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# UK CG training

Learn 3D, VFX, animation, and motion graphics.

Independent UK reviews of Blender, Maya, Houdini, Unreal Engine, Escape Studios, CGMA, and every serious CG course in 2026. Read before you spend a pound.

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01 Independent editorial

02 UK salary + career context

03 Affiliate-disclosed on every review

04 Updated 2026

# careers / rigger

How to become a rigger in the UK.

Rigger (character TD or creature TD) is the lowest-volume, highest-pay-ceiling lane in UK CG. Junior rigging seats are rare, senior riggers are hunted by every Tier 1 studio (Framestore, DNEG, MPC, ILM London, Aardman, Blue Zoo). The path in is Maya plus Python plus a demo rig that solves a problem someone will actually hire you to solve.

# UK salary band

Junior rigger: £30,000 to £38,000. Mid (3 to 5 yrs): £42,000 to £60,000. Senior (6+ yrs): £62,000 to £90,000. Lead / rigging supervisor: £90,000 to £140,000. Freelance day rate senior: £550 to £850/day.

Three required skills.

  • Maya plus Python (or MEL, C++ for plug-in dev): rigging in UK VFX and animation runs on Maya. Python is expected on day one; senior riggers often ship C++ plug-ins. Read the Maya guide.
  • Anatomy and biomechanics literacy: senior riggers understand how muscle, tendon and fascia move under skin. Study Bridgman, then study animal-locomotion papers. Framestore and DNEG creature riggers test for this at interview.
  • A demo rig that ships a hard problem: a face rig with 40 controls plus corrective blendshapes, a quadruped with correct scapular slide, or a cloth-driven creature rig. One deep rig beats five shallow ones.

Typical 3-year progression.

  1. Year 1: junior rigger or character TD seat at Framestore, DNEG, MPC, Aardman or Blue Zoo. Often entered via a Bournemouth NCCA MA route or by proving a demo rig in freelance. Salary £30,000 to £38,000.
  2. Year 2: production rigger on 1 to 2 features or 1 broadcast series. Python fluency solid. Salary £38,000 to £50,000, freelance day rate £400+.
  3. Year 3: mid rigger with pipeline responsibility (tool authoring, rig maintenance, junior mentoring). Salary £50,000 to £62,000, freelance £500 to £700/day.

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