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Animation Clean Up Artist Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Technical Animator

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

... artists! The ideal candidate will have experience in assisting animation teams with technical ... Able to maintain clean and organized work files. QUALIFICATIONS * A minimum of 5 years of ...

3D Artist

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$110K - $140K/yr

Retargeting character animation using mocap data; * Scene Layout and Lighting in Unity; * Creating ... Ability to maintain clean, organized, and non-destructive workflow. * Receptive to the iterative ...

Technical Animator

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

... artists! The ideal candidate will have experience in assisting animation teams with technical ... Able to maintain clean and organized work files. QUALIFICATIONS * A minimum of 5 years of ...

Technical Animator

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

... artists! The ideal candidate will have experience in assisting animation teams with technical ... Able to maintain clean and organized work files. QUALIFICATIONS * A minimum of 5 years of ...

... artists to solve pipeline and production challenges. * Ensure clean, reliable integration of skeletal meshes and animation data in Unreal Engine. Required Qualifications * Proven experience skinning ...

Experience with the creation of animation assets, and techniques like image editing, masking, etc ... up to any better conditions and terms negotiated and obtained as expressly provided therein ...

Experience with the creation of animation assets, and techniques like image editing, masking, etc ... up to any better conditions and terms negotiated and obtained as expressly provided therein.

Experience with the creation of animation assets, and techniques like image editing, masking, etc ... up to any better conditions and terms negotiated and obtained as expressly provided therein ...

Experience with the creation of animation assets, and techniques like image editing, masking, etc ... up to any better conditions and terms negotiated and obtained as expressly provided therein.

Experience with the creation of animation assets, and techniques like image editing, masking, etc ... up to any better conditions and terms negotiated and obtained as expressly provided therein.

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Set up animation blends, overlays, events, and related systems in Unreal. Iterate on animation and ... Escalate issues to the Animation Director when artistic decisions or direction are needed. What ...

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Animation Clean Up Artist information

See California salary details

$5

$28

$37

How much do animation clean up artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation clean up 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 is an animation clean up artist?

An Animation Clean Up Artist refines rough animation drawings by adding clean, final lines while maintaining the intended motion and character consistency. They ensure characters stay on-model and enhance the overall quality of animation by removing unnecessary lines and adjusting details. This role is crucial in traditional 2D animation and some digital workflows, where precision and attention to detail are essential for polished final shots.

What does an animation clean up artist do?

A typical day for an Animation Clean Up Artist involves refining rough animation sketches into clean, on-model drawings, adding clarity, consistency, and detail while preparing the artwork for coloring and compositing. This role works closely with animators, supervisors, and sometimes character designers to ensure the style and movement match the project's standards. Regular feedback sessions and revisions are common, requiring excellent communication and flexibility. By collaborating within a larger animation team, clean up artists help ensure that each scene is visually cohesive and production deadlines are met.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as an animation clean up artist?

To thrive as an Animation Clean Up Artist, you need strong drawing skills, a keen eye for detail, and a solid understanding of animation principles, often backed by relevant training or a degree in animation or fine arts. Familiarity with animation software such as Toon Boom Harmony, Adobe Animate, or TVPaint is common, with portfolios demonstrating experience being highly valued. Excellent communication, time management, and the ability to collaborate within a creative team are important soft skills. These abilities ensure that the final animation is polished, consistent, and delivered on schedule, aligning with the project's artistic vision.

How much do animation clean up artists get paid?

Animation clean-up artists typically earn between $30,000 and $70,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of projects. Entry-level artists may start at lower wages, while experienced professionals working on major productions can earn higher salaries, often supplemented by benefits and overtime pay.

What are the most commonly searched types of Animation Clean Up Artist jobs in California?

The most popular types of Animation Clean Up Artist jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Animation Clean Up Artist jobs in California?

For Animation Clean Up Artist jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Animation Clean Up Artist jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Animation Clean Up Artist jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Animation Clean Up Artist jobs?

Cities in California with the most Animation Clean Up Artist job openings:

Infographic showing various Animation Clean Up Artist job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 25% Full Time, and 75% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $59,753 per year, or $28.7 per hour.

DreamWorks TV - Animation Artist

NBCUniversal

Glendale, CA

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago


NBCUniversal rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 133 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

17th of 78 rated media


Job description

Company Description

DreamWorks Animation is looking for more adventurous dreamers who shoot for the moon. We tell stories about the journeys our unconventional heroes take to make dreams come true. As a growth-minded studio, we pride ourselves on being one of the world's leading producers of high-quality, award-winning, animated films and series, reaching consumers around the globe. We push to feel more, laugh more, and build immersive new worlds.

DreamWorks creates a diverse array of original content in a variety of formats, delivering compelling stories with unique characters. We place tremendous value on the experiences our talent brings to the table from their own non-traditional paths to success. We believe in frequent communication and that transparency and trust yield the best work. We are a community of artists, technologists, innovators, and creators, who are passionate about animation and also happen to love eating lunch together. 

At DreamWorks Animation Television, our Animation Artist provides noted direction for our Partner Studio(s) to a standard set by the CG Animation Director and Lighting/Compositing Supervisor. The Animation Artist also animates characters and composites scenes when requested and ensures that all deliverables align with the production's schedule and creative vision of the series.

DreamWorks Animation Television has an exciting new opportunity for an Animation Artist to join its team based in Glendale, California. This position is covered by the Animation Guild.

If you are part of the fandom and believe teamwork makes the dream work, join us in #livingthedream and #doingyourdreamwork!

Job Description

Responsibilities: "What would you say you do here?"

  • Review animation deliveries from Partner Studio(s) and provide clear and courteous notes while keeping in mind the overall workload of the animation team(s)

  • Attend primary animation reviews to gather notes from show Creative Leadership

  • Generate BG references for Partner Studio(s) that provide direction for staging of shots in usable areas of the sets

  • Responsible for having a strong working knowledge of sets, characters and props and knowledge of the limitations of each

  • Review designs, scripts and breakdown decisions to assist the CG Animation Director

  • Create Maya set dresses for specific episodic requirements under the guidance of the CG Animation Director

  • Responsible for the final composite and output of the animation scenes that are tasked

  • Work closely with the Lighting/Compositing Supervisor to ensure that the shot matches the aesthetic of the surrounding scenes

  • When requested, animate characters in a variety of styles 

  • Attend storyboard and animatic reviews as workload allows

  • Work closely with the Crowd animation team to deliver crowd sims in the style of the show

  • Address any issues and retakes that come up during the final editorial/post review, issues may include the reworking of a shot to conform to the Harding Test standard

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications: "What do I need to have in order to do this job?"

  • Strong animation skills

  • Solid technical understanding of models and rigs

  • Strong knowledge of Maya

  • Experience with Nuke and After Effects

  • Fundamental skills for troubleshooting and identifying problems with files 

  • Ability to work in a fast-paced production environment under tight deadlines

  • Creative problem solving and adaptability skills 

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills and enjoys working in a team environment

Desired Qualifications: "What can I offer?"

  • At least 3 years of production experience in television animation, feature animation, VFX and/or video games

  • Experience with asset management software, Shotgun preferred

  • Experience working with international Partner Studio(s) is a plus 

  • Bachelor's degree preferred

Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the office a minimum of three days per week.
Salary Range: $89,752 - $110,000

Additional Information

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

NBCUniversal will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, or arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with relevant legal requirements, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative For Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, where applicable.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].


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