Knowing a bit about modeling will help.. But if your true love is animation i would focus a lot more on animation and less time modeling. The lower percent will over a bit of time give you enough of a skill set to be able to produce you own models if the needs ever arrises.

I my self wanted to be a character animator for the longest time when i first started but once I got hit with the modeling bug im 90 percent modeleing and 10 percent animateing. I know how to build my own skeletons and rigs so I can do the animation job when they come around.