation to embark on more interactive and dynamic projects
How to write an animation CV
Before you begin writing, make sure you know how to write a CV in a way that best emphasises your strengths.
Bringing characters, environments, and stories to life on screen takes more than just creative vision. You’ll need to show employers that you have the right technical skills and studio experience — in a format they can easily scan and remember.
Here’s how to write an animation CV that’ll make a strong first impression.
1. Write a concise, skills-focused personal statement
Experience matters, so begin your personal statement by giving your years of experience and the field of animation that you specialise in (e.g., character animation or motion graphics).
Then, hook the hiring manager by highlighting one or two achievements that make you stand out as a great fit for the job. For example, you could mention a successful project that increased user engagement or an industry award that you received.
Including specific tools or software, such as After Effects, Blender, or Spine, helps to contextualise your skills. However, it’s important for this section of your CV to be concise and to the point, so only mention tools that are highly relevant to the specific job you’re applying for.
End by explaining why you want to join the media studio in question or the specific benefits that you plan to bring to the team.
Example personal statement for an animation CV
Creative and results-driven Animator with 6 years of experience in the video game industry, specialising in motion graphics, character animation, and storytelling. Expert in Spine animation, where I developed a unique skeletal rigging system that reduced production time by 30% on a flagship gaming project. Certified Adobe After Effects Expert, committed to continuous learning and innovation. Eager to leverage my skills to contribute to Action Media’s cutting-edge projects.
2. Emphasise technical knowledge in your skills section
Because of the technical nature of animation work, use your key skills section to highlight the hard skills that you’re proficient in. Animation techniques, visual development skills, and post-production tools are some good examples.
You can also include certifications here to demonstrate your expertise in industry-standard technology. For easy reading, mention certifications alongside the skill they apply to:
After Effects (Adobe Certified Professional)
Best skills to put on an animation CV
- Spine animation
- Character animation
- 2D animation
- 3D animation
- Motion graphics
- Adobe After Effects
- Blender
- Maya
- Cinema 4D
- Adobe Animate
- Storyboarding
- Animatics
- Skeletal animation
- Rigging and skinning
- Texturing and shading
- Lighting and rendering
- Game pipeline integration
- Real-time rendering
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Final Cut Pro
- Visual effects (VFX)
- Nuke
- Fusion
- 3D modelling
- Scripting (Python, MEL)
- Unity 3D
- Unreal Engine
- Video editing
- Concept art
- Particle effects
3. Detail your relevant work experience
Your work experience section should demonstrate the right combination of technical skills, creativity, and teamwork.
Use the first bullet point of each job entry to give context to the experience. For example, you could specify the size of the studio (expressed in annual revenue or employee size), the major clients you worked with, or the kinds of projects you worked on.
In the following bullet points, highlight specific projects and achievements that demonstrate the breadth of your experience. If you used any animation techniques or software that were mentioned in the job description, be sure to mention them too.
How to put work experience on an animation CV
Animator, PixelWave Studios, London
June 20XX – Present
- PixelWave Studios is a leading animation studio with 75+ employees, specialising in high-end animated content for global clients such as BBC, Netflix, and Ubisoft
- Developed over 40+ character animations for a critically acclaimed animated series, contributing to its success with 2 million+ viewers per episode
- Used Spine and Blender to create complex skeletal animations, which reduced production time by 25% and streamlined the integration into the game pipeline
4. Set out your education section
List your university degree or other formal qualifications after your work experience, unless you recently graduated from a highly relevant course (e.g., an undergraduate degree in art studies and animation).
How to lay out your education section
MA Advertising, Branding and Communication
University of West London, 20XXBSc (Hons) Games, Design and Animation
University of West London, 20XX – 20XX
