There's huge demand for 2D animators in Ottawa. Studios like Atomic Cartoons, Mercury Filmworks, and Big Jump Entertainment are constantly looking for new talent in the city.

In fact, some studios are having to send work overseas because they can't find enough qualified local animators.

"We're starving for talent" says Cory Morrison, co-founder of Big Jump. "And we're not the only ones. Several leading companies are having trouble filling positions."

The upside? Breaking into the animation industry has never been easier, particularly for newcomers with no experience.

The only catch is you need a specific set of skills to really capitalize on these job opportunities. Studios want new hires who don't need much training and can hit the ground running.

In this post, we'll walk you through the core skills and traits every Ottawa animation studio is looking for right now.

With these skills, you can get hired straight out of training, even if you don't have industry experience.

Photo: A.J. Cote (right) with Big Jump co-founder Cory Morrison (left) in an interview with CTV News about the Ottawa animation industry.

This week, we talked with the creator of Herzing's 2D Animation program, the amazingly talented (and generally awesome) A.J. Cote.

We wanted to learn about the alleged "job boom" for animators in Ottawa, and find out what's driving this trend.

A.J. has worked as an animator in Ottawa for decades, so he definitely has his finger on the pulse of hiring trends and the industry as a whole.

He also helped develop Herzing's animation program, which he says was designed to produce grads for local studios to hire.

In this interview, A.J. explains what's going on with Ottawa's animation scene, why there's a shortage of talent, and how Herzing is filling that gap.

Considering a career in animation? Here's what you need to know.

Updated March 2022

Think you might want to pursue a career in 2D animation? Now is an excellent time to get started, especially in Ottawa.

Even before the pandemic, there was so much animation work flowing through the city that studios couldn't find enough qualified people to meet production needs.

And when live-action productions were forced to shut down, the demand for animated content really took off.

That's where Herzing College's accelerated 2D animation course comes in. Our mission is to expand the local animation scene by producing skilled graduates who can fill those available studio jobs.

This program teaches the software and real animation skills you need to get hired—in just 12 months of training.

What makes Herzing's 2D animation course so unique? Here's what you can expect in class.

Photo: Megan Winters, 2D animation graduate, Herzing College Ottawa

Wondering what it's like to take an 2D animation course? Have questions about breaking into the animation industry?

Megan Winters is the perfect person to talk to.

She got into 2D animation a bit later in life, after putting several years into an office job. She tried out some different animation schools but struggled to find the right fit.

She even landed a few animation gigs, but needed more advanced software skills to really get her career off the ground.

Fast-forward a few years and Megan's just about finished the 2D animation course at Herzing. The best part? She has already been hired by a major Ottawa animation studio.

We interviewed Megan to get her opinion of the 2D program, and learn more about her career plans after graduation.

Find out what to expect in class and if this training might be right for you.

Top animation studio, Big Jump Entertainment, has partnered with Herzing College to train and recruit talented 2D animation students.

A lot of people dream of a career in 2D animation, working on major TV shows and movies at a top animation studio. But they figure the industry is too hard to break into. There’s too much competition for great studio jobs and they’ll never get hired after investing in training. 

They feel pressured to choose another, less “risky” career path and give up on becoming an animator. Sound familiar?  

We recently started a 2D Animation program at Herzing because the exact opposite is true. There is actually a major shortage of skilled 2D animators in Ottawa.

Herzing College partners with leading animation studio, Big Jump Entertainment, to offer students internships, training, and jobs

Did you know that Ottawa is one of the hottest cities in Canada for animation? Ottawa is home to 7 major studios, employs at least 1000 animators, and creates amazing content for iconic production companies, like Disney and Marvel.

And we're just getting started. Ottawa is quickly gaining a reputation for world-class animation talent. Local studios are getting more work, and seeking to expand—the only problem is finding trained animators to hire.

Demand is overtaking supply, and the city is experiencing a serious shortage of animation professionals. Cory Morrison is one of the founders of Big Jump Entertainment, and is seeing this phenomenon unfold on the front lines.