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3D Character Animation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Valicy

3D Animator

Wilmington, NC

A solid grasp of animation principles demonstrated through character, VFX, and motion graphics animation is essential. The 3D Animator will work across all aspects of a game's life cycle, owning the ...

Epic Games

Character Animation Lead

Cary, NC · On-site

What You'll Do Epic Games is looking for a Character Animation Director to join our Special ... and 3D content that bring environments to life like never before. Epic's award-winning Unreal ...

Scattermesh

3D Character Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$124K - $130K/yr

Job Summary Scattermesh is expanding its team and we are looking to hire experienced 3D Character ... Understanding of FACS, facial blendshapes, facial performance animation, and wrinkle-map systems is ...

Aquent

Visual Designer

Orlando, FL · On-site

$58.60 - $65.11/hr

Create 2D and 3D character animations, motion graphics, and interactive motion experiences for mobile applications and web platforms. * Build and deliver production-ready interactive animations ...

Scattermesh

3D Character Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$124K - $130K/yr

Job Summary Scattermesh is expanding its team and we are looking to hire experienced 3D Character ... Understanding of FACS, facial blendshapes, facial performance animation, and wrinkle-map systems is ...

Scattermesh

Senior 3D Character Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$124K - $130K/yr

Job Summary Scattermesh is expanding its team and we are looking to hire experienced 3D Character ... Deep understanding of FACS, facial blendshapes, facial performance animation, and wrinkle-map ...

Flying Bark Productions

3D Animation Lead

Denver, NC · On-site +1

... of character animation and storytelling. We are working on exciting projects such as Avatar: The ... The 3D Animation Lead role involves managing and guiding a team of animators on a show, acting as ...

Scattermesh

Senior 3D Character Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$124K - $130K/yr

Job Summary Scattermesh is expanding its team and we are looking to hire experienced 3D Character ... Deep understanding of FACS, facial blendshapes, facial performance animation, and wrinkle-map ...

Side

3D Character Artist - Talent Pool (N Americas)

$123K - $130K/yr

As a 3D Character Artist , you will play a key role in crafting high-quality characters that bring ... Collaborate with art leads, designers, and animators to ensure characters align with the project ...

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3D Character Animation information

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$31K

$63.9K

$132.5K

How much do 3d character animation jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for 3d character animation in the United States is $63,866.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $49,500.00 and $62,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a 3D Character Animator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a 3D Character Animator, you need strong artistic skills in character movement, an understanding of anatomy, and typically a degree in animation or a related field. Mastery of industry-standard software like Autodesk Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max, and familiarity with rigging and motion capture systems are highly valuable. Creativity, attention to detail, and strong collaboration and communication skills make animators stand out in team-based environments. These abilities ensure the creation of lifelike, engaging characters that effectively tell stories and enhance visual projects.

What are some common challenges 3D Character Animators face when working on collaborative projects?

3D Character Animators frequently collaborate with modelers, riggers, and technical artists to bring characters to life. One common challenge is ensuring that the animation matches the intended style and technical specifications set by the art and design leads, especially when multiple animators are involved. Integrating animations seamlessly with game engines or film pipelines can also pose technical hurdles. Effective communication and regular feedback sessions are vital to overcoming these challenges and ensuring a consistent, high-quality result.

What is the difference between 3D Character Animation vs 3D Modeler?

Aspect3D Character Animation3D Modeler
Primary FocusCreating movement and performance for charactersBuilding and designing 3D models, including characters
Skills RequiredAnimation, rigging, storytellingModeling, texturing, topology
Work EnvironmentAnimation studios, game development, filmModeling studios, game design, visual effects
Tools UsedAutodesk Maya, Blender, 3ds MaxAutodesk Maya, ZBrush, Blender

While both roles involve 3D software and creative skills, 3D Character Animation focuses on bringing characters to life through movement, whereas 3D Modelers create the detailed models that serve as the foundation for animation. Both roles often collaborate in the same industry settings like gaming and film production.

What is 3D character animation?

3D character animation is the process of creating and manipulating digital characters in a three-dimensional space to make them move, act, and express emotions. Animators use specialized software to design characters, rig their skeletal structure, and animate their movements for films, video games, and other media. The goal is to bring characters to life in a way that is believable and engaging to the audience.
More about 3D Character Animation jobs
What cities are hiring for 3D Character Animation jobs? Cities with the most 3D Character Animation job openings:
What states have the most 3D Character Animation jobs? States with the most job openings for 3D Character Animation jobs include:
What job categories do people searching 3D Character Animation jobs look for? The top searched job categories for 3D Character Animation jobs are:
3D Character Animation jobs near you
3D Character Animator (6 month contract)

3D Character Animator (6 month contract)

Sunday Inc

Redwood City, CA • On-site

Contractor

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

Join Us in Building the Future of Home Robotics
At Sunday, we're developing personal robots to reclaim the hours lost to repetitive tasks. We're focused on an ambitious goal to make generalized robots broadly accessible, enabling households to take back quality time.
We have spent the last 18 months building a talented team, securing capital, and validating our technology. We are now seeking passionate individuals to join us in the next phase of our growth. If you are ready to apply your skills to the forefront of robotics innovation, we'd love to hear from you.
What to Expect
We are seeking an experienced 3D Character Animator (6 month contract) to join our product team. In this role, you will create iconic character moments and subtle physical cues for human-robot interaction that make Memo a pleasure to interact with. This contract has the potential to transition into a full-time role based on performance and business needs.
What You'll Do
  • Craft Iconic Moments: As customer's first home robot, everything Memo does will make an impression. You'll shape key moments that establish Memo's approachability and reliability.
  • Rapid Iteration with Engineering and Product Teams: As part of a cross-functional team, you'll prepare several rough mock ups for each interaction, then refine and down-select them iteratively by incorporating feedback from product, engineering and users.
  • Build Memo's Movement Vocabulary: Define and refine Memo's movement style as it goes about household tasks.

What You'll Bring
  • Industry-Grade Animation Experience: A portfolio demonstrating 3D character work in industry-standard tools such as Maya or Blender.
  • Movement Design for Physical Products: Experience in robotics, installation art, or related fields creating interactive experiences in physical space.
  • Excellent Communication, Collaboration and Documentation: A strong commitment to clarifying constraints and opportunities, tracking animation versions, and synthesizing feedback to guide future animations.
  • An Explorer's Spirit: We're charting new territory. If harnessing mid-process discoveries and overcoming unexpected obstacles to bring a character to life excites you, this is the job for you!

Nice To Haves
  • Rigging or Modeling Experience: Experience building your own rigs or 3D environments to place characters in a broader world.
  • Procedural or Responsive Animation Experience: Past work with animations that respond to user inputs or dynamic environments.

At Sunday Robotics, we're building technology shaped by real people - curious, creative, and diverse. We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer and consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
Even if you don't meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. Studies show that women and underrepresented groups often hold back unless they meet 100% of the criteria - we don't want that to be the reason we miss out on great talent.

Apply