What skills should I put on a animator resume?

Key skills for a animator resume include 3D Animation (Maya/Blender), 2D Animation, Motion Graphics, Adobe After Effects, Cinema 4D, Unreal Engine, Storytelling, Attention to Detail, Collaboration, and more. Prioritize skills mentioned in the job description and demonstrate them through quantified bullet points rather than just listing them.

How many skills should I list on my animator resume?

List 8 to 15 skills on your resume. Focus on the most relevant ones for each job application. Include a mix of technical/hard skills and transferable soft skills. Quality and relevance matter more than quantity.

Should I include soft skills on a animator resume?

Yes, but demonstrate them through achievements rather than listing them. Instead of writing 'strong communicator,' show it: 'Presented technical findings to 200-person all-hands meetings.' ATS systems also scan for soft skill keywords.

14+ Best Skills for a Animator Resume

Animator resumes should showcase your technical proficiency with animation software, artistic skills, and ability to tell compelling stories through motion. Studios and agencies want to see a strong demo reel and experience working within production pipelines.

Animation Skills

3D Animation (Maya/Blender) 2D Animation Motion Graphics Character Rigging Storyboarding

3D Animation (Maya/Blender) in action

“Animated 40+ character sequences for a feature film that grossed $120M worldwide, meeting all production deadlines”

Software & Tools

Adobe After Effects Cinema 4D Unreal Engine Adobe Premiere Pro ZBrush

Adobe After Effects in action

“Produced 100+ motion graphics pieces for social media campaigns that generated 5M+ combined views”

Soft Skills

Storytelling Attention to Detail Collaboration Time Management

Skill Priority Guide

Not all skills carry equal weight. Prioritize the ones most commonly requested in animator job descriptions.

Skill	Priority
3D Animation (Maya/Blender)	Must Have
Motion Graphics	Must Have
Storyboarding	Must Have
Adobe After Effects	Must Have
Storytelling	Must Have
Attention to Detail	Must Have
Collaboration	Must Have
2D Animation	Nice to Have
Character Rigging	Nice to Have
Cinema 4D	Nice to Have
Adobe Premiere Pro	Nice to Have
Time Management	Nice to Have
Unreal Engine	Bonus
ZBrush	Bonus

Tip 1

Your demo reel is your most important asset. Include a link prominently at the top of your resume.

Tip 2

Specify the type of animation you specialize in (character, VFX, motion graphics, game) as studios hire for specific pipeline roles.

Keep Reading

→ Animator Resume Example → How to Write Your Skills Section → 200+ Resume Action Verbs That Get Results → The Complete ATS-Friendly Resume Guide

Related Skills Guides

Graphic Designer View skills → Photographer View skills → Video Editor View skills → Fashion Designer View skills →