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2D Character Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Nintendo

Concept Artist [Contract] (Retro Studios)

Austin, TX · On-site

$125K - $144K/yr

... character and environment concept art. * Excellent 2D drawing skills with a strong grasp of ... Mastery of fundamental artistic principles. * Experience executing a wide range of artistic styles.

Skydance

Visual Development Artist

Santa Monica, CA

$2K - $4K/wk

Produce 2D and/or CG visual development models to explore scale, composition, and cinematic staging ... character action * Advanced proficiency in Adobe Photoshop * Excellent communication and ...

Skydance

Visual Development Artist

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$2K - $4K/wk

Produce 2D and/or CG visual development models to explore scale, composition, and cinematic staging ... character action * Advanced proficiency in Adobe Photoshop * Excellent communication and ...

Netflix

CG Artist, Experimental - INK

Los Angeles, CA

$62.74/hr

Use GenAI tools such as ComfyUI to generate concept frames, style frames, character explorations ... Experience with ComfyUI and traditional CG 2D and/or 3D DCCs such as Photoshop, Maya, Houdini ...

Netflix

CG Artist, Experimental - INK

Los Gatos, CA

$62.74/hr

Use GenAI tools such as ComfyUI to generate concept frames, style frames, character explorations ... Qualifications Experience with ComfyUI and traditional CG 2D and/or 3D DCCs such as Photoshop, Maya ...

Netflix

CG Artist, Experimental - INK

Los Angeles, CA

$62.74/hr

Use GenAI tools such as ComfyUI to generate concept frames, style frames, character explorations ... Qualifications Experience with ComfyUI and traditional CG 2D and/or 3D DCCs such as Photoshop, Maya ...

Netflix

CG Artist, Experimental - INK

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$62.74/hr

Use GenAI tools such as ComfyUI to generate concept frames, style frames, character explorations ... Experience with ComfyUI and traditional CG 2D and/or 3D DCCs such as Photoshop, Maya, Houdini ...

Netflix

CG Artist, Experimental - INK

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$62.74/hr

Use GenAI tools such as ComfyUI to generate concept frames, style frames, character explorations ... Experience with ComfyUI and traditional CG 2D and/or 3D DCCs such as Photoshop, Maya, Houdini ...

Netflix

OR

$62.74/hr

Use GenAI tools such as ComfyUI to generate concept frames, style frames, character explorations ... Experience with ComfyUI and traditional CG 2D and/or 3D DCCs such as Photoshop, Maya, Houdini ...

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2D Character Artist information

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$104.5K

$120.5K

$128.5K

How much do 2d character artist jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for 2d character artist in the United States is $120,531.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $121,000.00 and $127,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a 2D Character Artist do?

A 2D Character Artist creates visually appealing characters for games, animations, comics, and other media. They design characters based on concept art, style guidelines, and creative direction, ensuring consistency and personality. Their work involves sketching, digital painting, refining character designs, and sometimes creating model sheets for animators and 3D artists. They collaborate closely with designers, writers, and animators to bring characters to life. Strong artistic skills, proficiency in digital tools like Photoshop or Procreate, and an understanding of anatomy, color, and composition are essential for this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the 2D Character Artist position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a 2D Character Artist, you need strong drawing skills, a solid understanding of anatomy, color theory, and character design, often supported by a relevant art degree or portfolio. Proficiency with digital illustration tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, and drawing tablets is typically required, while industry certifications can be advantageous. Creativity, open communication, and the ability to accept feedback help artists excel within collaborative and iterative development environments. These combined skills are essential to produce compelling, high-quality character designs that align with project goals and meet client or studio expectations.

What are the common career advancement opportunities for a 2D Character Artist?

As a 2D Character Artist, you can progress into lead or senior artist roles, where you may oversee teams and provide creative direction on character style and development. With experience, you might also transition into related roles such as Art Director, Concept Artist, or even specialize in animation or visual development. Opportunities to mentor junior artists and contribute to shaping a studio’s visual identity are common as you gain expertise. Many companies also offer training and learning resources to support ongoing professional growth. Career advancement is closely tied to your portfolio, ability to work collaboratively, and staying current with industry trends.

More about 2D Character Artist jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of 2D Character Artist jobs? The most popular types of 2D Character Artist jobs are:
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2D Character Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various 2D Character Artist job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, and 15% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $120,531 per year, or $57.9 per hour.
Concept Artist [Contract] (Retro Studios)

Concept Artist [Contract] (Retro Studios)

Nintendo of America Inc.

Austin, TX

$125K - $144K/yr

Other

Medical, PTO

Posted 12 days ago

Nintendo rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 7 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

93rd of 186 rated software companies

Job description

THIS IS AN ONSITE CONTRACT POSITION - Austin, TX

Position includes:

  • Paid weekly
  • Health care benefits available
  • Paid time-off provided
  • Paid holidays observed
  • Access to Nintendo discounts

RETRO STUDIOS:

Founded in 1998, Retro Studios is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nintendo Co., Ltd., and a powerhouse in game development. Working hand-in-hand with Nintendo, we craft award-winning titles for the company's cutting-edge platforms, blending innovation, artistry, and gameplay excellence.

Our home base is Austin, Texas, a vibrant city known for its creative energy, live music, stunning natural scenery, and forward-thinking culture. With year-round sunshine and endless options for outdoor adventures, Austin offers the perfect backdrop for world-class developers to stay inspired, balanced, and at the top of their game.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

  • Collaborate with the Art Director, Artists, and Designers to define the look of ourgamesby working toestablishconsistent visualsforcharacters,environments, props,and effects, with an emphasis on boss characters.
  • Work closely with Design to rapidly iterate gameplay thumbnails to be used in conjunction with design specifications to communicate gameplay properties, interactions and sequencing of boss characters.
  • Adopt a broad range of styles from realistic to highly stylized based on goals and direction for a given project to produce concept art with an appropriate sense of color, drama, shape language, personality, and design.
  • Take ownership of concept work for various game features while actively collaborating with other disciplines such as Design, Art, and Engineering to achieve high-quality, innovative concept art.
  • Produce boss, character, environment, and prop concept art in the form of thumbnails, sketches, breakdowns, reference sheets, paintings, and other digital imagery.
  • Provide visual contextualization support for game design efforts at all stages.
  • Perform research as necessary to support visual development.
  • Work with Art Director and Leads to provide feedback and guidance to artists.
  • Create storyboards, background illustrations, and promotional artwork.
  • Provide and receive feedback professionally.

*This job description outlines primary duties and requirements and is not intended toidentifyall tasks that may be performed; individuals occupying the position maybe requiredto perform other duties.The company may modify job duties from time to time, either in practice or in writing.

SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS:

  • Has3or more years' gaming industry experience as a concept artist, including at least one complete product cycle shipping AAA title.
  • Must present online portfolio with high-quality, varied examples of character and environment concept art.
  • Excellent 2D drawing skills with a strong grasp of composition, color theory, perspective, lighting, environment and architecture.
  • Examples of modern rendering process using 3D art and modeling tools (Maya, Blender).
  • Mastery of fundamental artistic principles.
  • Experience executing a wide range of artistic styles.
  • Good communicator, self-motivated, driven to grow professionally.
  • Undergraduate degree in art-related subject, completion of an intensive art training program, or equivalent professional experience.

Retro Studios is an equalopportunityemployer. We offer a welcoming and inclusive environment in service to one another, our products, the diverse consumers werepresent, and the communities we call home. We do all of this with kindness, empathy, and respect for each other.

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