Junior animator
Level 4 · HigherCreative and design 1.5 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
A junior animator creates moving images for film, TV, games, advertising, and online content using industry-standard digital animation techniques. At level 4, apprentices develop both the artistic and technical skills needed to bring characters, objects, and environments to life. This apprenticeship leads to roles in 2D and 3D animation studios, games companies, and post-production houses.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Principles of animation including timing, weight, and squash-and-stretch
2D and 3D animation software used across the UK industry
Character rigging and how rigs control movement
Shot composition and how animation serves storytelling
Pipeline workflows and how animation fits into wider production
File management and version control in a production environment
How to receive and apply creative feedback professionally
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Animate character performances following approved storyboards or briefs
Block out and refine key poses before adding in-betweens
Work within a production pipeline meeting scene handover deadlines
Review your own work against reference footage and director notes
Collaborate with modellers, riggers, and compositors on shared assets
Attend dailies or review sessions to present work in progress
Archive and organise files correctly within the studio system
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 4 (Higher) - roughly Foundation-degree level. Usually needs Level 3 (A-levels, a T-Level, or an Advanced apprenticeship) or relevant experience.
What’s next: Can lead to a Level 5/6 apprenticeship or a more senior role.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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