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Animation Artist Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Big Shot Pictures

Technical Animator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

... artists, and technical artists to solve pipeline and production challe * ngesEnsure clean, reliable integration of skeletal meshes and animation data in Unreal En gine Required Qualifica ...

Youth Beat

Multimedia Teaching Artist

Oakland, CA · On-site

Were seeking skilled multimedia, video production, and animation professionals passionate about sharing their craft with Oakland youth (grades 312). Teaching Artists report to Youth Beats Education ...

Absurd Ventures

Principal Gameplay Animator

Santa Monica, CA · On-site +1

$150K - $175K/yr

Drive the development of locomotion, traversal, combat, interaction, and systemic animation content; review animation content and help maintain consistent quality and artistic direction across all ...

31ST UNION

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Escalate issues to the Animation Director when artistic decisions or direction are needed. What Will Make You a Great Fit: 6-8+ years of experience in game development, including at least one shipped ...

31ST UNION

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Escalate issues to the Animation Director when artistic decisions or direction are needed. What Will Make You a Great Fit: 6-8+ years of experience in game development, including at least one shipped ...

2K

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA

$123K - $182K/yr

Escalate issues to the Animation Director when artistic decisions or direction are needed. What Will Make You a Great Fit: * 6-8+ years of experience in game development, including at least one ...

2K

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA

$123K - $182K/yr

Escalate issues to the Animation Director when artistic decisions or direction are needed. What Will Make You a Great Fit: * 6-8+ years of experience in game development, including at least one ...

2K

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA

$123K - $182K/yr

Escalate issues to the Animation Director when artistic decisions or direction are needed. What Will Make You a Great Fit: * 6-8+ years of experience in game development, including at least one ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsAnimation Artist JobsAnimation Artist Jobs in California

Animation Artist information

See California salary details

$5

$28

$37

How much do animation artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation artist in California is $28.73, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.42 and $32.50 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.
What are popular job titles related to Animation Artist jobs in California? For Animation Artist jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Animation Artist jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Animation Artist jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Animation Artist jobs? Cities in California with the most Animation Artist job openings:
Animation Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Artist job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 73% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $59,753 per year, or $28.7 per hour.

Assistant Editor - Features

Sony Pictures Animation

Los Angeles, CA

$2.4K - $2.8K/wk

Full-time

Re-posted 15 days ago

Job description

Assistant Editor, Feature Animation

The Assistant Editor is responsible for technical and organizational editorial work from pre-production through post production. Assistant Editor is responsible for maintaining an efficient editorial pipeline and assisting editors. This Motion Picture Editors Guild position is covered by the Sony Pictures Animation Agreement. 

Sony Pictures Animation is a pre-production animation studio based in Los Angeles, California, creating both feature animation and animated series with artists from around the world. We pride ourselves on empowering filmmakers to lead the creative process, and allowing the hand of the artist to be truly felt, with the goal of producing bold and innovative visual storytelling.

Responsibilities:
  • Maintain Avid project and keep files organized.
  • Manage and process storyboards using Flix. Also import layout, animation, and lighting shots.
  • Import, log and prep dialogue recordings for editors: scratch dialogue, production recording sessions and ADR.
  • Ingesting assets from sound dept, music dept, etc, and keeping them organized
  • Output movie files for various uses including turnovers for sound department, digital intermediate, and music departments.
  • Organizing sound effects and music.
  • Assist the editors with Avid builds in preparation for screenings and QC of outputs.
  • Responsible for publishing to production including managing EDLs and change notes.
  • Provide information to production that is timely and accurate.
Qualifications:
  • 1-2 years experience in animation editorial.
  • High degree of proficiency in Avid Media Composer.
  • Excellent organization skills with great attention to detail.
  • Understanding of feature animation pipeline and workflows.
  • Ability to multi-task and meet deadlines while working under tight schedules.
  • Strong teammate with good interpersonal and interpersonal skills.
  • After Effects, Photoshop, ProTools experience a plus.

The anticipated base salary for this position is $2,400/week to $2,800/week. This role qualifies for benefits pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement. The actual salary offered will depend on a variety of factors.

To apply, please include a resume and a link to your portfolio. Please make sure to include any passwords to your work in your cover letter and/or in your resume.

Sony Pictures Animation is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics.

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