Hello! In this blog entry, I will talk about my research into roles and professional practice in the character animation industry. I will split these entries in three main topics: location, area of industry, and pipeline positions that I am interested in.
1. LOCATION
Location of work is something that is constantly in my mind, and I frequently get asked if I would like to return to Chile or stay in the UK. While I love my country, I find myself being someone who has always sought to work and live abroad for several reasons.
The first I would like to mention is job opportunities. There is a growing creative industry in Chile, as it has seen a notable increase in animation export in recent years, including high-profile collaborations with animation giants such as Disney and Lucasfilm (ProChile, 2024). Punkrobot Studio’s short for Star Wars: Visions Volume 2, demonstrates the creative potential of the industry on a global scale. However, many studios remain small, often with fewer than 20 – 30 people. Many projects rely on government grants, such as CORFO, Fondart and CNTV, which leads to high competition and sometimes result in delays or cancellations when funding is limited.
The current panorama of the local industry makes it more challenging for emerging animators to grow, as opportunities to gain industry experience are scarcer. This is especially true during the first years as a professional, where the chance to work alongside experienced animators and directors is invaluable.
Secondly, there is the experience and human connection. While it is true that remote work is possible nowadays, and animation offers the advantage of working from home, especially as a freelancer, I would prefer to visit a studio in person and meet my team if given the opportunity. This not only facilitates networking, but it also provides a more human experience: building friendships by working on the same projects, enduring crunch periods together, sharing lunch and creating memories. As Toniko Pantoja mentions in his YouTube video, “Animation Freelance VS Fulltime – My thoughts and experiences,” these in-person connections can significantly enrich my professional and personal growth.
One of the locations I would ideally like to work in is London as there’s some studios I would absolutely love to collaborate with such as THE LINE. I recently had the opportunity attend to their first Directors Showcase in October, see a behind the scenes on many of their projects and personally talk to directors Wesley Louis and Tim McCourt about their experiences working in the studio. They gave me some advice on pursuing animation as a career, and just the overall experience was very rich and inspiring.
References
ProChile (2024) Exportaciones de Servicios de Animación registran cifras de crecimiento históricas y tienen a Estados Unidos como su principal destino. Available at: https://www.prochile.gob.cl/noticias/detalle-noticia/2024/10/11/exportaciones-de-servicios-de-animaci%C3%B3n-registran-cifras-de-crecimiento-hist%C3%B3ricas-y-tienen-a-estados-unidos-como-su-principal-destino (Accessed: 23 Nov. 2025).
Pantoja, T. (2020) Animation Freelance VS Fulltime – My thoughts and experiences [YouTube]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18gwx8j_fHc [Accessed 23 Nov. 2025].
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