Visual effects artist and animator
Also known as
Work environment
- Usually work irregular hours and may work evenings and weekends
- Usually work in offices, studios or workshops, and may travel locally and nationally
- Need to be creative, accurate and work well under pressure
Salary information
Typical tasks
- Create visual effects and animations
- Create advertisements
- Design digital characters and environments
- Prepare storyboards
- Develop design concepts
- Draw technical illustrations
- Use animation and visual effects software
- Adapt work to different devices and formats
Outlook
New Zealand has an established visual effects and animation sector that works on local and international screen projects. Global demand for high-quality digital content continues, while studios face competition from other production locations and changing investment levels. Real-time tools, virtual production and AI-assisted workflows are reshaping production, alongside ongoing demand for creative storytelling and visual innovation.
What employers and industry want in graduates
- Strong visual creativity and storytelling ability
- Skill in animation, visual effects or 3D production software
- Good understanding of movement, timing, lighting and composition
- Ability to take feedback and refine work carefully
- Organisation and attention to technical detail
- Collaboration with artists, directors and production teams
AUT programmes
The above is a suggestion only and a starting point. You may need to meet other criteria or take additional steps to work in this career.
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This data is sourced from the Tertiary Education Commission through the Tahatū Career Navigator website (www.tahtu.govt.nz) and used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Some of the information has been modified by AUT. TEC has not approved, endorsed or tested these modifications. TEC will not be held accountable for any errors within this data.