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Animation Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

VFX Artist III

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$69.26 - $85.41/hr

As a Senior Real-Time VFX Artist, you will work closely with animators, artists, and designers to create exceptional action and combat experiences. Leveraging your expertise, you will craft ...

The lead also coaches junior artists, collaborates with other departments, and supports production needs to maintain high-quality animation output. About the role: * Lead a team of animators on a ...

Character Artist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$130K - $136K/yr

About Big Shot Pictures Big Shot Pictures is a next generation animation company founded by Brian ... About The Role We are seeking a talented and versatile 3D Character Artist to join our creative ...

About Big Shot Pictures Big Shot Pictures is a next generation animation company founded by Brian ... About The Role We are seeking a talented and versatile 3D Artist to join our creative team. In this ...

Principal Animator

San Diego, CA · On-site

$160K - $180K/yr

You'll own full animation development cycles, make independent creative decisions aligned with project vision, and drive continuous improvement in both artistic quality and technical execution. CORE ...

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Animation Artist information

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$5

$29

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How much do animation artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation artist in the United States is $29.11, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.76 and $32.93 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an Animation Artist do?

An Animation Artist creates visual sequences for films, television, video games, and other media by designing characters, backgrounds, and special effects that bring stories to life. They use both traditional drawing techniques and computer software to produce animated images. Animation Artists often work closely with directors, writers, and other artists to ensure their work matches the creative vision of a project. Their role can include storyboarding, creating models, rigging, and adding motion to characters and environments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Animation Artist, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Animation Artist, you need strong drawing abilities, a solid understanding of animation principles, and typically a degree in animation or a related field. Proficiency in industry-standard software such as Adobe After Effects, Autodesk Maya, or Toon Boom Harmony is commonly required. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective collaboration skills are crucial soft skills for standing out in this role. These competencies ensure the production of visually compelling animations that meet project goals and resonate with audiences.

What are some common challenges Animation Artists face when working on collaborative projects?

Animation Artists often collaborate with writers, directors, and other artists, which can sometimes lead to challenges such as aligning creative visions and meeting tight deadlines. Balancing feedback from multiple stakeholders while maintaining consistency in animation style is a key aspect of the role. Additionally, adapting to rapidly changing project requirements and new software tools is common, so strong communication skills and flexibility are essential. Despite these challenges, working collaboratively can also lead to creative growth and valuable learning experiences.

Is animator a high paying job?

Animation artists can earn competitive salaries, especially with experience, specialized skills, and a strong portfolio. Entry-level positions tend to pay less, but experienced animators working in film, gaming, or advertising can earn higher wages, often supplemented by freelance work or advanced certifications.

Does Disney still hire 2D animators?

Disney continues to hire 2D animators for certain projects, especially in legacy animation and specialized roles, though the company primarily focuses on 3D animation for most productions. Skilled 2D animators with proficiency in traditional techniques and software like Toon Boom or Adobe Animate remain valuable for specific tasks and training roles.

What jobs can I get with animation?

Animation artists can pursue roles such as 2D or 3D animator, character designer, storyboard artist, visual effects artist, or motion graphics designer. These jobs are common in industries like film, television, video game development, advertising, and digital media, often requiring proficiency in tools like Adobe After Effects, Maya, or Blender.

What jobs can I do with animation?

An animation artist can work in various roles such as 2D or 3D animator, character designer, storyboard artist, motion graphics designer, or visual effects artist. These jobs are common in industries like film, television, video game development, advertising, and digital media, often requiring proficiency in tools like Adobe After Effects, Maya, or Blender.
More about Animation Artist jobs
What cities are hiring for Animation Artist jobs? Cities with the most Animation Artist job openings:
What states have the most Animation Artist jobs? States with the most job openings for Animation Artist jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Animation Artist jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Animation Artist jobs are:
Infographic showing various Animation Artist job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 6% Internship, 65% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 3% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 70% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 27% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $60,546 per year, or $29.1 per hour.
Visual Effects Animation Artist

Visual Effects Animation Artist

Anatomage, Inc.

Santa Clara, CA

$80K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 6 days ago


Job description

Who is Anatomage?

Founded in 2004, Anatomage is a world-leading health care technology company. Anatomage offers 3D software for anatomy and physiology education including a life-sized virtual dissection platform.

About the Role:

As a VFX and Animation Artist at Anatomage, you will be the driving creative force

behind our real-time simulations and visual effects. While this role requires a

well-rounded 3D generalist skillset including modeling, texturing, and lighting, your

primary focus will be crafting stunning visual effects and lifelike animations.

What You'll Do:

You will utilize your 3D generalist skills - spanning modeling, texturing, and lighting - to

create a variety of digital environments. Your main emphasis will be bringing these

environments to life by executing workflows across both real-time simulation and

character animation within Unreal Engine. You will utilize the Niagara system and

Houdini to create scientifically accurate special effects. You will also handle character

rigging and animation for MetaHumans. While you may have a stronger background or

personal specialization in one of these areas, you will be expected to actively deliver

results across both disciplines, ensuring all assets are technically optimized for our

interactive platforms.

Requirements

Skills and Abilities Required:

Candidates should have a strong 3D generalist foundation in industry-standard software such as Maya, Blender, or Substance Painter for modeling, texturing, and lighting environments. Alongside these generalist skills, candidates must possess deep, hands-on experience in either real-time VFX such as Niagara, Blueprints, Houdini simulation pipelines or advanced character rigging and animation fundamentals including experience with MetaHumans or a strong combination of both. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong organizational skills, artistic talent, and exceptional attention to detail.

* Resume and Portfolio required in order to be considered*

Minimum Education and Experience Required:

Formal education in Art, Digital Arts, 3D Modeling, Animation, Medical Illustration, or a related discipline is preferred. Equivalent professional experience and a strong portfolio demonstrating relevant skills will also be considered. Minimum 3 years of professional realtime VFX or Animation experience.

Benefits

What We Offer

  • Health, Dental, and Vision care for you and your family
  • 401K savings plan with employer matching
  • Generous PTO leave and paid holidays
  • Casual work culture
  • Commuter benefits
  • On site gym facility
  • Team bonding activities, catered lunches, and free snacks in the office!

About Anatomage

Anatomage has been financially robust and growing for 20 consecutive years.

Anatomage offers the world's first and only life-sized virtual dissection table. Students can learn anatomy and physiology using highly interactive and accurate real human-based digital data. Institutions can offer high quality education without worrying about chemicals, facility costs, and regulatory issues. Hundreds of schools have adopted the Anatomage Table as the main teaching tool for students.

At Anatomage, there is an opportunity to work alongside the best in the field. With a diverse group of people from various technical, clinical, and artistic backgrounds, Anatomage provides a culture where distinguished individuals can work and collaborate in an organic manner. Our team members all bring unique strengths and talents to their group and embrace each other's diverse perspectives. Anatomage offers a distinct work experience with an exceptional opportunity to develop careers. Our philosophy is to foster a dynamic work environment, and we are proud to let our employees' knowledge and responsibilities grow with the company.

In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $80,000.00- $120,000.00 Annually. This base pay range is for the U.S. and is not applicable to locations outside of the U.S.. Actual amounts will vary depending on experience, performance and location. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed.

Anatomage is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not offer H1B Sponsorship at this time. Local candidates preferred.