Your Ticket to an Animation Career as a Producer

By Debbie Wilson
debbiewilson@careerschoolguide.com
Career School Guide Columnist

Breaking into the animation industry isn’t always easy—and becoming a producer for such films can be downright difficult. But that doesn’t mean you should give up on your dreams or bypass a rewarding and challenging animation career. To find out more about how you too can get your foot in the animation door, read on.

Work Your Way Up, Then Hire Yourself

Some of today’s most brilliant and creative producers got their big break working independently. They were able to let their true talent shine, and their animation careers took off. David Heyman, whose producer credits include Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, launched his career in this way.

Of course, Heyman didn’t jump into the producer role right away. First, he invested in formal training and learned the ropes from the ground up. Educated in both England and the United States, David Heyman began his career as a production runner. Eventually, he worked his way up to a Creative Executive role on films such as Gorillas in the Mist and Goodfellas.

With a solid network of Hollywood contacts, Heyman was finally able to embark on an animation career as an independent producer. Since then he has produced many films including the Harry Potter series, which he both developed and produced.

How Can I Become a Producer?

Like Heyman, one of the best things you can do to start your animation career is to obtain a quality education and formal training. Once you’ve got some experience, work on landing a job with a decent size production studio. Not only will this give you a broad range of experiences, but it will also help refine and polish your skills, since you’ll most likely be working with many other highly qualified producers.

Then, once you feel confident and brave, take the leap of creative faith and further develop your animation career as an independent producer. With unique ideas, raw talent, and formal training, a successful and lasting animation career is within reach.

About the Author

Debbie Wilson owns and operates a lakeside resort, managing all aspects of operations, including marketing and promotion. Debbie holds a B.A. in Business Management with a minor in Physical Education.