Career Corner

Cartoonist

Description of Responsibilities
Cartoonists produce entertaining drawings. They draw political, advertising, social, and sports cartoons. Their work is published in magazines and newspapers. Cartoonists draw single cartoons or entire comic strips. They usually try to make people laugh, think, or both. There are different kinds of cartoonists. Editorial cartoonists try to make people think about current issues; they try to influence public opinion. Some cartoonists may create comic books and other publications. Other cartoonists work in animation, creating moving cartoons that appear on television and in movies. (See Animators.)

Education, Training, and Professional Qualifications
There are no definite requirements. A background in art, such as a college degree in art history or fine art, or a degree in journalism, law, political science, or sociology is recommended.

Other Considerations
The amount of money cartoonists earn depends on their ability to sell their work. Cartoonists need good drawing, design, and writing skills, as well as a good eye for details.