Animator resume example, template, and tips to help you present your animation skills and portfolio clearly.
This guide shows how to format each section, which bullets to use, and how to describe projects so hiring managers and recruiters can assess your fit quickly.
View and download this professional resume template
Loading resume example...
💡 Pro tip: Use this template as a starting point. Customize it with your own experience, skills, and achievements.
Why this animator resume example works
This animator resume example focuses on clarity, relevance, and measurable outcomes so your work stands out without unnecessary jargon.
You will learn how to highlight tools, techniques, and project results in ways that match what studios and creative teams look for when screening candidates.
Resume format and structure for animators
Use a clean, single-column layout with clearly labeled sections for contact, summary, experience, skills, education, and portfolio links.
Stick to a readable sans serif font, 10 to 12 point body size, and consistent spacing so reviewers can scan your resume in under 30 seconds.
Animator resume example, Professional summary
Write a 2-3 line professional summary that names your role, years of experience, main software, and a concrete outcome you produced.
For example, say you are a 4 year 3D animator who reduced rigging time by standardizing templates, and include the software you use most often.
Animator resume example, Work experience
List positions in reverse chronological order and use 3 to 6 bullet points per role that show what you did, how you did it, and the result you produced.
Prefer action verbs and metrics, for example: animated 15 character shots per week using Maya and reduced render errors by improving scene optimization.
Animator resume example, Skills and software
Group skills into categories such as Animation, Rigging, Compositing, and Tools so readers find what they need quickly.
Include specific software names like Maya, Blender, Houdini, After Effects, and Nuke, and add short qualifiers when relevant such as 'Character rigging, intermediate Python scripting for tools'.
Education, certifications, and training
List your degree or diploma, the institution, and graduation year when recent or relevant to the role you want.
Add short training items when they relate directly to animation, such as a character animation workshop or a certificate in VFX compositing.
Animator resume example, Portfolio and showreel section
Place a short, prominent portfolio link near the top of your resume and include a timestamped showreel link to the specific shots you want recruiters to watch first.
Mention what they will see in the reel, for example: 'Showreel, 1:20, highlights character animation, dialogue timing, and facial performance'.
Formatting and ATS tips for animator resumes
Avoid complex tables and images for the main resume file that you submit to an applicant tracking system, because those elements can break parsing and hide keywords.
Use plain headings and keyword-rich role descriptions so the ATS picks up your relevant software and techniques while human reviewers still read naturally.
Action verbs and measurable results to include
Use verbs like animated, rigged, composited, optimized, implemented, and iterated to describe your contributions clearly.
Whenever possible add a measurable result such as shot throughput, frame rate improvements, pipeline time saved, or the size of teams you collaborated with.
How to tailor this animator resume example to a job posting
Read the job posting and mirror the exact software and techniques it lists when they match your experience, but do not copy unrelated responsibilities.
Prioritize examples that show you solved similar problems, such as reducing render times, matching a director s brief, or delivering on tight deadlines.
Best Practices
Keep the resume to one page if you have less than 10 years of experience, and two pages if you have longer experience that is directly relevant.
Recruiters read many resumes quickly, and brevity with clear results increases your chances of moving to portfolio review.
Start each experience bullet with a strong action verb and follow with the tool or technique used and the result you delivered.
For example, 'Animated 12 character shots per week using Maya, improving on-time delivery by 25 percent'.
Show your portfolio link near the top and again with each role that contains relevant shots so reviewers can jump between claims and work samples.
Use short descriptors like role, date, and what is demonstrated to guide the viewer.
Include a short Technical Skills section that lists software and scripting languages in order of proficiency so hiring managers and technical leads can assess fit quickly.
Be honest about your level, for example 'Proficient', 'Working knowledge', or 'Familiar'.
Use a consistent tense for past roles and present tense for your current role, and proofread to remove typos and inconsistent formatting which can distract from your work.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Instead, group tools and add one short example of how you used a top tool to achieve a specific result.
Move education lower when your portfolio and credits better show your abilities.
Replace vague language with concrete tasks and results such as 'lead character animator on three short films, coordinated timing and facial expression with director notes'.
Use standard fonts and test links before you upload.
Additional Tips
- 1Record a concise showreel under two minutes that opens with your strongest shot, and add timestamps in your resume to point to specific scenes.
Employers often watch the first 30 seconds, so front-load your best work. - 2If you worked on team projects, clarify your exact role and contribution to avoid confusion, and name any mentors or directors if that helps place your work.
Clear attribution helps hiring teams understand whether you led animation, did secondary tasks, or handled pipeline scripting. - 3Tailor one sentence in your summary to match the studio s tone and the job posting focus, whether character animation, VFX, or motion design, so your resume reads as intentional rather than generic.
This helps you pass both automated filters and human review. - 4Keep a short project log that lists project names, your role, tools used, and a one line outcome so you can quickly update your resume and portfolio for each application.
This reduces the time it takes to craft tailored applications and keeps your claims accurate.
Final Thoughts
This animator resume example and template helps you present your skills, tools, and portfolio in a way that hiring teams can assess quickly and fairly.
Focus on clear, measurable examples and a concise showreel to give your application the best chance of advancing to interview.