Creativity runs through your veins and you’ve chosen a career to suit your passion. Whether you’re creating corporate animations for business clients or working on a top-ranking TV show, the life of an animator is rarely dull. From crafting the initial storyboards to creating and finalizing the project, you’re the person for the job.
If you’re on the hunt for new vacancies, the competition is tough. Sure, your showreel will demonstrate your artistic abilities, but it may take more than that to land the position. Hiring managers are increasingly looking for candidates with the right personality to fit their workplace culture. That’s where a well-written animator cover letter slides into the picture.
Ready to put pen to paper? How can you confidently convey your value in just 300-400 words? Here at Resume.io, we can help you increase your chances of getting hired faster. In the following animator cover letter example and writing guide, we will be covering these topics:
- How to choose the right format for your animator cover letter
- Writing tips to help you boost the effectiveness of each paragraph
- The right way to show off your animation talents in this letter
- Basic mistakes you need to know about and avoid at all costs.
It doesn’t matter if you have a way with words or a case of writer’s block, we’ve got you covered. Keep in mind that you can also check out our library of cover letter examples too.
Best format for an animator cover letter
Before you start on an animation, you create a storyboard. The format you choose for your cover letter works the same way — it organizes the content into easy-to-manage chunks. If it’s been a while since you wrote an application, it’s worth going back to the basics. The format of an animator cover letter should contain the following things:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting/salutation
- The cover letter intro
- The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
- The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)
Following this structure means that a hiring manager will have no problem reading your cover letter. You start by greeting them and giving them a teaser of what’s to come. That’s your greeting and introduction. When you’ve nailed that down, you can move on to the middle parts of the cover letter, and then close with a concise and engaging ending.
If you’re looking for some more general advice, you can take a look at our comprehensive cover letter guide. However, in the following guide, we will talk about how you can tailor your cover letter to hiring managers in the creative field. Be sure to take a quick look at our animator cover letter example too. You can use it as inspiration when you get started.
Looking for some more inspiration? Check out our related cover letter samples and associated writing guides now:
Find your next animator vacancy!
When you’re searching for new openings in the animation field, it pays to know where to look. While you can rely on popular sites, such as Indeed, looking at specialist boards is a speedy way to supercharge your search. Here are some creative job boards:
- Animation Jobs
- Animation Mojo
- Animation Career Review
- Art Station
- Creative Planet Network
- Entertainment Careers
- Game Artist Jobs
- Game Jobs
- Visual Effects Society Job Board
- Zerply
If you’re looking for a new position, it pays to cast your net far and wide. You can also use LinkedIn, Twitter, and other social networks to find animator jobs near you.
Re: Animator role
Dear Ms. Hubbard,
With six years of experience in the animation industry and seven awards for various animated shorts, I hope to bring my creative vision to PicTime.
I am committed to telling engaging stories to younger audiences, specializing in character animation using the latest rigging techniques. I have recently been experimenting with AI to complement my work in Cinema 4D, Maya, and MotionBuilder, developing new approaches that have doubled my productivity and visibly improved the kinematics and biomechanics of my work. Technology is at the center of everything that I do.
As an avid user of Houdini for special effects, I love pushing the envelope on the quest to create the most immersive audience experience. Each frame should be as visually stunning as it is emotionally resonant – you can’t have one without the other. I enjoy the process of working with my colleagues across the production team and always take an iterative approach to perfecting each piece of content. Every animation can be born again.
I am confident that my passion for creating high-quality work, my relentless attention to detail, and my commitment to exploring innovative storytelling techniques will make me a strong addition to your team. I pride myself on being flexible until the moment that the project finishes – I am always ready to move with the latest creative vision and often do my best work at the last minute with a deadline looming.
I look forward to hearing more about the role during a potential interview. Your list of future projects is incredibly exciting and I am confident that I would be able to fit in seamlessly.
Sincerely,
Daria Nelson
Cover letter header
The cover letter header is an essential part of your application. Think of it like the end credits of an animation — it provides the reader with the basic information they need. This section should include your name, location, and contact details. Make sure that these are 100% clear. If your cover letter hits the mark, the hiring manager will want to get in touch.
Cover letter greeting
Next up, it’s time to address the reader. Animation is a creative art. However, to land the top job, you’re going to need to put on your “professional” hat. Avoid being too casual and using greetings, such as “Hey,” “Hi,” or “Hello”. This is not a text message. It’s a formal letter expressing your interest in the position. Take a different approach.
As a golden rule, you should find out the hiring manager’s name. You may see this information on the original job posting or the company website. If you’ve managed to figure it out, address your cover letter directly to that individual. For example, you could use “Dear Mrs. Andres” or “Dear Mrs. Berardini”. Be as specific as you can.
On the other hand, you may not always know who will be reading your cover letter. If that’s the case, you should go with a generic greeting. You might choose to write “Dear Pixar Animation Studios” or “Dear animation team”. Choose your cover letter greeting wisely.
Cover letter introduction
You don’t have a long time to grab the reader’s attention. When you’re writing your animator cover letter, each one of the few lines matters. This is your chance to highlight your biggest achievement and/or talent. What are you most proud of? What should the reader know?
It may be helpful to draft a few different introduction ideas here. Playing around with things will help you figure out which way you want to go. If you’re having some trouble knowing where to start, take the time to look at our cover letter introduction example here.
Dear Ms. Hubbard,
With six years of experience in the animation industry and seven awards for various animated shorts, I hope to bring my creative vision to PicTime.
Don’t be afraid to name drop
Bragging about your friend’s cousin who once met Taylor Swift is hardly endearing. You’ll stop receiving dinner invitations thanks to that type of OTT name-dropping.
However, when it comes to your cover letter, it may be smart to add in a couple of big names. If you’ve worked for major animation studios – or with legends of the sector – say so. Mention not only that you worked with them but what you learned too.
Cover letter middle part (body)
The middle paragraphs of cover letters are where things get really interesting. This is where you can flex your creative muscles and show the hiring manager that you have what it takes. Use this space to show off your career highlights and unique talents.
You’re telling the hiring manager a story, and so the narrative structure matters. If in doubt, you can fall back on the STAR method. That means outlining a specific Situation in the workplace, the Task you were given, the Action you took, and the Results that followed. Using this approach means that you will get your point across to the hiring manager well.
Hiring managers want to know what you’ve learned from your experience so far. Don’t leave them wondering. When you’re writing your cover letter body, be sure to reflect on your experiences and what each of them taught you. Spell it out for the reader.
I am committed to telling engaging stories to younger audiences, specializing in character animation using the latest rigging techniques. I have recently been experimenting with AI to complement my work in Cinema 4D, Maya, and MotionBuilder, developing new approaches that have doubled my productivity and visibly improved the kinematics and biomechanics of my work. Technology is at the center of everything that I do.
As an avid user of Houdini for special effects, I love pushing the envelope on the quest to create the most immersive audience experience. Each frame should be as visually stunning as it is emotionally resonant – you can’t have one without the other. I enjoy the process of working with my colleagues across the production team and always take an iterative approach to perfecting each piece of content. Every animation can be born again.
I am confident that my passion for creating high-quality work, my relentless attention to detail, and my commitment to exploring innovative storytelling techniques will make me a strong addition to your team. I pride myself on being flexible until the moment that the project finishes – I am always ready to move with the latest creative vision and often do my best work at the last minute with a deadline looming.
How to close an animator cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
The final lines of your animator cover letter are important. As the hiring manager gets towards the end of the page, they will naturally slow down and pay more attention. That gives you the chance to have your final say. Be sure to make these words count.
You can close the cover letter by reaffirming some key points. For example, you could go over the main qualities that make you ideal for the position. It’s also clever to slip in a call to action (CTA) encouraging the hiring manager to get in touch with you. Whatever route you decide to go down, ensure the tone of your conclusion is bright and optimistic.
I look forward to hearing more about the role during a potential interview. Your list of future projects is incredibly exciting and I am confident that I would be able to fit in seamlessly.
Sincerely,
Daria Nelson
Writing advice: showcasing your talents in your cover letter
Animation is a visual art form… so how can you put it into words? When you’re writing your cover letter, you need to find creative ways to showcase your talents. While that can be a real obstacle, here are some of the tips you may want to consider using:
- Quantify your experience. When you’re talking about your prior experience, it can be hard for a hiring manager to visualize what you mean. Quantify things wherever possible. For example, say that you worked on an “81-minute animated movie”.
- Reflect on your learning. What have you learned over the course of your career? What did each project teach you? How did you alter your approach from that moment? Use these questions as a start and weave the answers into your letter.
- Specify animation styles and techniques. The world of animation is as varied as it is vast. In your cover letter, be sure to specify which styles of animation you tend to use and the animation techniques you employ in your projects.
Animator cover letter with no experience
New to the sector? If you have recently completed an animation qualification and want to get your foot in the door, you may not be sure where to begin. While you may not have a load of experience, you need to make up for it with enthusiasm. Focus on what originally attracted you to the career, the techniques you have learned, and your aspirations.
Basic mistakes in an animator application letter (and how to avoid them)
By this point, you should have a pretty good idea of how to write your animator cover letter. Before you do so, there are some mistakes that you need to avoid. You don’t want to put all of the hard work into crafting a cover letter for it to end up in the trash pile. With that in mind, here are some of the errors you need to steer clear of:
- Grammar and spelling mistakes. While words may not be your bread and butter, your cover letter should be on point. Make sure you spell-check your application. If you’re not sure where to start, you can use a program, such as Grammarly.
- Vague statements. Whenever you’re writing a cover letter, it pays to be specific. Avoid using vague statements or, worse, sweeping generalizations. When you make a point, back it up with some evidence or quantify it.
- Colloquial language. You might be a creative person, but the language you use needs to be formal. Make sure that you take a professional approach when writing your cover letter. Have a friend or coworker check it for you to be certain.
Key takeaways
- While your animation showreel will grab the hiring manager’s interest, a compelling cover letter may seal the deal.
- Focus on your unique talents and what you bring to the table.
- Don’t be afraid to name-drop and explain what you learned from your experience.
- If you want to get ahead of the competition, use a field-tested cover letter template.
