Tips To Put Together a Better Animation Portfolio

Oct 31

Creating an animation portfolio is crucial for anyone pursuing a career in the field. If your animation

portfolio isn’t getting the attention it deserves, the way you display it could be the issue. Here are some

quick tips to put together a better animation portfolio for submitting to studios and displaying your

work.

Include Your Most Relevant Work

“Saving the best for last” doesn’t apply when creating an animation portfolio. Prioritize your latest and

greatest works by presenting them first in your demo reel, gallery, or other display methods. This can

help you make a memorable first impression on animation companies and hiring managers.

At the same time, don’t let your portfolio fizzle out after your best work. Update your gallery and demo

reel with new works to display your dynamic skills and what you’re learning. Even if you aren’t

professionally employed or attending an art school, you can include recent personal works you’re proud

of. Highlight your proudest works first and continue to update the rest of your selections with your

recent successes.

Just as you would write a cover letter with a specific person or company in mind, keep your audience in

mind while designing your portfolio. Consider the position you’re applying for and who might view your

demo reel and other works. For example, if you’re applying for a character animator position, be sure to

highlight your demo reel and any character design studies you’ve done. As another example, if you want

to send an application to a modern gaming studio, browse their history of releases to get a grasp of their

style. If they work primarily in 3D game creation, include 3D animation or art studies to show which

tools and programs you utilize.

Finally, avoid overstuffing your portfolio. While it’s important to display a variety of relevant work and

skills, you should prioritize quality over quantity. Keep your work organized by type and skill so that

employers can easily reference your works that are relevant to a position. Many portfolio websites make

this easy nowadays by providing easy categorization tools and menus. For example, you could organize

your works by 2D or 3D animations, character designs, or storyboards. Doing so creates a polished

appearance and keeps your portfolio looking presentable.

With these tips for putting together a better animation portfolio, you can create a professional,

organized, and effective collection of work. Now, you’ll feel confident attaching your portfolio to future

applications and presenting it on your personal website. These portfolio upgrades might even help you

obtain your dream job in the animation field.

Monique H-H