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Cartoonist

I want to be one
Who This Career is For?
A career as a cartoonist is for people who are naturally gifted with a creative mind. Additionally, cartoonists must have the ability to draw, both by hand as well as on the computer. If you have a passion for cartoons and the ability to write and draw on a wide variety of topics, this is the perfect career choice for you!

Cartoonists must have a good sense of humor. More importantly, however, they must have the ability to meet deadlines and work under immense pressure. A professional cartoonist is ideally someone who can think out of the box and constantly innovate.
Want to know more about it?
A job as a professional cartoonist entails story telling in a unique medium. Cartoonists may work on animated multimedia or animated comic books. Cartoonists must be able to narrate important lessons in their writing, so that audiences of all backgrounds and ages can relate to them.

Cartoons can take various different forms. They can be created with pencil, pen, charcoals, inks and increasingly, with computer software. Cartoonists must make a number of career choices when they enter the field. First of all, they must decide which type of cartoons they wish to specialize in. The options vary considerably, from science fiction cartoons to political satire to children’s cartoons. One should be conscious to pick a subfield which interests them.

Cartoons may appear on television in the form of cartoon shows or movies. More commonly, they appear in the print media including newspapers. There are also special books, comics, dedicated to cartoons.
Once the subfield is chosen, one must make the important decision whether they would prefer working independently or for a cartoon company. Trends show that most cartoonists tend to work for companies early on in their career, and once they make a name for themselves and gain some experience, they begin working as freelance cartoonists.

While there are no formal necessary qualifications for cartoonists, many bigger firms prefer people with proper training in the field. They generally prefer hiring candidates who have done a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, since there is no major that is specific to cartooning itself.

Most agencies provide training to new employees so that they can familiarize themselves with the technologies adopted by the agency. People with an innate drawing talent or exceptional creativity are preferred.

What are Salary Prospects?
It is difficult to predict a salary for a cartoonist because the salary a cartoonist earns depends a lot on a number of factors. Most importantly, it depends who you are making the cartoon for. If it is likely to get reproduced in a large number of areas, the earnings can be considerable.

There has been a decline in the total number of salaried cartoonists as there is an increased tendency to work as freelance artists. The average annual mean salary in USA lies at a figure around $50,000. A single freelance cartoon could fetch anywhere between $20 and $2,000 depending on where it is used.


How is Life?
Like the salary of a cartoonist, life in that field depends largely on the career path chosen within the larger field. The work often involves meeting very difficult deadlines and it can be quite stressful.

Hours vary depending on the amount of work you have. Cartoonists generally work standard fulltime hours. However, when the work piles up, one may be required to put in overtime hours. The job is normally an office based desk job. However, freelancers or even employees may work from home on agreement with their employers.
What Perks come along with this career?
There are a number of perks that come along with a career as a cartoonist. First of all, preparing cartoons is a very specialized profession and most people involved are truly interested in what they do. The biggest advantage is normally the downright passion for the job.

It is very fulfilling to be able to see the final works published and cartoonists generally experience an incomparable sense of self-satisfaction seeing their work well received by the public. This career provides people with the ability to express themselves in front of large and diverse audiences. Many cartoons are available throughout the world.

If someone is naturally talented and works hard, there is a lot of room for advancement in this career path in terms of salary. While the starting salary can be quite low, if one makes it big, they will not only earn a considerable salary but may also become a household name.
Which Downsides are there in this career?
The biggest downside to a career as a cartoonist is that it is very difficult to break into the field. One often requires a big break which may depend more on luck than skill. The field is incredibly competitive and one requires a lot of skill and talent to progress.

The entry level salary is very low and until one advances, it may be difficult to make ends meet. The hours can be long and deadlines are often very tight. Thus, there can be a lot of stress on the professional.
How is Competition?
There is a huge amount of competition for a career as a

cartoonist

in most places in the world. However, this does not mean that the field is not growing. The fact that outsourcing is likely to increase in this field as demand for animated cartoons rises means that the job prospects in places such as India will improve considerably.
Locations where this career is good?
The location for a cartoonist is very important. All over the world, the golden rule relevant to location for this career is that the demand is almost entirely specific to urban areas and larger towns. Most cartoons are produced in major cities and then sent all over the world, so cartoonists are required to work from larger urban centers.

However, freelancers have the option to work from homes anywhere in the world, so long as they have access to an internet connection. In India, most cartoonists are based in Mumbai and they work as freelancers.
Career Path
Do a full-fledged art programme at the undergraduate or postgraduate level before you apply for a job or any freelance work. Keep building up a portfolio and sending your work to editors or the design heads of newspapers or magazines who might even decide to hire you. You can also apply to publishing houses which print comic books

Necessary Qualifications
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Prime Institutes for this career
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