ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Animation Design Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Cloud Chamber

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$124K - $142K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We will work closely and constructively across design, art, engineering, animation, and audio teams to realize our creative ambitions. Together, we will stay current on technological advancements and ...

2K

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA

$124K - $142K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We will work closely and constructively across design, art, engineering, animation, and audio teams to realize our creative ambitions. Together, we will stay current on technological advancements and ...

Cloud Chamber

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$124K - $142K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We will work closely and constructively across design, art, engineering, animation, and audio teams to realize our creative ambitions. Together, we will stay current on technological advancements and ...

2K

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$124K - $142K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We will work closely and constructively across design, art, engineering, animation, and audio teams to realize our creative ambitions. Together, we will stay current on technological advancements and ...

Console

Design Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

... use a bit of animation flair, then dial it in Qualifications : Required : • 4+ years of full-time design or design engineering experience, and a strong grasp on front-end engineering • ...

Fuser

Brand & Motion Design Intern

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$21 - $24/hr

You'll design campaign visuals, product announcements, brand assets, and short-form motion pieces ... Create short-form videos, animations, and tutorials using Fuser and motion tools * Contribute to ...

Fuser

Brand & Motion Design Intern

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$21 - $24/hr

You'll design campaign visuals, product announcements, brand assets, and short-form motion pieces ... Create short-form videos, animations, and tutorials using Fuser and motion tools * Contribute to ...

previous page

Showing results 41-60

All JobsAnimation Design JobsAnimation Design Jobs in California

Animation Design information

See California salary details

$10

$38

$69

How much do animation design jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation design in California is $38.89, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.59 and $63.12 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What jobs can you do with animation design?

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

What is the difference between Animation Design vs Motion Graphics Design?

AspectAnimation DesignMotion Graphics Design
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in animation, graphic design, or related fieldsOften requires similar credentials, with emphasis on graphic design and digital media
Work EnvironmentWorks in animation studios, film, gaming, or advertisingWorks in advertising agencies, media companies, or digital marketing
Industry UsageUsed for character animation, storytelling, and 3D animationUsed for branding, promotional videos, and visual effects

Animation Design focuses on creating animated content, including characters and storytelling, often in 3D or traditional animation. Motion Graphics Design emphasizes animated graphic elements for branding, advertising, and digital media. While both roles involve animation skills and similar credentials, their applications and industries differ, making each specialized for distinct creative outputs.

Are animation designers still in demand?

Animation designers are still in demand as visual content remains essential in entertainment, advertising, and digital media. Skills in software like Adobe After Effects, Maya, or Blender, along with a strong portfolio, can improve job prospects in this evolving industry.

What does an animation design do?

An animation designer creates visual sequences and motion graphics for various media such as films, video games, and advertisements. They use tools like Adobe After Effects and Maya to develop characters, backgrounds, and effects, often collaborating with other creative professionals to bring concepts to life.

How does an animation designer typically collaborate with other departments during a project?

Animation designers often work closely with a variety of teams, including scriptwriters, storyboard artists, voice actors, and software developers. Effective communication and regular feedback loops are essential, as animation designers need to ensure their visuals align with the narrative and technical requirements. Collaboration may involve attending cross-functional meetings, sharing progress updates, and revising work based on input from directors or marketing teams. This teamwork approach helps ensure the final animation meets both creative and business objectives.

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

To thrive as an Animation Designer, you need a solid foundation in visual storytelling, drawing, and animation principles, often supported by a degree in animation, graphic design, or a related field. Mastery of industry-standard software such as Adobe After Effects, Autodesk Maya, or Toon Boom Harmony, along with a strong portfolio, is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective collaboration are crucial soft skills for delivering engaging animations and working with diverse teams. These skills ensure the creation of compelling, high-quality animations that meet client needs and industry standards.

What is animation design?

Animation design is the process of creating visual sequences that give the illusion of movement, often for use in films, television, video games, advertisements, or online content. Animation designers use various techniques, including 2D, 3D, stop-motion, and computer-generated imagery, to bring stories and ideas to life. The role involves storyboarding, drawing, modeling, texturing, and animating characters or objects. Animation designers often collaborate with writers, directors, and other artists to achieve a cohesive visual narrative. Creativity, technical skill, and attention to detail are essential traits for success in this field.

What are the most commonly searched types of Animation Design jobs in California?

The most popular types of Animation Design jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Animation Design jobs in California?

For Animation Design jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Animation Design jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Animation Design jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Animation Design jobs?

Cities in California with the most Animation Design job openings:

Animation Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Design job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 85% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $80,900 per year, or $38.9 per hour.

Adjunct Faculty, 3D Animation

Austin Community College

Highland, CA

Part-time

Re-posted 28 days ago

Austin Community College rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 15 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

46th of 618 rated colleges and universities

Job description

Job Posting Closing Times: Job postings are removed from advertising at12:00 A.M.on the closing date e.g., at midnight on the day before the closing date.

Austin Community College employees are required to maintain a domicile in the State of Texas while working for the college and throughout the duration of employment. - AR 4.0300.01

If you are a current Austin Community College employee, please click this link to apply through your Workday account.

Austin Community College is a public two-year institution that serves a multicultural population of approximately 41,000 credit students each Fall and Spring semester. We embrace our identity as a community college, as reflected in our mission statement. We promote student success and community development by providing affordable access, through traditional and distance learning modes, to higher education and workforce training, including appropriate applied baccalaureate degrees, in our service area.


As a community college committed to our mission, we seek to recruit and retain a workforce that:

  • Values intellectual curiosity and innovative teaching

  • Is attracted by the college's mission to promote equitable access to educational opportunities

  • Cares about student success and collaborates on strategies to facilitate success for populations including; first generation college students, low-income students, and students from underserved communities.

  • Focused on student academic achievement and postgraduate outcomes

  • Welcomes difference and models respectful interaction with others

  • Engages with the community both within and outside of ACC

Job Posting Title:

Adjunct Faculty, 3D Animation

Job Description Summary:

Responsible to prepare and deliver 3D Animation coursework in engaging, innovative, and discipline-appropriate ways that reflect a commitment to Student success and creating an environment that promotes belonging for all and knowledge of the teaching field. Meets professional standards for faculty in accordance with college policies and procedures.
Instruct students in 3D Animation courses in accordance with College policies and procedures. Job responsibilities include:
training students to fill entry-level industry positions, or to gain access into a 4-year 3D Modeling or Game Development program.
maintain 3D Animation curriculum to meet industry needs.
review and recommend resources to enhance learning environment; and
encourage and inspire student & local interest in 3D Animation.

Job Description:

Principal Responsibilities and Duties

  • Prepare and teach courses in the field of 3D Animationto a multicultural student population based on the department's approved course learning outcomes, utilizing a variety of instructional strategies appropriate to the needs of community college students and the standards of the discipline.

  • Evaluate student progress and provide clear, timely feedback reflecting program learning outcomes and departmental expectations.

  • Provide teaching and mentoring services to students in a manner which does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, political affiliation, or other protected categories.

  • Remain current in the field through a variety of professional development activities.

  • Perform other related tasks as assigned by the department chair, dean, and/or associate vice president, vice president, executive vice president.

  • Serves on college-wide and departmental committees as needed.

Additional Duties

  • Training students to fill entry-level industry positions, or to gain access into a 4-year 3D Modeling or Game Development program.

  • Maintains 3D Animation curriculum to meet industry needs.

  • Reviews and recommends resources to enhance learning environment.

  • Encourages and inspires student & local interest in 3D Animation.

  • Serves on college-wide and departmental committees as needed

Technology

  • Demonstrated proficiency using computer applications, online resources, and other technologies for the classroom. Demonstrated proficiency using an online learning management system such as Blackboard to develop and build course content and perform administrative duties (posting office hours, syllabi, etc.).

  • Demonstrated proficiency using industry-related computer applications (specifically 3D Studio Max or Maya, Photoshop).

Principal Professional Standards

  • Meet deadlines for attendance certification and submission of final course grades.

  • Maintain regular office hours to assist students and improve student retention and success.

  • Recognize and reflect standards of civility and collegiality in all interactions.

  • Comply with published college policies and procedures and meet professional standards for teaching in a community college.

  • Appropriate use of the college's learning management system.

Required Education

  • Associate degree in Game Development or a degree in a related discipline (Game Design; Creative Writing; Film Production; Programming; Studio Art; Animation). Preferred: A Bachelor's degree in 3D Animation, 3D Modeling & Rendering or Video Game Art with strong emphasis in 3D Animation, 3D Modeling & Surfacing; or Fine Art Studio Art.

Required Work Experience (Workforce Programs)

  • In accordance with Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) requirements:Three years of non-teaching, industry-related work experiencewithin the game development industry. SACSCOC requirements may differ depending on the courses taught within the discipline.

Qualities of a Successful Candidate

  • Ethics, integrity, and sound professional judgment.

  • A commitment to establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with students, colleagues, and staff representing multicultural ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

  • Dynamic, non-traditional instructional delivery methods to teach students of widely varying levels of proficiency and from multiculturalbackgrounds and abilities.

  • Appropriate and up-to-date knowledge of the discipline and subject matter.

  • Experience using technology as an instructional aide where appropriate to enhance learning.

  • Documented experience with active and applied teaching and learning methodologies.

  • A strong commitment to teaching in a community college setting, including teaching practices that reflect an understanding of the multicultural classroom andthe benefits of cultural awareness and sensitivity in the classroom and the workplace.

  • Commitment to a multicultural workforce.

  • Ability to communicate effectively with students with a wide range of skills and backgrounds.

  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with varied and multicultural groups from the community as well as students, staff, faculty, and administration.

  • Strength in communication media, both verbal and written, as well as listening.

  • Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, ability to maintain an established schedule, including evenings and weekends, including possible multiple campus locations that may vary by semester.

  • Commitment to maintaining confidentiality of student information.

  • Understanding of what it means to teach in a community college environment that serves often underprepared and underserved students.

Application Requirements

1. Upload the following documents to your application:

  • Unofficial/copy of transcripts

  • Updated Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) or Resume

  • Cover letter - explaining interest in the position

2. If get selected for the position then please request official electronic transcripts to be sent directly from the institution to hrtranscripts@austincc.edu. This email address must be entered as the recipient. Please do not select "Austin Community College" from a menu. It will not be received by ACC Human Resources. If you need assistance, please contact your university's registrar's office. If official electronic transcripts are not an option, a hardcopy can be mailed to the following address:

ACC Human Resources

Attn: Prisca M. Baker

6101 Highland Campus Dr., Bldg 3000, Suite 3.2224

Austin, TX 78752

Photocopies of transcripts or transcripts stamped "issued to student" are not accepted.

Working Conditions

  • Work is routinely performed in a classroom or laboratory setting.

  • Subject to standing, walking, sitting, and reaching for extended periods of time.

  • Work safely and follow safety rules. Report unsafe working conditions and behavior. Take reasonable and prudent actions to prevent others from engaging in unsafe practices.

Number of Openings:

10

Job Posting Close Date:

August 31, 2026Clery Act

As required by the US Department of Education, employees are required to report violations under Title IX and, under the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), select individuals are required to report crimes. If this position is identified as a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified, trained, and provided resources for reporting.

Austin Community College produces an Annual Security Report as required by the Clery Act. This report includes statistics from the previous three years concerning reported crime that occurred on campus; public property adjacent to and accessible from campus; and in certain non-campus buildings/property owned or controlled by ACC. The report includes institutional policies concerning campus security and other safety information.

For direct access to the current Annual Security Report, visit www.austincc.edu/asr . You may obtain a hard copy by contacting the Clery Compliance Officer ( CleryComplianceOfficer@austincc.edu ). For an overview, see ACC's Clery Act website.

Disclaimer

The above description is an overview of the job. It is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities of the job, nor is it an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job. Duties and responsibilities may change with business needs. ACC reserves the right to add, change, amend, or delete portions of this job description at any time, with or without notice. Employees may be required to perform other duties as requested, directed, or assigned. In addition, reasonable accommodations may be made by ACC at its discretion to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions of the job.

What Austin Community College employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Apply