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Animation Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

IDW

Motion Designer

Oakland, CA · On-site

W work collaboratively with clients, internal designers, and production artists to create stand-alone animations and compelling high-quality videos. The role includes start-to-finish motion design ...

Epic Games

Animation Systems Programmer

Larkspur, CA · On-site

$167K - $245K/yr

Write technical documentation and designs * Conduct exploratory research to pioneer and develop innovative animation systems and techniques that push the boundaries of what is possible in real-time ...

Harvey Nash

Motion Designer

Culver City, CA · On-site

$85 - $91/hr

Summary We are seeking an experienced Animator/Motion Designer with a strong background in UI and interactive motion design for consumer-facing digital products. The ideal candidate will create ...

Skydance

Associate Costume Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$67 - $75/hr

Skydance Animation is seeking an Associate Costume Designer to join the studio's Costume Department. Reporting to the Head of Costume Design, the Associate Costume Designer will expand upon and ...

Skydance

Associate Costume Designer

Santa Monica, CA

$67 - $75/hr

Skydance Animation is seeking an Associate Costume Designer to join the studio's Costume Department. Reporting to the Head of Costume Design, the Associate Costume Designer will expand upon and ...

Skydance

Costume Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

Skydance Animation is seeking a Costume Designer to lead the design and execution of wardrobe across all characters, from leads to crowds, ensuring visual consistency throughout our film. As a key ...

Skydance

Costume Designer

Santa Monica, CA

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

Skydance Animation is seeking a Costume Designer to lead the design and execution of wardrobe across all characters, from leads to crowds, ensuring visual consistency throughout our film. As a key ...

Monks

Motion Designer

Los Angeles, CA · Hybrid

This role leans more animator than designer: we want someone who can bring work to life with movement, rhythm, and timing. You'll work closely with Art Directors and Creative Directors to concept ...

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All JobsAnimation Designer JobsAnimation Designer Jobs in California

Animation Designer information

See California salary details

$35K

$82.1K

$108.6K

How much do animation designer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for animation designer in California is $82,059.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $57,200.00 and $107,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an animation designer?

Animation Designers are creative professionals who develop visual effects and animated sequences for various media, such as films, television, video games, and online content. They use specialized software to create 2D or 3D animations, working closely with directors, illustrators, and other team members to bring ideas to life. Their job often involves storyboarding, character design, and ensuring the animation aligns with the project's vision. Animation Designers play a key role in shaping the look, feel, and movement of characters and environments. Their work requires a blend of artistic talent, technical skills, and attention to detail.

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 background in art and design principles, animation techniques, and a degree or certification in animation or related fields. Proficiency with industry-standard software like Adobe After Effects, Autodesk Maya, or Blender is typically required. Strong creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help Animation Designers collaborate and innovate within production teams. These skills are crucial for producing engaging, high-quality animations that meet creative briefs and client expectations.

What are some common challenges animation designers face when working on collaborative projects?

Animation Designers often work closely with illustrators, writers, sound designers, and developers, which can present challenges in aligning creative visions and managing revisions. Balancing artistic expression with project requirements or client feedback is a frequent hurdle. Additionally, meeting tight deadlines while ensuring consistency and high-quality animation across various platforms requires excellent communication, flexibility, and strong organizational skills. Embracing feedback and adapting quickly are key to thriving in this collaborative environment.

What is the difference between Animation Designer vs Motion Graphics Artist?

AspectAnimation DesignerMotion Graphics Artist
Required CredentialsTypically a degree in animation, graphic design, or related fieldOften a degree in graphic design, multimedia, or animation
Work EnvironmentFilm, TV, advertising, gaming, digital mediaAdvertising, broadcast, digital media, social media content
Employer & Industry UsageMedia companies, animation studios, game developersAdvertising agencies, TV networks, digital content creators

Animation Designers focus on creating animated sequences and characters, often for films, games, or digital media. Motion Graphics Artists specialize in designing animated graphic elements for videos, commercials, and digital platforms. While both roles involve animation skills, Animation Designers typically work on character and scene animation, whereas Motion Graphics Artists focus on animated visuals and text. The roles often overlap, but their primary applications and outputs differ based on industry needs.

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 and Blender, along with a strong portfolio, can improve job prospects in this evolving industry.

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

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

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

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

What cities in California are hiring for Animation Designer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Animation Designer job openings:

Animation Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Designer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 75% Full Time, 6% Part Time, 4% Temporary, and 13% Contract. Highlights an 94% In-person, 4% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,059 per year, or $39.5 per hour.

Senior Simulation Animation Engineer - Special Projects

Apple

Cupertino, CA • On-site

$130K - $149K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 9 days ago

Apple rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 677 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 30 rated technology retailers

Job description

Apple is where individual imaginations gather together, committing to the values that lead to great work. Every new product we build, service we create, or Apple Store experience we deliver is the result of us making each other's ideas stronger. That happens because every one of us shares a belief that we can make something wonderful and share it with the world, changing lives for the better. It's the diversity of our people and their thinking that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do. When we bring everybody in, we can do the best work of our lives. Here, you'll do more than join something - you'll add something.
Description
As as Senior Simulation Animation Engineer you will have an opportunity to be part of an innovation-focused organization within Apple that is developing simulations and generating synthetic data. You will be able to work on highly ambitious and impactful simulation projects. This team has a strong focus on enabling AIML-based features and products. Our ideal team member brings experience but is also fearless when it comes to trying new things and is willing to iterate on ideas. We value team members who can quickly prototype, iterating all the way to high-quality implementations. Moreover, we value team members who can collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams across the organization.
Minimum Qualifications
4 years of professional experience.
Strong proficiency in C++ and solid software engineering fundamentals.
Knowledge of animation principles, skeletal animation, and character rigging concepts.
Experience implementing animation graphs, blend systems, runtime animation retargeting, and IK solvers.
Familiarity with profiling, optimization, and debugging in a real-time environment.
Good communication skills and ability to collaborate with animators, designers, and engineers.
Experience with a major game engine.
Preferred Qualifications
Familiarity with USD format and tools, especially for animation
Experience in video game real time animation systems
Experience with offline animation and rendering pipelines
Experience with hair and cloth simulations

What Apple employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Apple logo

About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976

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