HOW MUCH MONEY ANIMATION ARTISTS MAKE

[@LilyWilliams]

This is fantastic, Laura!! A taboo topic that NEEDS to be discussed to animation students and young professionals. More like this!!

[@lulusketches]

thanks Lily!!

[@seigeengine]

"taboo topic" It's literally posted online for everyone to see or find with the slightest effort.

[@domiasmoth]

Talking about income has always been a taboo topic and not just in the artistic industry. The problem is we are conditioned to not talk about these things, but that opens up the doors of wage suppression and pay inequality. This is why a lot of people are calling for people to start discussing it. It is actually commonplace for companies to have policies and practices to discourage employees from talking about wages, which is illegal, yet they still have them. Several fortune 500 companies have salaries fall under NDA. Also "literally posted online for everyone to see or find with the slightest effort".

[@seigeengine]

@@domiasmoth It also opens up the doors to victimization, and is a major privacy concern. She literally just regurgitated information she found online from a major industry source. I'm not even sure she ever stated how much she makes in this video.

[@newchangeunlisted_viewer5594]

..Why is it taboo? That doesn't make much sense

[@malloreyrogers7987]

Laura you are an angel! I’ve been asking this question for years and no one has EVER given me a straight answer. These wages, though don’t include benefits or taxes taking out, are still very do-able for someone wanting to pursue animation. I’ve been brought up forever thinking artists never make money. Thank you for this wealth of information!

[@chloeelimam3899]

This is exactly how I feel! It's like there's a huge weight off of my shoulders, I've spent so much time worrying about this stuff and researching and never finding anything straight. BLS only explains multi media artist salaries which isn't specifically animators, and is absolutely not as specific as background painters or vis dev artists. This was so helpful and gives me a chance to really look in the right direction. And obviously these LA studios are the dream and the goal, and we might not make it there exactly but it's so nice to know that someone like Lulusketches is doing what she loves without the fear of having to quit because of money and leaving California because no one can afford to live there. Such a relief to see her in these videos. I'm so glad she made this

[@malloreyrogers7987]

Chloe Kristeen agreed. I showed these numbers to my husband (who’s also an artist) and he flipped out. I DID have to reel him in and tell him that rent in LA is astronomical as well as taxes in CA so that is also something needing to take into consideration. The layoffs and non-pay hiatuses also make me a little nervous- but as long as you prepare beforehand it will work out.

[@anonymousperson8332]

@Keep Rocking! What!! Are you serious!!! 20 freaking thousand dollars a week 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱!!!!!!!

[@oneknowsnone8192]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqXPpo2qipWeb9k You should watch this while you are at it... I'm studying animation now and I'm feeling very depressed

[@professionalanimator2890]

김하민 kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3fKoIF-iN2IY9E

[@darkreigncometh]

Man, you guys need a damn raise. I am an animation junkie and I appreciate what you guys do. Many fail to comprehend the amount of work that goes into the cheapest animated feature.

[@MarsFireballCharge]

These wages would be super nice if it weren’t for the fact that these are wages in CALIFORNIA. If i was making that much where I currently live I would be set man.

[@SK-qs9mh]

Ariathna Burboa Does anybody know how much animators make in other states? Seriously help because I'm only in 8th grade but I have been so worried about my future lately. I love to draw and I really want to become an animator, but I'm worried that I'm not good enough. I'm mainly worried about now being able to make any money. I don't live in California and don't want to move. Please someone tell me. I've been considering other jobs and animation on the side, but I don't know how that would work. I love art so much and can't imagine myself doing anything else. How would I be able to animate on the side? What would I actually do? Would it just be animation for fun, like a hobby? I don't want to do it for fun, I want it as my job, unless there was a way I could get a job that I know will let me earn money, and do animation on the side but not just as a hobby.

[@SexyLenTime]

@@SK-qs9mh Hi Sej! It's awesome that you are considering animation. And I want you to know YOU STILL HAVE A TON OF TIME TO DECIDE :)! So don't get to caught up on it now. Something with animation you need to consider is if you want to work Remote(and most likely freelance) or in a Studio(which is more secure). I am only familiar with the California animation industry, since I was born and raised here, but I do know Portland Oregon, Austin Texas , Atlanta Georgia and Toronto Canada all have industries that are pretty comparable to California! If you don't want to move far away from home I recommend looking into animation in the biggest city near you, it probably won't be for a show but more so for a commercial or ad online. Though right now I recommend you just work on your animation and hone your skills! So once you are at a working age the studios want you! Good Luck Sej!

[@vanessaebony529]

@@SK-qs9mh Cartoon Network is in Atlanta and they hire for animation. You may want to see if some of those studios have summer internships. Unpaid internships are a great way to have experience on your resume and make connections to other companies in the industry. I grew up in Atlanta, they don't have as high taxes like California, nor is it as expensive. So say your single, a one bedroom apartment costs 800-1100 depending on the area. If you live downtown well you'll be broke trying to pay rent there.

[@SK-qs9mh]

Vanessa Ebony Thank you so much 😊 I live in Michigan though. Also, how old do you even have to be to get an internship? Idk how old you have to be to get a job even!!

[@AnaniAnime]

@@SK-qs9mh I live in Michigan too! I'm in college planning to transfer... and I'm having the same thoughts as you because there isn't a lot of opportunity in this state. Two colleges I've seen is the Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids and the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. I still don't know much about them but they do have programs for animation and digital entertainment arts.

[@abigailg.2595]

A little less than two years later, I just want to say THANK YOU. I actually was able to use the info from this video to convince my parents that a career in the animation industry is actually a viable option for me. Now I’m going to art school in the fall with full support from both of my parents. Again, thank you so much. ☺️ Also, the best time to wear a striped sweater is all the time!

[@am-kh1oj]

Best of luck bro...✌️✌️

[@abigailg.2595]

12.00 am thank you!

[@arandomuser861]

Gl!

[@cymph1157]

@Kanye Fuller Woah, I also became an engineer but am finally changing career to design Ina my 30's. It's still not animation but am working on my own time....slowly because I also gave up that dream and need to regain my confidence back in art. Don't give up yours if it's still your dream. It also doesn't have to be your career and you can slowly do animation on the side. Best of your luck in your journey! I will keep my eye out for your name in the credits ;)

[@minminnnn]

what's it like studying animation?

[@CJFEB16]

I was never encouraged to pursue an art career because of the lack of money; so I never followed my dream as a creator. Finally understanding that’s it’s not about asking the most money in life but enjoying it doing something I love, I’m excited to pursue this career! The amount of money is good enough for me

[@terriblelizardnbtapioles5279]

for a non american like me, more than 1000 bucks per week is an absurd amount of money, but i guess that the cost of living there is also huge compared to where i am, still, the fact that unions work by state and not in the whole country baffles me, im really not looking to live there, despite the cuantity of animation jobs that are there.

[@lulusketches]

oh yeah the union ONLY covers Los Angeles, not all of california!

[@terriblelizardnbtapioles5279]

@@lulusketches WoW what the heck

[@WilMau]

@Keep Rocking! but I'm from france tho

[@hidanist]

That's what I was about to say. It really got me shook, I mean, I live in Spain and the average amount of money you can earn just in a month is 1500 euros more or less (1694 use dollars). We get in a month what Americans do in a week xd

[@hidanist]

@Keep Rocking! Yes. You can't afford a mansion, but it's ok to live comfortably.

[@GraphicKraken]

I wish that animation studios like Disney would consider adding more locations. I think that Arizona would be nice, partially because I live here but also because the cost of living is lower than in California. It would be more affordable for the artist and they would have the option of living in either California or Arizona.

[@th3azscorpio]

Graphic Kracken True! Especially since AZ's job market sucks ass, especially for creative people.

[@GraphicKraken]

Aupor duh!

[@computron5824]

They won't consider it unless the already ridiculous cost of living gets even higher. I've worked in areas outside of the current hubs, and those studios always have financial and visibility problems because they're not part of the clique. It's infinitely much harder for them to be recognized. The other factor is government subsidies. You'd like work in Arizona, but Canada has been offering huge incentives to movie studios, and a lot of film vfx work ends up going there.

[@ms.kitkat4844]

I wish Disney had more locations like New York and considering it’s not a bad place to have a studio I would go since well I live in New York myself

[@Bat-talk]

Everything good is in Cali ..

[@CoreyartusImagery]

Seriously, Laura, this was incredibly useful information. Just knowing where to go look is helpful, but you explained it all very well. From the comments, it's clear there is some "realigning of realities" going on based on this information. I work as an adjunct teacher in theatre at a university (where the pay rates are much lower), and I've been exploring options for expanding my personal career in illustration or art. It's beyond useful to know these things. Thank-you for sharing these resources! As usual, your vids set a high standard of quality, and its heartening to know you're still doing them. Thanks SO much!!

[@tatianaroberts81]

This was super informative. Thank you so much for making this video. I am aspiring animator and this really helps me get into the mindset of what a major priority saving up is and what to expect within the industry. I love all your informative videos for within the industry and in art in general. Keep up the good work!

[@newbieraf9260]

I'm currently a student based in Australia so much of the "Guild" information isnt familiar to me. BUT this is still very useful information for me and my colleagues moving forward. Thanks so much for the information Laura! You just earned a couple dozen subs :)

[@codymohr2217]

I love you art style it is so cute, you have inspired me to go after my dream more to go to college and try and internship at Disney and hopefully score a dream job there!

[@codymohr2217]

@Mod_ThunderWolf eyy you too man!

[@martia129]

It's like I was watching the beginning of the lion king where everything is really pleasant and happy and then someone just skips through it and plays mufasas death over and over. Like this is what you have to look forward to. The struggle. Shit just got real

[@metronry]

Agreed! At first, everything seemed all pleasant until we started shifting towards the problems of it. At least with this information, I’ll be able to know what to expect in the future.

[@XXAsagiXX]

Thank you! Very informative. I've been to LA a few times to talk to artists about storyboarding but was always a little hesitant to ask about money. This really helped!

[@daniha7584]

if only the job was more stable,,, now I’m reconsidering becoming an animator 🤧

[@computron5824]

You can still be an animator, but it's best to know what you're getting into. I would say that these jobs aren't "stable". Most of my friends (and me) have had to move a few times, and it's a lot of contract based work unless you can get a studio to hire you full time.

[@SeanUnkown]

Same

[@geelaxy]

*me also :(*

[@Sukunaryomen330]

17ANIELLE no wdym pleas explain.

[@Sukunaryomen330]

Geselle Alferez wdym please help

[@rachelfay9582]

This was very informative and useful. As an aspiring vis dev/character designer who wants to move to LA for work, I needed to know how to cover the cost of rent there. Thanks again, Laura, and maybe I'll see you at CTN!

[@OrkiDav7580]

This is something so important to keep in mind for all of us who want to work in the animation industry. Thabks for sharing the info Lulu!! Also: the best time to wear a striped sweater is all the time

[@abitfrank]

Lots of solid info here! Our industry is so... entertaining, it really keeps everyone on their toes! (...and is never boring!) Lovely positive video!

[@brunodias6464]

I'm 16 and I'm Brazilian and this was always my question about working with animation. This video was a very good help for me, thank you!

[@stelabrendagrilo5653]

Também tenho 16 e sou brasileira,eu estava com as mesmas dúvidas haha

[@topimpablackcat6130]

á la ó,chei de br aqui kkkk,achei q era o único

[@Hannah2837]

Can you please do a video on putting together a good portfolio? PS love your videos

[@Karin029_]

She did now, yes

[@gozinta82]

Gather hundreds of pieces of your best work. Then, get other people to critique your work and find the best 20 or 30 pieces. Make sure the pieces are set w/ a theme or idea you are going for. I.E. Are you a background painter? are you an animator? are you a modeller? Put in there what you want to do. Are you applying for a position that is going to be working on a desert theme project? Put desert work in there to show off what you can. Are they looking for someone with specific talents or clear understandings? Demonstrate those understandings and your mastery. They may turn it down, but ask them what they liked and what they didn't. What did they want to see that you lacked? Talk to the person who is interviewing you. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Ask them what they are looking for. Tell them you can work on something to show them if you don't have what they are looking for. It really depends on the field, the company, the position. Are they only doing contract? Probably. Do you have any projects that you have worked on or collaborated w/ people on? Show it off. I hope that helps.

[@valvescova5410]

@@gozinta82 100's? ...

[@alzamonart]

Thanks for sharing this info Laura. Based on it and doing some math I conclude that a character designer makes in average about 3 times more than I do as a web developer, and that at a senior position (third world economics, of course, and costs of housing/living in CA have to be weighed in too). I always dreamed of working at one of those studios but life and reality set me in other career paths, for better or worse. Now Canada is being touted as the new California but, given the lack of guilds and the way lower pay scale, many things are likely not what they seem at a distance. Thanks again!

[@lockheart619]

At first I was like, "whaaat that's a lot of money!" then i realized taxes take out a lot of money as well.

[@owlyjules]

THANK YOU SO MUCH For that video! I saw a lot of animators and especially other layout artists like myself start honest conversation on twitter about it. (I already knew I was underpaid even tought I worked for 4 years and a half in the industry now on many shows. but even at my studio we would only talk about it in hushes. My supervisor was shocked when he learned how much I made. and now its better but still far from it should be. ) I am canadian too and it gives me a good idea as well on the difference between how we are paid here compared to the state. (most of us don't have union...)

[@joeyrosas7435]

I’m gonna get one of those jobs I promise myself! One day!

[@opshichem9976]

Same bro

[@chadrasmussen6127]

Same

[@lajokersingh2878]

same

[@naideas2447]

I am also being an animater

[@bbamilk6832]

Update?

[@vivaraulito]

This video scares me ngl the fact that my goals won’t reward me at all in the long run and pursuing this will probably leave me in debt even tho I been switching majors and I can’t really seem to find another major worth my interest over this one 🥺 I’m truly worried

[@andreamoro8543]

Hey how have you been doinf since you posted this? i'm kinda in the same situation as you

[@lluminescenttl]

This is so cool and informative. Love the insight! Plus: the best time to wear a striped sweater is all the time

[@montymontano8618]

Straightforward talk about money. Thanks. You have a great presence on camera.

[@JeffSans]

I am crazy for considering changing career from a java developer to an entry level job in animation industry. I have always loved and enjoyed art, and I am not good yet I want to try this and hopefully I can work in art industry until I retire.

[@gateway8833]

My Dad was Special Effects and that “Save your pay” is really important.

[@galexiart]

Such VALUABLE information! Thank you Laura. We never talked about this in detail at my school. Thanks for shedding some light on this topic. So happy I subscribed! 😊

[@rinhatsuyuki7090]

Not going to lie, this information scared me, but yet.. i'm intrigued, considering i want to be an Illustrator/Story-B-Artist, oh well... here i go armed with knowledge i shall thrive! thanks Laura!

[@CartoonWarStudios]

Got here from Erica Hayes' Twitter. Cool channel! It's nice when industry people go out of their way to be informative about stuff like this. Not that I even know if it will ever apply to me living in the UK :T but that's another issue entirely, lol. Keep up the good work!

[@YdolemArt]

I work in a little studio in France and it's nice to know what's going on in big studios ! Thank you for the informations ! :)

[@stephaniealbanelli3056]

Hey, I'm an aspiring animator in France, what studio do you work with?

[@Artzipants]

As a startup professional character designer, 2d animator and storyboard artist, this video was very, very informative for me, and it seems so for other artists as well! Thank you so much for taking the time to put this together. I wanted to move to Cali since that's basically animation haven. A place perfect for someone like me. This video will prepare me for what to expect once I start the big job hunt.

[@VisitorsFromDreams]

I had fun working double the hours for half the pay during my time in Canada let me tell you. Ive had bad experiences with a few of the major studios in the States working as a contractor as well. Glad to be back in Australia where no matter what field of animation im working in I can live decently off my wage.

[@Sethotron]

Where in Australia do you feel there's more opportunity for animators?

[@Sethotron]

Why was your time in Canada not enjoyable?

[@VisitorsFromDreams]

@@Sethotron Melbourne definitely, though Bluey is produced in Brisbane.

[@VisitorsFromDreams]

@@Sethotron Canada's animation industry has a large focus on "pay per approved second". This left me with little to no time to spend with family or friends just so I could make rent due to constant changes and revisions. After my experience working in animation I have chosen to largely leave the industry and honestly it was the best choice I have ever made.

[@Rexsaglez]

I am literally watching your videos in my break in animation class. I really want to get to Disney, it has been my biggest dream since I was like ten. Your videos are so helpful!!

[@gameondemand4505]

perusing that also, can we text? Share ideas??

[@mrkhun7035]

Hey so it’s been four years i want to see where you ended up!

[@Rexsaglez]

@@mrkhun7035 heyy! I’m now watching from my desk at an advertising/marketing studio where I’m a video editor and animator! I graduated university in April 2023, got to do some internships during school, and I’m still pretty excited to see where life takes me, Disney, videogames, or anything that crosses my path!

[@vanessaebony529]

This was really informative. I'm a librarian and I make way more than that. I feel like animation artists are underpaid especially when considering all the hard work they do for the film industry. You have my respect

[@mehdih396]

Vanessa Ebony what library do you work at?? 👀

[@dandansoysauce8762]

It all boils down to economics 😬

[@umishiori]

Librarians make almost $100K a year ?? Never heard of that

[@pablodemetri4660]

Speaking of animated, the face you make when discussing taxes being taken out (3:26) is priceless. Lol. I'm not an artist but I'm looking for 1 for a simple 6- 10 minute KZbin video. Trying to find out what something like that would cost, and how to approach an artist without being disrespectful as far as terms. This wasn't what I needed but still entertaining. Thanks.

[@bush8033]

And now my hope for being an animator is back

[@Carossmo]

Yes omg this is so accurate :'D I've been an animator for a studio that outsources animated tv shows or films (Disney's one of their clients). Though in the Philippines, these positions don't even make it to $1k per week :'D it's a little... Haha :V Thank you for shedding some light on this and it's awesome for someone working in the animation industry to open up about these ❤

[@teejayhobbyartist1974]

Carossmo so how much does an animator and background painter get paid in the Philippines?

[@Dretelejr]

Teejay Jw more or less USD 1000-2500 a month, depending on the show you’re working on. It fluctuates a lot since we are typically paid by output (some studios pay their artists by time, but they’re rare).

[@maythesciencebewithyou]

No place in the Philipines is even close as expensive as LA

[@rushion617]

I'm an aspiring animator, may I ask you what studio do you work on and how much do you get paid? I'm also a Filipino, a first year college student. I would like to see your response

[@KristineBringhurst1]

Soooo helpful! Money is always a tricky topic to talk about. Thank you thank you and I love Mabel’s sweater!

[@VOZYI]

Thanks a bunch I’ve been searching and could never find out how much animators make. This is my dream job and I’m trying to figure out what is required and now that I got this much to know I can pick out which of these jobs I should work in. So thank you so much 🙏

[@Leonardoriveraanimation]

The best time to wear a striped sweater is all the time! Great video and cant wait to see ya at CTN!

[@blueice3124]

I wanted to be an animator and when I took my first animation course my professor told me a majority of animation jobs get out sourced. I still continued to learn animation as it's important in my field and I enjoy it but I wish they were more informative in the classes in regards to the industry. It's good to know there are opportunities and unions that ensure a good wage. The uncertainty seems stressful but that's most industries

[@diva1675]

blue Ice Follow your dream, don’t let anyone discourage you.

[@bluerationality]

Wow. Although you said there are breaks in between, still if we translate it to salary, the minimum you listed was almost 100k per year.

[@frederikberger7241]

Yea but cost of living in LA gets through that easily. The fact, that she can't afford a house while the bosses make Billions shows just how much more unions are needed to chop of a bigger junk og the Profit workers make.

[@genntaco]

Hey LuLu! I just found you and I absolutely LOVE your work! I am still in highschool but I plan on becoming an animator. You have been so helpful and informative! I hope I can see you at Disney animations one day! But I know I'm gonna have to improve a LOT, haha.

[@kiuidreamsofgardens]

Just like how highschool never taught me how to write resumes and do taxes, University teachers who literally teach how to animate and do storyboards don't even mention pay....

[@chukwubarbara8705]

I really like how candid your videos are

[@lulusketches]

thank you so much!!

[@carolso6009]

I honestly had no idea what the pay was for animators or anything like that, it really isnt that bad at all! The project getting cancelled is a scary thing to think about, there definitely needs to be some type of supplementary income to help cushion for that possiblity.

[@crithon]

thank you for making this video. Yeah, the Bay area is difficult, and there's a lot of studios out here hiring animators to design work for the next big app or tech development. ILM has a new studio for VR, but yeah most of the people live out of town and commute to get into the area to work. Again thanks for posting this video, a lot of artists tend to think it's a very "one artists, one vision" experience, but it's really the support we get from family and friends that help us get by.

[@heyhey7092]

Out of curiosity when tangled the series ends what project will you be working on?

[@carliteaux]

Lulu spilling tea once again, live for it

[@DumbTuberchannel]

Oh wow loosing your job as the project ends or gets canceled scares me 😟

[@FFG8G]

Me too..!!!!😭😭😭

[@P4r4sith]

this is for almost every job in TV/movies/etc. And yes, it is scary. (one of the reasons i stopped working for television.)

[@cassolmedia]

We deal with the same in software development. it definitely sucks, not as much as you might think though

[@alanaflynn8878]

@@P4r4sith As someone aspiring to be an animator, I'm curious: what was your job for television, and what did you change your career to?

[@Lena-zn4re]

Your job depends on 7 year olds watching the show... that's scary af.

[@tchagolago]

Thank you a lot! I'm from Brazil and I aways been curious about this information! One suggestion for another video is to talk about the deadlines from a tv show. Here we a more like ninjartirts making a lot of work on a really tight deadlines.

[@Kipio]

Laura Price spilled the tea fam 😂

[@Flagrant_Violations]

Kipio 4:27

[@moooooo7124]

YOU ARE THE BEST!!! Thank you!! Seriously having been searching for these answers for so long!!! 😭❤️

[@MrStubbs8157]

I thought they would get paid less due to tight budgeting.. Interesting would be, how much the net income would be after you paid taxes and got ensured in healthcare properly. Would like to compare it to Germany, as this is exceeding higher paid jobs by far. Cost of living for sure is different, but that translates to wages, that are out of reach even for some doctor payments in my country....probably twice as much as a teacher would sometimes make.

[@irenepacifica]

Thank you so much for this video!! For a new artist that is trying to figure out how things work in the industry, your video was so helpful! Keep up the great work!!

[@creativevitality]

And sad to say but since LA created a union they have since moved a lot of our jobs to Canada where there is NO union and low pay. I lived in LA for 6 years doing vfx and animation. But then those studio have all moved to Canada... Problems with creating a union in this industry is companies find loopholes by moving or hiring overseas...

[@creativevitality]

Those prices you listed were all higher than anyone I know getting at my studio in Vancouver

[@JordansConcept]

@@creativevitality And imagine all the people who spent years in Animation school with tons of debt only to find out about this.

[@creativevitality]

@@JordansConcept yeppppppp. I know far too many. My school in particular (art institute of LA) screwed a lot of people financially and now they are closing down but still we are in massive debt with no chance of loan forgiveness in sight. So many private art institutions doing the same. Messed up. Things need to change

[@PacDork]

Animation Guild's working membership is at an all time high. There's plenty of in town union work. :)

[@th3azscorpio]

Renee Howerton Thanks for sharing that. A lot of young artist need to be woken up, and to learn the truth about this industry. There's a LOT that folks don't know in looking from the outside, in.

[@fantellerhur]

thANK U for talking about this !!! so important and nobody wants to talk about it

[@colourandsound]

The best time to wear a striped sweater is all the time!

[@lifeaslil3817]

Yay a new video! I just started watching your videos today and I love your work. I’m an aspiring illustrator and I love seeing how you got to where you are now!😊

[@briimadawna]

this video has literally taught me more than college....

[@cupcakes7015]

priimadawna Likewise 9/16/19

[@Yasmin-hv1yf]

Thank you SO MUCH for sharing not only the info, but where to find it!

[@itzmonsta5722]

I have no desire to work in the illustration/art field, but I watched this entire video (never having seen your content before) due to the incredibly well explained and informative content! Thanks for sharing :)

[@operasinger89]

Thank you so much for the info Lulu! I just changed majors from 3d artist to visual development and it's great to get an idea of what the pay is like. I'm located in northern California and yes it is expensive as heck living here. 😭.

[@andrewhdemarest]

would you we willing to make a follow up video about your experience living in LA. Also, do you personally know any Storyboard Artists that have social media, or even better, youtube videos? Im looking to start my professional life as one, and can use all the help I could get. THANKS!

[@johnloverman]

Laura your videos always keep me inspired!! Tysm for this informative video about the Guild; I've always heard about it but nobody has ever made a really simple video about it. (The best time to wear a striped sweater...IS ALL THE TIME!!!!!!!)

[@robertsalgado6707]

REALLY needed to know this! Do you think you could make a video on commissions? I just got the confidence to start doing commissions, but I need advice on how to go about doing commissions. Pretty pleaseeeee. :D

[@707Bubby]

Love this, super helpful stuff. I am just out of college and just starting to apply and get into the animation industry.

[@cupidxxrawr]

"Will you buy a house in LA?" -A person who doesn't live in LA asks The person who does live in LA: *sobs into Pinterest boards because LA housing is insane and owning a home is a distant dream*

[@lulusketches]

literally me all day every day

[@cmrobbins88]

Awesome and informative video. Regardless of whether I knew this or not, animation is still what I want to do and it still beats working any sort of retail job.

[@johannesdolch]

Love how the average is also the minimum ^^

[@potassiumperson2550]

thank you SO SO much for making videos on youtube, they're always sooo helpful

[@kuichib]

the best time to wear a striped sweater is all the time South Africa doesn't have an animation guild :/ but it would be great. I really feel bad for some of my fellow animators.

[@tagnenjosephs3124]

You from South Africa bro?

[@olimueller]

THIS actually was helpful! Thanks a lot for sharing actual numbers, most people seem to be not willing to tell actual numbers.

[@docohm50]

Lived in CA for 45 years. I was raised in the Bay Area. I live in Florida now. I would not consider moving back for any salary less than $150k a year. I hope you get out of that jail and still get to do your job. Seems to me you can be anywhere in the world. All you need is internet access for teleconferences and to upload your work to a secure server. Good luck to you.

[@Pumpkinbeanlatte]

This was so helpful, if you can, could you make a video describing the different duties and job description for each of those job positions you talked about?

[@madisonsmith658]

If only these studios were in Florida I would definitely be able to afford rent haha :'( thanks so much for the information.

[@twisterpunchmedia439]

This is why so much American animation work is sent overseas. I quit the business more than a decade ago, but one of the last shows I worked on was HARVEY BIRDMAN, ATTORNEY AT LAW (subcontracted from Turner Entertainment) . I worked very long hours and was paid about $150.00 (Canadian) per week.

[@BajaChick]

I went to college for graphic design but didn’t graduate cause I couldn’t afford to keep goin... yet I still pay for this day 😡. My husband never went to college yet he make $1,900 a week 🤨

[@Noname-rq1hr]

Remembering the Villedas SAHM Hey, I am sorry to hear that. If you had the chance to go back to college, would you still go into graphic design or perhaps a more “economically reliable” option?? I hope the question doesn’t bother you

[@lanna6640]

I’ve been wondering about that question for a little while now and this video really helped with some things I was curious about. Thank you your videos are always awesome!!

[@Spitfireseven]

Once you begin the meditation process you will never worry about money again,.... ever.

[@mirasfanfiction]

Super useful! It's a shame the larger companies don't allow work from home all the time, considering how expensive Cali is to live in. Some of those checks are a dream if you live in the midwest!

[@ainachan29]

And here I am earning $350 a month max. I should really have gone for arts and live in LA

[@wge621]

Or you could work full time.. unless the $350 is what you make outside of the US

[@DonTNguyen]

Hi Laura thanks for sharing all this information! For reference and comparison I live in Canada and the weekly rate for all the jobs you listed are around $1000 Canadian dollars per week. There's no union for animation workers where I live.

[@princesaa__]

If it were a yearly salary (union/$1,888 per week), it would be around $98,184 per year (before taxes).

[@mdymac7770]

Can you please make a video on to get a job in the animation field or how you got a job there? Thank you so much

[@sparty837]

Do those wages include medical?

[@PacDork]

Yes. Animation Guild has a pretty great medical plan.

[@candicestephenson1703]

Yes. It includes medical, vision, prescription and dental as well as two pension plans (an Individual Account Plan and a Defined Benefit Plan) through MPI (Motion Picture Industries, which handles the health and pension of most of the Entertainment Guilds in addition to the Animation Guild) . This is all in addition to the wages the artist is paid.

[@moomoopuppy5810]

I really like the "watercolor" style your artwork has.

[@SansP3ur]

"The best time to wear a striped sweater is all the time" ~Freddy Kruger

[@macarenag.concha3365]

I really appreciate this artist related videos! It's very helpful to know this kind of things especially if you are planning in pursue an artistic career, I'll share this video to my cousin who is studing to be an animator! I'm a French bulldog owner and a fashion designer, so your channel is just perfect for me♥ A lot of kisses to Mabel😍 PS: The best time to wear a striped sweater is all the time!

[@bloom27472]

The best time to wear a striped sweater is all the time! 😄💜 Thank you for putting out this video! I am graduating from college in December and have been trying to find information on wages for Character Design in California so this really helped out a lot 😊

[@daffyduckandegghead]

Here in Canada we have something called Employment Insurance or EI. That helps animators keep receiving an income during any hiatus. I know that helped me when I was in the industry.

[@satish19931]

music in background is distracting! good info thou

[@stacies.3787]

Laura Thankyou so much!! You’ve helped me and others so much with these! I’ve gotten more confident to be an artist. Keep being fabulous 💕

[@lulusketches]

so glad you enjoy them! thank you!!

[@jayhope3357]

I’m moving to japan 😢 any tips anyone 😭

[@kooolkidninjamaster]

Don't become an animator there. The pay is terribleee

[@MeetingMelky]

Good luck

[@Thechaosprime]

This was actually really helpf as someone whos planning to work in said industry ive allways wanted to know their payments so thank you laura!

[@wildone106]

I used to be an Animator for video games but I got aged out as companys prefer to hire younger kids out of college for cheaper so yea..it sucks llolololo

[@hiturana3290]

Uh oh... what do you do now?I'm a high school junior thinking about going into animation but im hesitant because of things like this...

[@wildone106]

​@@hiturana3290 I think its in a way a lot easier and a lot harder to get into it now? Easier because you have things like KZbin and all the Animation schools to learn soo much more than I was able to 20 years ago, but bad because soo many more people are graduating with kick ass skills so competition is even worse. Unless your REALLY good or know someone already in the bizz it could be a challenge? I'm only speaking about video game stuff, working in movies is a whole other deal. I have 'another job' totally not related to Animation, I'd call it a placeholder job until I can figure out what I wanna do going forward so I would say make sure you have a good secondary skill/qualification to fall back should you not be able to get into Animation or once your in, get kicked out like I did lol

[@wildone106]

Oh yea having and maintaining a good 'friend network' in whatever bizz your in is super important, maybe even more so than everything else? You can be pretty average and have a good network and you probably will survive a lot longer, that's one thing I failed at badly. Often I'd know about jobs before they were even posted so I could apply or have a leg up so it'd help me greatly. Once I lost that I was just another resume in the pile and summarily ignored lol

[@hiturana3290]

@@wildone106 Thanks for your detailed response, i really appreciate it!I don't think i'll go into video game animation maybe i'll go into a different type, although idk where i'll end up in a few years.I do know 2 foreign languages so if i get certificates i'll be able to do other stuff (if the job market allows it of course).

[@wildone106]

@@hiturana3290 Yea I mean that was MY experience..everyones gonna have a different take. I guess if I had become a lead it might have turned out different, but I didn't wanna be a manager and not animate so I've always been stuck at the same level, eventually it cost me lol You have to follow your passion but be realistic too so good luck whatever you do.

[@kymberleedawn1395]

Thank you so much for posting this super helpful video. 😍 And Mabel is just the cutest thing ever!!! Does she enjoy wearing sweaters?

[@lulusketches]

yes!! hehe and thanks!