IIAD Admissions 2026
Last Date to Apply – 23rd January | Exam Dates – 31st Jan (online), 1st Feb (Online & Offline) | Leading Design College | Highest CTC: ₹12 LPA | Average CTC: ₹7.5 LPA | Scholarships for Deserving Students
Creating a sustainable design career in animation or VFX would be the ideal outcome for many candidates who pursue digital design courses. Animation and Visual Effects (VFX) are two closely related yet distinct fields within digital design and media production. Candidates can develop a sustainable career in this field, given its crucial role in films, television, gaming, advertising, and digital content creation. However, candidates exploring a career in digital design often struggle to understand how animation differs from VFX and which path best aligns with their interests and skills. Understanding the distinction between animation and VFX enables aspiring individuals to make informed academic and career decisions.
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Read the article below to learn all about the difference between Animation courses and VFX courses, the potential job roles, salaries, qualifications, and career scope, among others.
Animation is the art of creating motion by designing a sequence of images or frames. Animators bring characters, objects, and environments to life through movement, expressions, and storytelling. Animation can be created using traditional hand-drawn techniques or modern digital tools.
Animation is commonly used in animated films, television series, cartoons, video games, educational content, and mobile applications.
Visual Effects, or VFX, involves integrating digitally created elements into live-action footage to enhance or alter scenes that cannot be achieved through practical filming. VFX artists use advanced software to create realistic environments, effects, and simulations such as explosions, weather effects, creatures, and futuristic landscapes.
VFX is widely used in movies, web series, commercials, and OTT content to create visually immersive experiences. Unlike animation, VFX works alongside real footage to enhance realism and visual impact.
Candidates can refer to the table below to check out the top institutes and the potential courses that are offered for Animation and VFX.
Name of the Institute | Animation Course Name |
National Institute of Design (NID) | B.Des / M.Des in Animation Film Design |
M.Des in Animation | |
B.Des in Animation | |
B.Des Animation and VFX | |
B.Des in Animation |
Name of the Institute | VFX Course Name |
Whistling Woods International | MFA in Filmmaking (VFX & Virtual Production) |
MAAC (Maya Academy) | ADVFX Plus (Advanced Visual Effects) |
B.Sc. in 3D Animation and Visual Effects | |
B.Sc. in Visual Effects and Animation |
Both industries are booming, driven by the rise of streaming platforms like Netflix and the expansion of the gaming market.
3D/2D Animator: Bringing characters to life.
Character Designer: Creating the look and personality of a protagonist.
Storyboard Artist: Visualising the script frame-by-frame before production.
Layout Artist: Setting the stage and camera angles for a scene.
Compositor: The final artist who "glues" all layers together.
FX Artist: Specializing in simulations like smoke, rain, or magical spells.
Matte Painter: Creating vast, photorealistic digital backdrops.
Roto Artist: Manually tracing over footage to separate actors from their backgrounds.
Last Date to Apply – 23rd January | Exam Dates – 31st Jan (online), 1st Feb (Online & Offline) | Leading Design College | Highest CTC: ₹12 LPA | Average CTC: ₹7.5 LPA | Scholarships for Deserving Students
Tie-ups with over 100 international Universities in USA, UK, France and Australia. Wide Range of scholarships available.
Salary Potential: Entry-level roles in India typically start between Rs. 3–5 LPA, while senior specialists and VFX Supervisors can earn upwards of Rs. 15–25 LPA or more, depending on their expertise and the studio's scale.
The AI Revolution: Both fields are being transformed by AI. Tools now automate tedious tasks like rotoscoping or lip-syncing, allowing artists to focus more on the "creative" rather than the "manual."
Virtual Production: Technologies like the Unreal Engine are blurring the lines further, allowing VFX to happen in real-time on LED stages while filming.
Aside from the listed job roles, candidates also need to be informed about the possible salaries that they can earn down the line. The tables below list the individual job roles and the range of salaries, starting from Freshers to Mid-level and Senior employees.
Job Role | Freshers | Mid-level/Senior Roles |
2D Animator | Rs 1.8 - Rs 3.2 LPA | Rs 6 - Rs 10 LPA |
3D Animator | Rs 2.5 - Rs 4 LPA | Rs 8 - Rs 15 LPA |
Character Animator | Rs 3.5 - Rs 5 LPA | Rs 10 - Rs 18 LPA |
Rigging Artist | Rs 2 - Rs 3.5 LPA | Rs 7 - Rs 12 LPA |
Storyboard Artist | Rs 1.5 - Rs 3 LPA | Rs 6.5 - Rs 9 LPA |
3D Modeler | Rs 2.5 - Rs. 4.5 LPA | Rs 9 - Rs 14 LPA |
Job Role | Freshers | Mid-level/Senior Roles |
VFX Artist (Generalist) | Rs 2.5 - Rs 4.5 LPA | Rs 10 - Rs 18 LPA |
Compositor | Rs 2.4 - Rs 4 LPA | Rs 9 - Rs 16 LPA |
FX Artist (Simulations) | Rs 3.5 - Rs 5.5 LPA | Rs 12 - Rs 22 LPA |
Roto & Paint Artist | Rs 1.2 - Rs 2.5 LPA | Rs 4.5 - Rs 7 LPA |
Matchmove Artist | Rs 2 -Rs 3.5 LPA | Rs 6 - Rs 10 LPA |
VFX Supervisor | - | Rs 18 - Rs 35+ LPA |
Location: Studios in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad generally offer 20-30% higher packages due to the concentration of major production houses like DNEG, Technicolour, and MPC.
Specialisation: High-end technical roles like FX TD (Technical Director) or Unreal Engine Specialists often command the highest salaries in the current market.
Portfolio: The Portfolio matters more than your degree. A stunning showreel can often bridge the gap between a junior and mid-level salary, even for someone with fewer years of experience.
Courses offered in- Fashion Design, Product Design, Communication Design, Interior & Spatial Design & Animation & VFX Design
Ranked #45 Among Universities in India by NIRF | 1950+ Students Placed, 91% Placement, 800+ Recruiters
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Major Difference between Animation and VFX. Animation involves creating motion and movement from scratch using drawings or 3D models. VFX enhances live-action footage by integrating computer-generated effects.
Entry-level artists earn Rs. 2.5–4.5 LPA, mid-level artists earn Rs. 5–10 LPA, and senior-level professionals can earn Rs. 12–20 LPA or more.
Traditional animation, 2D animation, 3D animation, and stop-motion animation are the four key types of animation.
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
Getting admission in IITs or NID for BDes depends on a few things: your entrance exam score, portfolio, and sometimes your interview performance.
IITs (for BDes) : Admission is mainly through UCEED . You need a good rank in UCEED to get in.
NID : Admission is through NID
Here are top BDes (Fashion Design) colleges in Bangalore:
National Institute of Fashion Technology , Bangalore – Top choice
JD Institute of Fashion Technology
Vogue Institute of Art and Design
IIFA Multimedia
Army Institute of Fashion and Design
Taking a second drop is not an issue if you clear the
FLAME University Pune is a good option for B.Des if you’re looking for a creative and interdisciplinary learning environment . The university offers a well-structured design program combined with liberal arts, allowing students to explore multiple interests It has a beautiful and modern campus with strong academic support and personalized
CUET qualifies BDes Fashion Designing students.
The basis for admission is the CUET score.
yes, Indeed, CUET qualifies BDes Fashion Designing students.
Admission CUET score is very important.
1200+ Recruiters for Placements | 30+ International Collaborations | 45+ Advanced Labs and Studios
Among top 100 Universities Globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026
No. 1 Design & Fashion Institute by ASSOCHAM, India Today, Outlook and The Week rankings
Ranked #45 amongst Universities in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in Academic Reputation in India by QS World University Rankings
Outstanding Track Record in Placements.
Ranked 2nd in the IIRF 2023 Design School Ranking | Approved by AICTE | Highest CTC 13 LPA | Application Deadline: 20th Jan'26