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Animation Background Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Insomniac Games

Senior Gameplay Animator (CONTRACT)

$76.92 - $86.06/hr

Ability to utilize motion capture data and hand key animation to create believable characters ... background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background ...

Concorde Education

$57 - $81/hr

... background, and scene design; • Frame-by-frame animation techniques; • Motion graphics and ... artists, graphic designers, creative professionals, and others with relevant instructional or ...

Impleo

$115 - $141/hr

You'll shape the look, feel, and energy of our games--owning animation from concept to final polish ... Collaborate with designers, engineers, and artists to define and execute creative vision * Bring ...

Magnopus

AI Artist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$100 - $160/hr

Magnopus is looking for an AI Artist to create high-quality, photorealistic imagery and motion ... A background in compositing, digital matte painting, LookDev, animation or another relevant ...

Magnopus

AI Artist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$100K - $160K/yr

A background in compositing, digital matte painting, LookDev, animation or another relevant ... If you have strong artistic experience, hands-on expertise with generative AI image and video ...

Magnopus

AI Artist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$100K - $160K/yr

A background in compositing, digital matte painting, LookDev, animation or another relevant ... If you have strong artistic experience, hands-on expertise with generative AI image and video ...

CoCreativ

AI Artist (freelance to hire)

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$500 - $800/day

The ideal candidate has a background in commercial production, filmmaking, VFX, animation, motion ... looking for artists who can deliver polished, production-ready AI content at a professional ...

CoCreativ

AI Artist (freelance to hire)

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$500 - $800/day

The ideal candidate has a background in commercial production, filmmaking, VFX, animation, motion ... looking for artists who can deliver polished, production-ready AI content at a professional ...

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Animation Background Artist information

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$5

$29

$37

How much do animation background artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation background 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 background artist do?

An Animation Background Artist creates the environments and settings for animated scenes, establishing the mood, atmosphere, and style of a project. They design and paint backgrounds that complement character animation while maintaining visual consistency. These artists work closely with directors and designers to match the aesthetic vision of the production. Their work can be done traditionally or digitally, often using software like Photoshop, Blender, or Procreate.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an animation background artist?

To thrive as an Animation Background Artist, you need strong skills in drawing, painting, color theory, and spatial design, typically supported by a degree in art, animation, or a related field. Mastery of industry-standard software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and often 3D programs such as Blender is highly valued, alongside a robust digital portfolio. Creativity, collaboration, adaptability, and attention to detail help artists excel in the fast-paced animation pipeline. These skills ensure that backgrounds effectively support the story, maintain visual consistency, and enhance the overall quality of the animated production.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of an animation background artist?

An Animation Background Artist typically spends their day creating detailed and stylistically appropriate environments that serve as the settings for animated sequences. This involves collaborating closely with art directors, layout artists, and character designers to ensure visual continuity and meet the production's artistic vision. Tasks often include sketching environment concepts, refining digital paintings, adjusting layouts based on feedback, and delivering finished backgrounds on schedule. Artists also attend regular team meetings to discuss progress and integrate changes requested by the animation or production teams.

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Animation Background Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Background Artist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 68% Full Time, 27% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $60,546 per year, or $29.1 per hour.

Senior Gameplay Animator (CONTRACT)

Insomniac Games

Remote

$76.92 - $86.06/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision

Posted 21 days ago

Job description

This position is for temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for this position.
Insomniac Games is looking for a new Senior Gameplay Animator. The Senior Gameplay Animator is responsible for creating gameplay animation at the highest quality level set by Lead Animators and Animation Directors. They collaborate closely with other disciplines to ensure that animations are integrated into the game, supporting the creative, narrative vision, and technical requirements. The Senior Animator works independently requiring minimal supervision.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:
  • Develop high-quality animations for gameplay characters, ensuring alignment with artistic direction and technical standards.
  • Collaborate with Designers and Programmers to implement animations in engine using expert skills in Maya and proprietary engine tools.
  • Independently troubleshoot and resolve issues that arise.
  • Ability to utilize motion capture data and hand key animation to create believable characters.
  • Gameplay responsibilities can include hero traversal, combat, boss, gameplay camera cinematography, mission and open world animations at the highest level using advanced skills in game engine tools.
  • Work with the Animation team to guarantee cohesive execution of the established animation direction across the game, providing constructive feedback as necessary.
  • Communicate effectively with other disciplines, including Designers, Programmers, Writers, Project Managers, Art, Audio, Character and Rigging teams, to resolve issues and achieve project goals.
  • Other duties may be assigned

Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Mathematical Skills: Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
Computer Skills: Advanced knowledge of Maya, Insomniac proprietary tools (preferred), and a knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite. MotionBuilder and Adobe Premiere a plus. Knowledge of common state machine flow in any game engine required.
At SIE, working with our partners, we consider several factors when setting each role's base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.
Please note that the individual base pay range may vary based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.
In addition, this role is eligible for benefit offerings that include medical, dental, and vision. Click here to learn more.
The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below, this is an hourly rate.
$76.92-$86.06 USD
Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.
Please refer to our Candidate Privacy Notice for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.

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