Project Roles Required to Produce Animation (and Who Should Fill Them)

Animated content is powerful, eye-catching, informative, and engaging. But before you dive into hiring, let's get clear on the essential roles that make an animation project run smoothly. This post breaks down who you need, what they actually do, and how to avoid the most common traps.

Why Most In-House Animation Plans Struggle

• Trying to Find Unicorns: Too many teams look for one person to do it all: concepting, storyboarding, designing, animating, scripting, and recording a voiceover. That person doesn’t exist.

• Undefined Roles: Without role clarity, timelines slip, revisions balloon, and your team burns out.

• Feedback Chaos: Vague notes like "make it pop" or too many cooks in the kitchen? That’s how you waste weeks.

• Lack of Planning: Skipping storyboards or diving into animation with no script leads to expensive do-overs.

• Overstuffed Generalists: One person doing five jobs will produce mediocre results at best and will probably eventually quit.

The Core Roles You Need (And What They Actually Do)

1. Creative Director / Lead

Owns the vision. Ensures everything aligns with your brand and marketing goals. Decides what the video should be.

2. Producer / Project Manager

Keeps things on track. Builds schedules, manages feedback, and shields creatives from scope creep.

3. Scriptwriter / Content Strategist

Crafts the message. Turns your marketing goals into compelling scripts and video concepts.

4. Motion Designer

Animates your content. Think explainer videos, logo reveals, UI demos. This is your go-to for most marketing content.

5. Designer / Illustrator

Creates the visuals. Assets, characters, icons. Anything the animator needs to bring the story to life.

6. Editor & Sound Designer (Post-Production)

Final polish. Handles voiceover sync, music, sound effects, and final export.

If you're stylistically producing 3D assets or characters, additional roles are a must.

Motion Designer vs Animator: What's the Difference?

• Motion Designer: Design-driven. Animates graphics, icons, text. Perfect for simple marketing videos.

• Animator: Character or 3D-driven. Tells stories with expressive motion. Great for narrative content.

Hire based on what kind of content you need most.

How to Keep It Sustainable

• Define Roles Clearly: Clarity beats chaos.

• Protect Your Team: Don’t let generalists drown in requests.

• Plan Realistically: Even short animations take time.

• Use Templates & Tools: Don’t reinvent the wheel every time.

• Outsource Smart: Hire outside help for overflow or specialist needs.

A Final Word

A great animation team doesn’t need to be big. It needs to be clear. Get the roles right, set realistic expectations, and focus on sustainable output. You’ll save time, budget, and a lot of creative headaches.

Need help figuring out your first hire or workflow? Hop on a call and let’s talk.