Use this template
Add your own experience and make this layout yours.
design-ux
Character Animator
Resume Example
4.5 / 5
Ella Martinez
Senior Character Animator
[email protected] | +1 (555) 987-6543 | linkedin.com/in/ella-martinez | vimeo.com/ellam_design/demoreel | Los Angeles, CA
Professional Summary
Senior Character Animator with 6+ years of experience creating 2D and 3D animation for games, film, and promotional video. Leads small animation teams, plans shot delivery, and builds polished character motion, rigs, and motion graphics in Maya, Blender, Toon Boom Harmony, Adobe Animate, and Unreal Engine. Strong portfolio of production-ready sequences, demo reel pieces, and cross-functional collaboration with art, design, and production teams.
Work Experience
Senior Animator
02/2022
Glimmer Animation Studios
Los Angeles, CA
•
Led a 5-person animation team on a AAA game title, coordinating shot priorities, review notes, and delivery standards across gameplay and cinematic sequences.
•
Built 30+ reusable character and prop vector assets that reduced repeat illustration requests and kept visual style consistent across scenes.
•
Directed animation blocking and polish for 6 complex feature-film scenes, improving acting clarity, timing, and continuity between story beats.
•
Delivered animation for 3 television episodes within approved production scope by tracking revisions, dependencies, and handoffs with producers.
Animator
06/2019 - 02/2022
Vivid Animation Co.
Los Angeles, CA
•
Animated 50+ promotional video sequences, combining character motion, typography, and transitions to support campaign and brand storytelling needs.
•
Collaborated with storyboard artists, designers, and editors on 4 short films, adapting style, timing, and shot composition for each production.
Junior Animator
01/2017 - 06/2019
PixelArt Studios
Los Angeles, CA
•
Created 25+ character, prop, and background assets for short-form animation projects, helping maintain a cohesive look across multiple formats.
•
Supported animation cleanup and in-engine implementation on 3 game projects, learning production pipeline standards for rigs, exports, and review cycles.
Skills
Maya, Blender, Toon Boom Harmony, Unreal Engine, Character Animation, Rigging, Motion Graphics, Lip Sync
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation
09/2013 - 05/2017
California Institute of the Arts
Los Angeles, CA
Projects
Interactive Storytelling Demo Reel
vimeo.com/ellam_design/storytelling_reel
Created an interactive storytelling demo reel in Unreal Engine and Blender that shows character rigging, environmental staging, real-time rendering, and shot-to-shot continuity for portfolio review.
AI-Assisted Animation Workflow Study
Tested Midjourney and Runway ML as concept and edit-support tools, documenting where AI helped ideation while preserving manual control over character acting, timing, and final animation quality.
Certifications
Unreal Engine Certification
03/2024
Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) - Animate CC
05/2023
Why This Template Works
This resume format works well for ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) because it incorporates essential keywords relevant to a senior animator's role while maintaining a clean and professional layout. The inclusion of technical skills such as Adobe Animate CC, Maya, and Blender not only highlights the candidate’s proficiency but also ensures that automated systems can easily identify these critical terms. Additionally, by including quantifiable achievements like the number of animations completed or the scale of projects managed, it provides concrete evidence of the candidate's experience and impact in the field.
Instant Resume Score
Check Your Senior Character Animator Resume Score
Upload your resume for an instant ATS score and practical, role-specific improvements.
- No Signup Required
- Private by Default
- Usually under 30 sec
Your resume
One step to your resume score
Add your resume to run a free score and get prioritized fixes.
How to Write This Resume
Expert guidelines and best practices for each section of your resume.
01
Contact
Contact
First Name Last Name City, State, Zip Code Phone Number | Email Address LinkedIn Profile URL | Portfolio URL (Optional)
General Guidelines
Your contact information is the first section recruiters see. Keep it concise and professional. Ensure your email address is appropriate (e.g., [email protected]). Include your LinkedIn profile for a comprehensive view of your professional journey. A portfolio or personal website is recommended for creative, technical, or design roles.
Avoid This
Do not include your full physical address (street number/name) for privacy reasons. Avoid including personal details like marital status, age, photo, or social security number unless specifically required in your country. Do NOT use unprofessional email addresses. For animators, do NOT include GitHub links - instead, provide a Demo Reel link on Vimeo or YouTube.
Real Examples
See clear examples of how to format contact details effectively.
Don't
John Doe 1234 Random St, Apt 56 New York, NY 10001 [email protected] github.com/aliciacode Single, 28 years old
Do
Jordan Mitchell San Francisco, CA (555) 123-4567 | [email protected] linkedin.com/in/jordanmitchell | vimeo.com/jordanmitchell/demoreel
Quick Tips
- Use a professional email address (firstname.lastname format)
- Ensure your voicemail is set up and professional
- Double-check your phone number and email for typos
- Make your LinkedIn URL custom (linkedin.com/in/yourname)
- Include Demo Reel link (Vimeo/YouTube) prominently for animators
02
Summary
Summary
Professional Title Result-oriented [Role Name] with [Number] years of experience in [Key Skills/Industries]. Proven track record of [Major Achievement]. Skilled in [Key Technologies/Skills]. Committed to delivering [Specific Value] for [Target Industry/Company type].
General Guidelines
A professional summary is your elevator pitch. It should be 3-5 sentences long, summarizing your experience, key skills, and major achievements. Tailor it to the job description by using relevant keywords. Focus on what makes you unique and the value you bring to potential employers.
Avoid This
Avoid generic objectives like 'Looking for a challenging role to grow my skills.' Recruiters want to know what value you bring to them, not what you want from them. Don't use first-person pronouns (I, me, my). Keep it concise and impactful.
Real Examples
Compare a weak objective with a strong professional summary.
Don't
Objective: I am a hard-working individual looking for a Animator position where I can learn new things and advance my career.
Do
Senior Character Animator with 6+ years of experience delivering 2D and 3D animation for games, film, and promotional video. Leads shot reviews, supports rigging and cleanup, and creates portfolio-ready character motion in Maya, Blender, Toon Boom Harmony, Adobe Animate, and Unreal Engine.
Quick Tips
- Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., 'Increased revenue by 20%')
- Keep it under 5 lines for readability
- Use strong action verbs to start sentences
- Tailor the summary to match the job description
03
Skills
Skills
Technical Skills - Animation Software: [List] - AI Tools: [List] - Collaboration Platforms: [List] Soft Skills - [Skill 1], [Skill 2], [Skill 3]
General Guidelines
Organize skills into logical categories such as software tools, AI technologies, and soft skills. Prioritize hard skills that align with the job requirements. Arrange in order of relevance or proficiency to highlight your strongest abilities. Avoid listing soft skills separately; instead, demonstrate them through concrete achievements.
Avoid This
Do not include skills you are not prepared to discuss thoroughly during an interview. Refrain from using subjective measures like percentages or progress bars for skill levels. Exclude outdated technologies unless explicitly requested by the employer.
Real Examples
Don't
Mistakenly listing Photoshop as a primary animation tool
Do
Accurately stating proficiency in industry-standard tools like Maya, Blender, and Toon Boom Harmony
Don't
Including soft skills without context or achievements: 'Team Player', 'Leadership'
Do
Describing leadership through an example: 'Directed a team to deliver high-quality animations for a feature film project'
Quick Tips
- List specific animation software and AI tools relevant to your experience and job application.
- Organize soft skills within your work experience sections with real-life examples of how you demonstrated them.
- Exclude any technology that is no longer used in current projects or interviews unless it's crucial for the position.
- Prioritize listing skills based on their relevance to recent positions or potential roles.
04
Experience
Experience
Job Title | Company Name | Location Month Year – Month Year - Action Verb + Context + Result (Quantified) - Led [Project] resulting in [Outcome]... - Collaborated with [Team] to implement [Feature]...
General Guidelines
This is the core of your resume. Use reverse-chronological order (most recent first). Start each bullet with a strong action verb. Focus on achievements and impact, not just duties. Use numbers to quantify your impact (dollars, percentages, time saved, users affected). Show progression and increasing responsibility.
Avoid This
Avoid passive language like "Responsible for..." or "Tasked with...." Don't list every single daily task; focus on significant contributions and measurable outcomes. Avoid jargon that recruiters outside your field won't understand.
Real Examples
Practical example showing do's and don'ts for experiences
Don't
Responsible for creating animations using Maya, Blender, and Adobe Animate for various projects.
Do
Created high-quality 2D and 3D character animation in Maya, Blender, and Adobe Animate for film, game, and promotional video projects.
Don't
Worked with team members to complete projects on time.
Do
Led animation delivery for 6 complex feature-film scenes, coordinating blocking, polish, and revision notes with storyboard and production teams.
Quick Tips
- Use strong action verbs like 'led', 'developed', and 'implemented' to start each bullet point. This makes your experience stand out.
- Quantify achievements wherever possible to provide concrete evidence of your impact, such as percentages improved or tasks completed ahead of schedule.
- Highlight leadership roles and responsibilities early in your career to demonstrate progression and increasing levels of responsibility.
- Tailor the experiences section for each application by emphasizing skills and accomplishments that align with the job description.
05
Education
Education
Degree Name | University Name | Location Month Year – Month Year - Relevant Coursework: [Course 1], [Course 2] - Honors/Awards: [Award Name] - GPA: X.X (if above 3.5)
General Guidelines
List your highest degree first. If you have significant work experience, keep the education section brief. Include your GPA only if it is above 3.5 or if you are a recent graduate. Highlight relevant coursework, academic projects, honors, or leadership roles.
Avoid This
Do not include high school details if you have a college degree. Avoid listing every single course you took; select only the most relevant ones. Don't include graduation dates from decades ago if age discrimination is a concern in your field.
Real Examples
Practical example showing do's and don'ts for educations
Don't
Bachelor of Fine Arts | California Institute of the Arts | Los Angeles, CA September 2013 - May 2017 - Completed over 50 courses covering a wide range of topics in animation and design.
Do
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation | California Institute of the Arts | Los Angeles, CA September 2013 – May 2017 - Relevant Coursework: 3D Animation Techniques, Character Design and Development, Storyboarding for Film and Television. - Honors/Awards: Dean's List (Fall 2014, Spring 2016) - GPA: 3.8
Quick Tips
- List your education in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent degree.
- Focus on relevant coursework and exclude unrelated subjects or introductory courses.
- If you are highlighting specific projects, ensure they demonstrate skills that are directly applicable to your current role as an Animator.
- Include any honors, awards, or leadership roles within your education that showcase additional expertise or recognition.
06
Projects
Projects
Project Name | Tools/Software Used - Briefly describe what you created and its purpose - Highlight creative challenges you solved - Link to portfolio (ArtStation, Behance, Vimeo, YouTube) if available
General Guidelines
Projects are excellent for demonstrating practical skills, especially if you lack work experience or are changing careers. Include a link to your portfolio (ArtStation, Behance, Vimeo, or YouTube) if possible. Focus on projects that show your creative abilities and relevant tools for the target role.
Avoid This
Don't include trivial tutorials unless you significantly expanded on them. Avoid projects that are outdated, incomplete, or irrelevant to the role you're applying for. Don't just list tools—explain what you created and why it matters. Do NOT mention GitHub links for creative roles - use portfolio platforms instead.
Real Examples
Practical example showing do's and don'ts for projects
Don't
Created a basic tutorial animation in Blender, following an online guide.
Do
Developed a character rigging system in Blender to automate repetitive tasks for complex animations. The project reduced production time by 30%.
Don't
Completed a simple scene animation using Maya without expanding on the project's scope or impact.
Do
Created an interactive demo reel showing character rigging, real-time rendering, and shot continuity in Unreal Engine and Blender.
Quick Tips
- Choose projects that demonstrate your ability to solve complex creative challenges.
- Include quantifiable results or metrics whenever possible, such as time saved or improved efficiency.
- Ensure the tools you mention are relevant and align with the job description for the role you're applying to.
- Provide a link to view your project in action on platforms like ArtStation, Behance, Vimeo, or YouTube.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this role and how to best present it on your resume.
Prioritize demo reel links, character animation range, software tools, production experience, and specific examples of scenes, shots, rigs, or sequences you delivered.
Use the scope you can prove: number of scenes, assets, episodes, team size, tools used, pipeline tasks, and collaboration with storyboard, design, editing, or production teams.
Yes. Place a clean Vimeo, YouTube, ArtStation, Behance, or portfolio link near your contact details so recruiters can review your motion work quickly.
Match the job description with relevant tools and production keywords, then back them up with portfolio-ready examples such as character acting, rigging, cleanup, motion graphics, or real-time animation work.
Stand Out to Recruiters & Land Your Dream Job
Join thousands who transformed their careers with AI-powered resumes that pass ATS and impress hiring managers.
Get Hired 50% Faster
Job seekers using professional, AI-enhanced resumes land roles in an average of 5 weeks compared to the standard 10. Stop waiting and start interviewing.