How to Become a Freelance 2D Animator in 2025

A possible alternative career path for 2D Animators is finding work as a freelancer. Freelance Animators can avoid some of the grind associated with entry-level work and gain greater control over project selection. However, they must actively find clients and maintain industry relationships. According to the BLS, 63% of animation and special effects artists work in some capacity as self-employed contract workers.

What is a 2D Animator?

2D Animators are creative professionals who plan, design, and create two-dimensional animated assets for diverse applications, including traditional animation, video games, digital advertising, and user interfaces. If a digital asset involves motion, a 2D Animator likely contributed to its creation. 2D Animators may also be involved in the development, design, planning, or storyboarding phases of a given project, depending on their level of expertise and the kind of project in question. On the whole, 2D animation is a versatile skill used in various industries and fields, making it an ideal career path for anyone interested in a creative career.

In today’s world, unless a project consciously uses the unique affordances of hand-drawn animation, almost all 2D animation work is computer-assisted. This shift means most animators have begun using computer design applications such as Adobe After Effects or Premiere Pro to add the illusion of motion to a set of static images. 2D Animators may also use tools like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to construct certain kinds of specific animated assets such as moving digital logos or online GIFs. This emphasis on digital animation tools means that your training as a 2D Animator will cover a lot of technical training.

Read more about what a 2D Animator does.

What is 2D Animation Freelancing Like?

Freelance 2D animation work mostly differs from studio work in terms of the logistics of receiving assignments. Whereas a Studio Animator receives regular assignments from a supervisor, freelancers need to cultivate an audience, negotiate with potential clients, and finalize business arrangements with clients before beginning an assignment, after which they must complete the work on time and to the specifications of the person contracting their services.

This structure means that interacting regularly with clients and other stakeholders will be a key part of the daily work of a Freelance 2D Animator. In contrast, a Studio Animator typically does not handle this responsibility until later in their career. This will be the most significant point of difference for most Animators choosing between a studio job and freelance work.

The other major distinction is that Freelance 2D Animators need to handle the business side of their freelance animation work in a way that studio Animators don’t. As a freelancer, you’ll need to manage incoming and outgoing payments and invoices, keep track of your financial records for legal and tax purposes, and potentially hire other freelancers to assist with managing the logistics of running a profitable animation business.

Is 2D Animation Freelancing Right for Me?

Choosing whether or not you want to try your hand at freelancing depends on how much you value the autonomy and creative control compared to the additional responsibilities you must take on. As a freelancer, you are given far more creative freedom to work on projects you want, and you tend to attract clients who specifically seek out your creative style for their projects. This means you are likely to spend less time on general assignments required quickly by your employer or studio.

The drawback to freelance work is that the effort required to enter the field will be significantly higher than what is required to get an entry-level position at a studio. You’ll need to build an initial clientele, develop a stable base of regular clients, and aggressively network to ensure you have enough work. Additionally, you’ll need to handle all the administrative aspects of your animation work, including keeping financial records, managing invoices and payments, and handling taxes. This requires patience and strong interpersonal skills, particularly if you aspire to expand beyond individual freelance work.

Steps to Become a Freelance 2D Animator

Once you have decided to pursue a career as a Freelance 2D Animator, there are several steps you can take to ensure long-term success. You’ll need proper training, to effectively prepare your job application materials, and position yourself competitively in the job market. While the actual path will vary greatly for everyone, there are key steps you should take to increase your chances of becoming a successful professional 2D Animator.

Decide If 2D Animation is Right for You

An essential first step is deciding whether or not you actually want to embark on a career in 2D animation or whether you want to keep your interest in the field as a hobby. 2D animation can be a grueling job that requires a great deal from animators and artists. Like all creative jobs, it will be very deadline-oriented and occasionally demanding, as you must respond to different tasks and assignments to ensure the project is completed on time. This isn’t to discourage people from seeking a job in 2D animation, a wonderfully diverse and vibrant industry, but you’ll want to enter your training prepared for the work ahead.

One way to lay this groundwork is to take advantage of the free training resources and seminars available through Noble Desktop. Seminars such as the Getting Started in Motion Graphics course, offer students a wide overview of the field of 2D and 3D animation to help them decide whether or not that is the career path they want to pursue. Noble also provides free seminars like Intro to After Effects, which teach you the fundamental basics of using industry-standard motion graphics tools like Adobe After Effects. These courses are a great way to help you become comfortable and familiar with important design tools before enrolling in a professional training program focused on that tool.

This is also a great time to begin building your knowledge of animation theory and history. Being a successful 2D Animator requires engaging with animation as a unique art form, and the medium has been popular for over 100 years, allowing it to develop its own language and history. You won’t need to be an expert in 1930s animation to get a job, but knowing broad trends and understanding shifts in popular styles and techniques can help shape your creative voice and better understand how animators make informed choices when working on projects. This doesn’t require extensive reading; simply watching or engaging with animated projects in your chosen medium is sufficient.

Get Trained in 2D Animation

The next step is one of the most straightforward: you’ll actually need to learn 2D animation skills. While most animators get this training as part of a four-year degree program, there are viable alternatives for students who want to accelerate their learning. Noble Desktop offers comprehensive animation training in their Motion Graphics Certificate program, which aims to take students from relative novices (some knowledge of Illustrator and Photoshop is required) to professional 2D Animators in only a few months of study. This course will provide students with immersive, hands-on training in tools like Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Adobe Cinema 4D, and the projects students build in this course will be ideally suited for their design portfolio once they enter the market, since the hands-on instruction mirrors the kinds of projects you can expect to work on in a professional capacity.

These courses also effectively prepare students for the job market through a career-focused curriculum tailored to individuals seeking employment in 2D animation. They include professional development training, including one-on-one career mentorship sessions and industry-focused workshops. In these seminars and meetings, students can receive tailored feedback on their job materials, ask questions about the pitfalls they may encounter on the job market, and build connections with a cohort of like-minded students and professionals. These training seminars offer invaluable assistance for students looking to shift their careers, and they complement the professional skills development associated with the rest of the program.

Search for Jobs

Once you are confident in your 2D animation skills training, you will want to start searching for jobs and compiling your materials. Assuming you haven’t built particularly deep industry connections, the most common way to search for a job is by using a job posting aggregation tool like Glassdoor.com, Indeed.com, or LinkedIn. These platforms let users browse hundreds of job openings and apply directly. This makes them ideal places to begin a job search, particularly for new 2D Animators searching for entry-level positions.

These sites can be difficult to navigate for new users, since they are not always the most intuitive in their organization and construction. It is easy enough for job seekers to enter "2D Animator" in the search bar, and this is an essential first step, but it shouldn’t be the last. You’ll want to search for other job titles related to 2D animation to get a broader understanding of available positions. Then, perform a quick survey of the job postings and create a list of positions you want to apply for. A good set of applications should be tailored to the specific job opening, so it’s unlikely you’ll be able to apply to every job. Additionally, quickly check minimum required qualifications or skills to avoid wasting time; applying to jobs you clearly don’t qualify for rarely makes efficient use of your time and effort. Finally, pay attention to the job posting date. Many job search websites aren’t great at removing filled or ongoing positions. If a job was posted seven months ago, it’s likely filled. Even positions posted six weeks ago may already have many applicants; since these websites greatly expand the candidate pool, applying early in the process is crucial.

Collect Your Job Materials

Most 2D Animator job openings will require the same basic job materials for consideration. These materials include a resume, a cover letter, and a portfolio of sample animations (sometimes called a demo reel). These materials will be the first things a prospective employer sees and will determine whether your application receives more than a brief glance. In the long term, the demo reel is the most important aspect of your application, but it also takes the most time for a prospective employer to analyze. Therefore, the resume and cover letter are necessary to capture the hiring manager’s interest and guide them through your demo reel. This is easily the most challenging part of the job application process, and it’s highly likely you’ll need help and guidance during this step.

These materials should also be crafted specifically for each job you apply for. While it’s helpful to have a generic cover letter and demo reel ready to customize further, you still want to tailor your materials to each particular job. This requires additional research and effort, but it will significantly enhance your long-term chances of success. It will also help your resume stand out from more generic job applications, as it demonstrates your genuine interest in their position.

Prepare for an Interview

Once you’ve submitted your job applications, you’ll need to prepare to engage face-to-face with hiring managers in a job interview. This part of the process is among the final stages of preparation, and you shouldn’t invest excessive effort into this step until you secure an interview invitation. It is, however, an essential component of the later stages of the application process, so it’s helpful to be aware of what you’ll need to succeed in an interview. When you reach this stage, it’s recommended that you practice with mock interview questions and prepare for multiple types of interviews. After this preparation, the job application process is beyond your control, and you can only wait to see the outcome of your efforts.

Learn Business Skills

An essential part of being a successful freelance 2D Animator is understanding that you are essentially a one-person business and need to treat your freelance work accordingly. This means that you must handle the logistical aspects of working with clients and negotiating rates for your work, including determining the appropriate rate to charge. Freelancing tends to be networking-heavy since successful freelancers will need to build a stable base of clients. Additionally, you may need to learn marketing skills to effectively sell your services.

Another, fewer obvious aspect of working as a freelancer is that you’ll need at least a basic understanding of business law to avoid complex challenges. For example, you’ll need to understand how to properly file tax reports and document your income and business expenses to pay the correct amount of taxes without overpaying. You’ll also need to know the proper channels to collect payments for your work. This might be minor if freelancing is only part-time, but if it is your primary income, it is crucial to understand how to conduct business legally and responsibly.

Learn the Skills to Become a 2D Animator at Noble Desktop

Once you’ve committed to learning the skills necessary to become a 2D Animator, Noble Desktop is available to make that dream a reality through professional skills training. Noble offers a wide array of 2D animation classes, available in-person or online, and all of these classes are taught by expert instructors with years of on-the-job experience. This structure ensures that regardless of how your course is delivered, you’ll receive real-time instruction, ask questions, and get personalized feedback on your work. Additionally, whether you take the course in-person or online, you’ll benefit from small class sizes and professional development resources, including one-on-one career mentoring in career-certificate programs. Finally, every Noble class comes with the option for a free retake within one year, giving you the chance to build your portfolio and gain additional hands-on experience in preparation for entering the job market.

Students interested in a career change may consider enrolling in Noble’s Motion Graphics Certificate program. This class aims to teach students how to use tools like Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro to create evocative 2D and 3D animated assets for practical projects. In this class, students will be guided by using After Effects to animate text, photos, and videos, and they will learn how to subtly yet effectively modify these animations. Students will also learn how to create animated images using layered Photoshop and Illustrator files (this course does not include instruction in either of these tools, as they are prerequisites for the course). Finally, students will learn how to use Premiere Pro to edit their animated assets into video files. All this work culminates in a series of professional development seminars, including a portfolio-building workshop and a one-on-one mentorship session, intended to prepare students for careers as 2D or 3D Animators.

Students who aren’t ready to make a significant career shift but want to learn 2D animation skills may consider one of Noble’s many motion graphics bootcamps. These classes include the Adobe After Effects Bootcamp, which provides students with guided instruction in using After Effects for creating animated digital assets, and the Adobe Premiere Pro Bootcamp, which teaches students how to compile their animated assets into completed projects. These courses are excellent starting points for new animators looking to learn the trade. However, they don’t provide the professional development services offered through Noble’s career certificate programs.

Finally, students who aren’t sure they want to start learning 2D animation but are intrigued by the possibility should consult Noble’s free training resources to learn more. Noble’s Learn 2D Animation page, as well as their Learn After Effects and Learn Premiere Pro pages, compile a wide range of articles, seminars, and resources that students can use.