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Written by Mumtaj Khan
Jan 30, 2026

Cartoon Art Careers: How to Succeed as a Professional Cartoonist

Cartoons are really fun to watch. People of all ages like them. We all like some cartoons more than others like Tom & Jerry or Chota Bheem.. Who makes these cartoons? The person who makes cartoons is called a cartoonist. Cartoonists do not just draw the faces of the characters they also decide what the characters are like. When we think of cartoonists we think of people like RK Laxman or Matt Groening. If you like to draw and have a lot of ideas then being a cartoonist is a great job for you. Cartoonists get to use their imagination to make people happy which is a cool thing, about being a cartoonist.

Cartoonists are professionals who use cartoons, drawings, and sketches to communicate their thoughts, emotions, and ideas. Their work combines writing and art to communicate a sense of levity about current events, current trends, and even daily life circumstances.

Who is exactly a Cartoonist?

A cartoonist is someone who draws cartoon characters and gives them features.

You can be a cartoonist for a newspaper or you can draw books or even work for television channels it really depends on what you like to do.

Some cartoonists make cartoons about issues like social problems or religious issues or political issues or environmental problems that affect the cartoonist and the people, around the cartoonist.

People make cartoons to make other people happy. Most people who make cartoons for a living want to show messages about our society. For example characters in a strip series have their own stories and lives. The person who draws the strip will come up with a story and characters that people can care about. Cartoons can be a lot of things. Cartoons are mostly used to tell people something important about our society. Cartoons are used to communicate messages, about our society and the people who make cartoons want people to think about these messages.So you want to know what it takes to become a cartoonist.To become a cartoonist you have to meet criteria.The main thing is that you should have an imagination and you should be able to draw well.You must have a passion for cartoonist work. You must be creative.

Here are some things you need to become a cartoonist:

  1. You must have a degree, in cartooning or a related field
  2. You must have a portfolio of your cartoonist work
  3. You must be able to use computer software to create cartoonist work
  4. You must be able to meet deadlines and work under pressure to become a cartoonist.

Becoming a cartoonist is not easy. If you really want to become a cartoonist you can do it by working hard and practicing every day to become a good cartoonist.

Cartoonists usually have a bachelors degree in animation or graphic design or drawing or fine arts with a focus on cartooning. The cartooning degree teaches the students of cartoonists how to draw things that look like they are in the world and also gives them lots of ideas and theories about cartooning. Cartoonists learn about cartooning when they are in school, for cartooning.

When people want to get into an arts program or school they usually have to show a collection of their work, which is called a portfolio of their finest art work. The arts program or school wants to see the portfolio of their work to know how good the applicants are, at art.While art school teaches students about drawing theory, another essential element of being a cartoonist is writing 

How to Become a Cartoonist?

Step 1 : After finishing 10+2 in one of the fine arts topics, the prospective cartoonist can pursue a Bachelor's degree in fine art, illustration, painting, or animation. Drawing, painting, illustration, anatomy, computer graphics, and photography, to mention a few courses, should be included in the degree program.

Step 2 : After earning a Bachelor's degree, one can work for a reputable organization or get a Master's degree in a similar profession to advance one's career. For intermediate roles, most companies prefer individuals with at least two years of industry experience in addition to a degree. Upper-level roles demand an advanced degree or at least 5-7 years of professional experience in the business.

In India, pursuing a career as a cartoonist is fascinating and full of many chances.

This thing is about making your drawing skills. You work on pictures and ideas. You also learn about telling stories and making fun of politics in a way. Then there is computer work, like making pictures designing graphics and creating animations. You do all these things to get good at making your sketching talents the best they can be with illustration and digitization and graphic design and animation.

To be a cartoonist you need to know what is going on in the world. Cartoonists have to stay up to date with events and they have to know about political and cultural life. This is important because cartoonists want to make cartoons that people around the world will like. Cartoonists need to know about events so they can make relevant cartoons. Relevant cartoons are cartoons that people can relate to. That is what makes them appealing to a global audience. Cartoonists have to make cartoons, about events and political and cultural life.

Working on building your own distinct style is an excellent method to begin your career as an Indian cartoonist.Animation and digital illustration have supplanted conventional methods of drawing as a result of technological breakthroughs.

Top institutions, colleges, and even online platforms like Coursera and Udemy provide a wealth of illustration and graphic design courses; students pick the perfect course for themselves depending on personal interest and convenience.

Popular Courses for Cartoonists

Although very few universities around the world offer courses in cartooning, you can pursue a career in cartooning by pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree in animation or other related fields that emphasize drawing, illustration, anatomy, computer graphics, painting, and so on.

Some of the academic disciplines in which aspiring cartoonists typically opt to obtain a degree include:

  1. Animation
  2. Cartooning
  3. Drawing
  4. Fine Arts
  5. Graphic Designing
  6. Illustration
  7. Sequential Arts
  8. Visual Arts

 Here is a list of courses for individuals who want to be cartoonists:

  1. Certificate Courses
  2. Certificate in VFX
  3. Certificate in 2D Animation
  4. Certificate in 3D Animation
  5. Certificate in Graphic Design
  6. Certificate in Computer Graphics
  7. Diploma Programs
  8. Diploma in 3D Animation
  9. Diploma in 3D Modeling & Animation
  10. Diploma in Character Animation
  11. Diploma in Cartooning and Animation
  12. Diploma in Animation & Visual Effects
  13. Diploma in Animation (2D & Stop Motion)
  14. Diploma of Screen and Media - Animation
  15. Bachelor’s Degree Programs
  16. BSc in Animation
  17. BSc in Animation and VFX
  18. BSc in Visual Communication
  19. BSc in Gaming and Animation
  20. BDes in Animation
  21. BA Hons in Digital Animation
  22. BA in Animation and Graphic Design
  23. BA in Digital Filmmaking and Animation
  24. Bachelors in Illustration
  25. Bachelor’s in Cartoon and Comic Arts
  26. BFA in Animation, Graphic, and Web Design
  27. Bachelor’s in Digital Painting and Expanded Animation
  28. Master’s Degree Programs
  29. MSc in Animation
  30. MSc in Animation and VFX
  31. MSc in Gaming and Animation
  32. MDes in Animation
  33. MA in Animation
  34. MA in 3D Computer Animation
  35. MA in Animation and Graphic Design
  36. MA in Digital Filmmaking and Animation
  37. Master’s in 3D Animation and VFX
  38. MFA in Animation, Graphics, and Web Design

Skills Required to Become a Cartoonist

A career as a cartoonist is for people who are really passionate about their work.
A cartoonist must have an excellent sense of humor, which is one of his most

Frequently Asked Questions

A professional cartoonist creates cartoons, comics, and illustrated content for newspapers, books, digital platforms, advertising, and entertainment media.
You can become a cartoonist by developing strong drawing skills, understanding visual storytelling, learning digital tools, and building a compelling portfolio.
A formal degree is not mandatory, but courses in fine arts, animation, illustration, or graphic design can be helpful.
Key skills include creativity, humor, storytelling, character design, observation skills, and proficiency in traditional or digital drawing tools.
Cartoonists commonly use tools like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Procreate, Clip Studio Paint, and traditional pen-and-ink techniques.
Career options include editorial cartoonist, comic strip artist, webtoon creator, children’s book illustrator, and digital content creator.