How to use freelance animation projects to build your portfolio -

Looking for freelance animation projects to build your portfolio? Read on for how to use animation projects to make your portfolio stand out.

Finding freelance animation projects can be frustrating. Maybe you’ve studied an animation course or committed to teaching yourself animation. On the other hand, maybe you've been a freelance animator for years.

Building a stand-out portfolio is key to becoming a successful freelance animator. For that, of course, you'll need a range of freelance animation projects. Getting your first freelance animation project is the first step on the path to success. Here's how freelance animation projects can build your portfolio for future success.

Your portfolio

What is an animation portfolio? And what freelance animation projects should you add to it?

Simply put, your portfolio is a demonstration of your skills as a freelance animator. It is important to realize that your clients will only spend a moment glancing over your animation studio. This means it needs to be:

Easy to view

Don’t over-complicate your animation portfolio with unnecessary text. Your style as an animator should be visible at a glance. With this purpose in mind, your work should be presented as clearly as possible.

Easy to find

Equally, don’t hide your animation portfolio in the corner of your computer files. Your work should be accessible from your website and on your social media. Be proud of it and make it easy to find!

Client focused

When showing your portfolio to potential clients, make sure it’s the animation they want to see. A portfolio is more than a collection of all the freelance animation projects you’ve ever done.

How to use freelance animation projects to build your portfolio: your portfolio

For more information, see our post on how to create the perfect animation portfolio in nine easy steps.

The key to a good animation portfolio is balance. On the one hand, it’s important to show range. However, don’t confuse potential clients by showing them irrelevant animation. Therefore, choose your freelance animation projects wisely (if you can). The ideas offered in this article are a great place to start, but you know your clients best. Pick projects which attract the client base you want to animate for. This way, each project will help you refine your market niche.

For a detailed guide to finding animation clients, check out our article here.

Your portfolio

What is an animation portfolio? And what freelance animation projects should you add to it?

Simply put, your portfolio is a demonstration of your skills as a freelance animator. It is important to realize that your clients will only spend a moment glancing over your animation studio. This means it needs to be:

Easy to view

Don’t over-complicate your animation portfolio with unnecessary text. Your style as an animator should be visible at a glance. With this purpose in mind, your work should be presented as clearly as possible.

Easy to find

Equally, don’t hide your animation portfolio in the corner of your computer files. Your work should be accessible from your website and on your social media. Be proud of it and make it easy to find!

Client focused

When showing your portfolio to potential clients, make sure it’s the animation they want to see. A portfolio is more than a collection of all the freelance animation projects you’ve ever done.

For more information, see our post on how to create the perfect animation portfolio in nine easy steps.

The key to a good animation portfolio is balance. On the one hand, it’s important to show range. However, don’t confuse potential clients by showing them irrelevant animation. Therefore, choose your freelance animation projects wisely (if you can). The ideas offered in this article are a great place to start, but you know your clients best. Pick projects which attract the client base you want to animate for. This way, each project will help you refine your market niche.

For a detailed guide to finding animation clients, check out our article here.

create the perfect animation portfolio in nine easy steps: keep updated

Using freelance animation projects to enhance your portfolio

You might not be getting the best pay when you start as a freelance animator. You might not have a wide choice of freelance animation projects available. Work with what you’ve got. Treat each freelance animation project as a future investment. By building your skillset, you’ll have more to add to your portfolio. The more you add to your portfolio, the more you can refine it. The more you refine it, the closer you come to finding your niche, and the more chance you have of attracting your perfect client. Here are some valuable skills to build your animation portfolio:

Character design

Even if you’re not planning on becoming a character animator, character design is a key skill. Show a range of different styles in the characters you design. If you can, get involved with freelance animation projects that involve characters. Potential freelance animation projects might look like short films, music videos, or explainers.

Lighting and composition

Lighting and composition are skills you can showcase in any freelance animation project. These skills are essential to your portfolio. Not working on your dream freelance animation project? See this as a chance to demonstrate outstanding lighting and composition. This practice will eventually help produce an equally strong portfolio.

Rigging

If you’re looking to improve your 3D character design, you also need to work on your rigging. Rigging is a highly technical job, but it’s a skillset you’ll need to know if you want to get hired as a freelance 3D animator. Check out 3D modelling sites like SketchFab and TurboSquid. Here you'll find models that you can practice rigging on. Once you're confident in your rigging, put your new skills into practice. Look for freelance animation projects requiring 3D characters, to get started. Experienced riggers are extremely valuable to both clients and animation studios. It’s a skill worth learning.

Graphic design

Producing graphic design alongside animation is a great way to pick up more clients. Most animators already have a keen eye for visual design. They also have a good understanding of the programs used to create graphic design. Offering graphic design services will increase your client base. Businesses looking to improve their website, blog or social media need skills you already have. Take advantage of this. Look for freelance projects incorporating digital design as well as animation.

Motion graphics

Producing stylish motion graphics will help you attract business clients. Logo animation, eye-catching infographics, and beautiful typography are all in high demand. Motion graphics are used for a wide range of freelance animation projects. These can range from explainers to credit sequences. If you’re still looking for animation clients, start with a personal project. Designing a logo or motion graphics for your website is great practice. It's also productive and will help your website stand out to potential clients.

Using freelance animation projects to enhance your portfolio

You might not be getting the best pay when you start as a freelance animator. You might not have a wide choice of freelance animation projects available. Work with what you’ve got. Treat each freelance animation project as a future investment. By building your skillset, you’ll have more to add to your portfolio. The more you add to your portfolio, the more you can refine it. The more you refine it, the closer you come to finding your niche, and the more chance you have of attracting your perfect client. Here are some valuable skills to build your animation portfolio:

Character design

Even if you’re not planning on becoming a character animator, character design is a key skill. Show a range of different styles in the characters you design. If you can, get involved with freelance animation projects that involve characters. Potential freelance animation projects might look like short films, music videos, or explainers.

Lighting and composition

Lighting and composition are skills you can showcase in any freelance animation project. These skills are essential to your portfolio. Not working on your dream freelance animation project? See this as a chance to demonstrate outstanding lighting and composition. This practice will eventually help produce an equally strong portfolio.

Rigging

If you’re looking to improve your 3D character design, you also need to work on your rigging. Rigging is a highly technical job, but it’s a skillset you’ll need to know if you want to get hired as a freelance 3D animator. Check out 3D modelling sites like SketchFab and TurboSquid. Here you'll find models that you can practice rigging on. Once you're confident in your rigging, put your new skills into practice. Look for freelance animation projects requiring 3D characters, to get started. Experienced riggers are extremely valuable to both clients and animation studios. It’s a skill worth learning.

Graphic design

Producing graphic design alongside animation is a great way to pick up more clients. Most animators already have a keen eye for visual design. They also have a good understanding of the programs used to create graphic design. Offering graphic design services will increase your client base. Businesses looking to improve their website, blog or social media need skills you already have. Take advantage of this. Look for freelance projects incorporating digital design as well as animation.

Motion graphics

Producing stylish motion graphics will help you attract business clients. Logo animation, eye-catching infographics, and beautiful typography are all in high demand. Motion graphics are used for a wide range of freelance animation projects. These can range from explainers to credit sequences. If you’re still looking for animation clients, start with a personal project. Designing a logo or motion graphics for your website is great practice. It's also productive and will help your website stand out to potential clients.

Personal projects

Struggling to find client work to add to your portfolio? Set yourself some personal projects. Alternatively, are your current freelance animation projects effectively developing your skillset? Produce a personal project that is.

Personal projects also allow you to animate for your ideal client. This will help focus your portfolio. For example, do you want to create stunning adverts? Consider animating an advert for a fake product or business of your own invention.

Summary: using freelance animation projects to build your portfolio

Many animators see each freelance animation project as a present profit opportunity. Instead, think of each project as a building block. Always consider freelance animation projects in light of future clients. How will a project add to your skillset? Can this project help refine your market niche? You can build your skills as a freelance animator from every project you take on.

Keep motivated, keep hunting for clients, and keep finding ways to develop your animation portfolio.

Many animators see each freelance animation project as a present profit opportunity. Instead, think of each project as a building block. Always consider freelance animation projects in light of future clients. How will a project add to your skillset? Can this project help refine your market niche? You can build your skills as a freelance animator from every project you take on.

Keep motivated, keep hunting for clients, and keep finding ways to develop your animation portfolio.