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Animation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Manager, Animation helps lead the ESPN Creative Studio Animation/Animation FX team and their workflows. They are responsible for balancing creative and production priorities with efficiency ...

Manager, Animation

Bristol, CT · On-site

$126.80K - $170K/yr

The Manager, Animation helps lead the ESPN Creative Studio Animation/Animation FX team and their workflows. They are responsible for balancing creative and production priorities with efficiency ...

You'll create original animation with a strong emphasis on style and appeal, grounded in realistic world physics - and you'll help shape how we make that animation, not just what it looks like. This ...

The 3D Animation Lead role involves managing and guiding a team of animators on a show, acting as the main contact between production and supervisors, and ensuring smooth communication and workflow.

Senior Technical Animation Designer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$108.90K - $161.16K/yr

We are looking for a Senior Technical Animation Designer to be responsible for designing, creating, and maintaining animation systems that drive the gameplay motion of our characters. This will ...

We are looking for a Senior Technical Animation Designer to be responsible for designing, creating, and maintaining animation systems that drive the gameplay motion of our characters. This will ...

We are looking for an animation designer who can turn static assets into animated assets. This might be an infographic, an icon, or a banner-output as a video and gif. We create one game a week and ...

Manager, Animation

Bristol, CT · On-site

$126.80K - $170K/yr

Manager, Animation Req ID: 10150084 The Manager, Animation helps lead the ESPN Creative Studio Animation/Animation FX team and their workflows. They are responsible for balancing creative and ...

We are looking for an animation designer who can turn static assets into animated assets. This might be an infographic, an icon, or a banner-output as a video and gif. We create one game a week and ...

AGBO is seeking a Principal Animation Engineer to lead the technical vision and development of animation systems for our interactive projects. This role focuses on building scalable, high-performance ...

You will combine strong animation fundamentals with technical fluency in Unreal Engine to build responsive, expressive, and scalable animation systems. You will act as a bridge between animation and ...

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Animation information

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How much do animation jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 3, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation in the United States is $39.41, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.88 and $63.94 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an Animation job involve?

An Animation job involves creating moving images using computer software or traditional techniques like hand-drawing or stop-motion. Animators develop characters, backgrounds, and special effects for films, video games, advertisements, and digital media. They collaborate with writers, designers, and directors to bring stories to life. Strong artistic skills, creativity, and proficiency in animation software like Adobe Animate or Blender are essential.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Animation position, and why are they important?

To thrive in Animation, you need strong artistic abilities, knowledge of animation principles, and typically a degree in animation, fine arts, or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard software such as Adobe After Effects, Maya, Blender, or Toon Boom Harmony is highly desirable, and certification in these can be advantageous. Creativity, attention to detail, time management, and effective collaboration skills help animators excel in team-oriented environments. These abilities are crucial for producing high-quality animations that meet client briefs and project deadlines in this fast-evolving industry.

What are some common challenges animators face in their daily work?

Animators often deal with tight deadlines and the need to revise work multiple times to match client or director feedback, which requires patience and adaptability. The role can involve long periods of focused work at a computer, making time management and attention to ergonomic practices important. Additionally, staying updated with the latest animation techniques and software advancements is crucial for remaining competitive in the field. Collaboration with story artists, designers, and technical teams is also a major part of the job, ensuring each project is cohesive and visually appealing.
What cities are hiring for Animation jobs? Cities with the most Animation job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Animation jobs? The most popular types of Animation jobs are:
What states have the most Animation jobs? States with the most job openings for Animation jobs include:
Infographic showing various Animation job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 64% Full Time, 29% Part Time, 4% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 67% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 29% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $81,974 per year, or $39.4 per hour.
Manager, Animation

$126.80K - $170K/yr

Full-time

Posted 21 days ago


ESPN rating

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 28 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

18th of 64 rated media


Job description

The Manager, Animation helps lead the ESPN Creative Studio Animation/Animation FX team and their workflows. They are responsible for balancing creative and production priorities with efficiency, staff development, and long-term strategic planning. The Manager oversees animation staff, technology resources, schedules, and team performance. They have a comprehensive understanding of animation team software, hardware, workflows, along with knowledge of individual staff skillsets and development areas. They are proactive problem-solvers with an eye on emerging production trends to anticipate future animation needs. They help create an innovative, collaborative, and creatively positive environment for the entire team. They engage and align with internal leaders on workflows to deliver against company priorities and key business goals.


Responsibilities:

  • Daily leadership, planning, monitoring, and support of all staff and assignments
  • Daily assessment of workloads and priorities to keep projects running smoothly
  • Easily pivot attention to where needed & readily open to diverse ideas and discussion
  • Direct management, mentoring and coaching of supervisor- and staff-level personnel
  • Develop and align team workflows and strategies with ESPN Creative Studio priorities
  • Assess staff capabilities & proactively plan against known and anticipated project needs
  • Foster a team environment that encourages innovation, creativity, and skills growth
  • Identify and drive resolutions to technical, operational, and organizational challenges
  • Collaborate with IT partners to guide enhancements to team software and hardware
  • Engage with ECS leaders and outside vendors to influence and align on workflows

Basic Qualifications:

  • Minimum 10 years of experience in animation, design, tv production
  • Strong understanding of industry-standard animation software and workflows
  • Detail-oriented with the ability to manage priorities and meet tight deadlines
  • Confident problem solver; able to think quickly in pressure situations
  • Technical curiosity; keen to generate and explore new ideas
  • Excellent organizational, communication, presentation, and group dynamic skills
  • Excellent coaching and motivational skills

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Proven experience supervising in-person and remote creative teams
  • Proven experience working with DEET/IT and outside vendors
  • Strong knowledge of ESPN studio and event animation packages
  • Strong technical troubleshooting abilities
  • Deadline Render Manager experience
  • Microsoft 365 application experience

Required Education:

  • High School Diploma or Equivalent

Preferred Education:

  • Degree in Animation, VFX, Graphic Design, TV/Film Production, or related field

#ESPNMedia


The hiring range for this position in Bristol, CT is $126,800.00 to $170,000.00 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

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