... Character, Camera and Controls) design and implementation Create endearing NPCs that improve IP quality, consistency, along with sandbox design principles Work with audio, effects, and animation to ...
Animation Character Design information
See Oregon salary details
$9.83 - $15.34
7% of jobs
$18.84 is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
$15.34 - $20.86
28% of jobs
The median wage is $24.08 / hr.
$20.86 - $26.37
26% of jobs
$26.37 - $31.89
14% of jobs
$32.44 is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.
$31.89 - $37.40
5% of jobs
$37.40 - $42.92
5% of jobs
$42.92 - $48.43
4% of jobs
$48.43 - $53.95
4% of jobs
$53.95 - $59.46
2% of jobs
$59.46 - $64.98
2% of jobs
$64.98 - $70.49
2% of jobs
$9
$31
$70
How much do animation character design jobs pay per hour?
As of Jun 16, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation character design in Oregon is $31.15, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.66 and $38.36 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.
What are some common challenges faced by animation character designers, and how are they usually addressed on the job?
Animation character designers often face the challenge of balancing creative vision with the specific requirements of a production, such as style consistency and technical limitations. Designers regularly collaborate and communicate with directors, animators, and other team members to refine characters based on feedback and evolving project needs. Tight deadlines and frequent revisions are typical in this role, making adaptability and problem-solving skills highly valuable. Many studios foster open feedback loops and provide resources for skill development to help designers address these challenges and succeed in their roles.
What is an Animation Character Design job?
An Animation Character Design job involves creating the visual look, personality, and style of characters for animated films, TV shows, games, or commercials. Character designers develop concept art, model sheets, and expressive poses to ensure consistency and appeal. They work closely with animators, directors, and writers to bring characters to life while maintaining the project's artistic vision. Strong drawing skills, creativity, and knowledge of anatomy and storytelling are essential in this role.
What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Animation Character Design position, and why are they important?
To thrive in Animation Character Design, you need strong drawing abilities, a solid understanding of anatomy and movement, and a portfolio demonstrating creativity and storytelling through visuals. Proficiency with design software such as Adobe Creative Suite and Toon Boom Harmony, as well as knowledge of 3D modeling tools, is often essential. Strong communication, flexibility, and collaboration skills help artists respond effectively to feedback and work well in team-oriented environments. These skills ensure characters are visually compelling, fit project requirements, and resonate with audiences, contributing to a project's overall success.
What are the most commonly searched types of Animation Character Design jobs in Oregon? The most popular types of Animation Character Design jobs in Oregon are:
What are popular job titles related to Animation Character Design jobs in Oregon? For Animation Character Design jobs in Oregon, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Animation Character Design jobs in Oregon look for? The top searched job categories for Animation Character Design jobs in Oregon are:
Other
Posted 17 days ago
Job description
Are you on a mission to create games that bond players together into deeply invested communities? Do you spend your time thinking about how different game mechanics can come together to create emergent, dynamic, and frankly hilarious social moments? Are you excited to make gameplay that strongly cares about player intention, action game feel, and expressive communication?
We are seeking a highly technical, creative, and team-oriented contract Staff Gameplay Designer to contribute a new multiplayer action game on teamLFG. You will work closely with the entire Design Team prototyping, exploring, and implementing player avatars and their suite of verbs for the social area of a competitive PvP game. You will collaborate with team members from other disciplines to drive cohesive gameplay vision. You will help build the systems that enable our game to become a third place. Most importantly, you will work with a fun, dedicated, and cross-disciplinary team devoted to turning a creative dream into a new franchise at PlayStation.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Build and maintain the avatar movement and core sandbox systems that enable cooperative social gameplay and player expression, while building trust between players
Build the systems to allow for avatar customization, creating extensible opportunities for player investment and a progression economy, as well as player self expression and customization
Build compelling gameplay experiences through reusable sandbox mechanics, especially 3C (Character, Camera and Controls) design and implementation
Create endearing NPCs that improve IP quality, consistency, along with sandbox design principles
Work with audio, effects, and animation to clearly communicate gameplay affordances to players
REQUIRED SKILLS
Understanding of how modern multiplayer social games can leverage an intuitive and expressive action sandbox to create memories between players
Fluency for collaboration with designers, artists, programmers, audio professionals, quality assurance and producers to achieve a common goal, with adaptability for how to work in a flexible work environment
Broad T-shaped rapid prototyping skills, with enough multi-disciplinary knowledge to quickly stub out gameplay ideas to evaluate their potential
Strong technical scripting skills and understanding of how to structure game design tools to unlock player expression, content variety, and execution speed
Strong understanding of character motion and animation; momentum, timing, and their impact on player communication and tone
Proven ability to build alignment and productively own feature direction without sacrificing empathy and collaboration with team contributors
Ability to operate autonomously and handle ambiguity, including giving and receiving feedback despite that ambiguity
Ability to create plans and evaluate them for meeting the experiential needs of the players and markets
Outstanding oral and written communication skills
Demonstrated understanding of how systemically consistent, combinatoric game design can create player surprise and laughter
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
Experience as a Staff Sandbox/Gameplay Designer on AAA or large-scale online action games, designing, documenting, and building character customization systems
Experience delegating work or ownership of an area to multi-disciplinary peers
Experience with social/cooperative game design and balancing for an active player base