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Animation Development Jobs in New York (NOW HIRING)

ESPN Careers

Manager, Animation

Norwalk, CT · On-site

$126K - $170K/yr

They are responsible for balancing creative and production priorities with efficiency, staff development, and long-term strategic planning. The Manager oversees animation staff, technology resources ...

New

NEW YORK EDGE, INC

Jr. Animation Specialist

Hollis, NY · On-site

$25 - $30/hr

Professional Development: Must participate actively in weekly professional development sessions to stay updated with each iteration of the stop-motion animation experience and modules as they evolve.

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Animation Development information

See New York salary details

$54.7K

$117.8K

$189.8K

How much do animation development jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 25, 2026, the average yearly pay for animation development in New York is $117,824.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $96,300.00 and $132,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is Animation Development?

Animation development is the process of conceptualizing, planning, and outlining animated projects before full production begins. This phase involves creating story ideas, scripts, character designs, storyboards, and sometimes animatics to visualize the final product. Animation development is crucial for setting the creative direction and ensuring all stakeholders are aligned before significant resources are committed to production. It typically involves collaboration between writers, directors, producers, and artists. Successful development lays the groundwork for a smooth and efficient animation production process.

What are the typical challenges faced by professionals in Animation Development, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Animation Development often encounter challenges such as aligning creative vision with production constraints, managing tight deadlines, and ensuring clear communication between artists, writers, and technical teams. To address these, it's important to develop strong project management and collaboration skills, stay adaptable to feedback, and be proactive in resolving issues early. Building fluency with industry-standard tools and keeping up with evolving animation trends can also help overcome common obstacles and contribute to a smoother production process.

What is the difference between Animation Development vs Animation Design?

AspectAnimation DevelopmentAnimation Design
Primary FocusCreating animated content through coding and technical processesDesigning visual styles and characters for animations
Skills RequiredProgramming, software engineering, technical animation toolsArt, illustration, storytelling, visual creativity
Work EnvironmentSoftware studios, tech companies, multimedia firmsDesign studios, advertising agencies, entertainment industry
Common CertificationsAnimation software certifications, programming coursesArt degrees, illustration certifications

Animation Development focuses on the technical creation of animated content, often involving coding and software engineering. In contrast, Animation Design emphasizes visual storytelling, character creation, and artistic design. Both roles are essential in the animation industry but serve different aspects of the production process.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in Animation Development, and why are they important?

To excel in Animation Development, you need strong artistic abilities, storytelling skills, and a background in animation or a related field, often supported by a relevant degree or portfolio. Familiarity with industry-standard software such as Adobe Creative Suite, Toon Boom, or Maya, along with knowledge of production pipelines, is typically required. Creativity, teamwork, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for collaborating with diverse teams and bringing stories to life. These competencies are essential for producing high-quality animations that captivate audiences and meet production standards.
What are popular job titles related to Animation Development jobs in New York? For Animation Development jobs in New York, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Animation Development jobs in New York look for? The top searched job categories for Animation Development jobs in New York are:
What cities in New York are hiring for Animation Development jobs? Cities in New York with the most Animation Development job openings:
Animation Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Development job openings in New York as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Part Time. Highlights an 67% In-person, and 33% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $117,824 per year, or $56.6 per hour.

Manager, Animation

ESPN Careers

Norwalk, CT • On-site

$126K - $170K/yr

Full-time

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

The Manager, Animation helps lead the ESPN Creative Studio Animation/Animation FX team and their workflows. They are responsible for balancing creative and production priorities with efficiency, staff development, and long-term strategic planning. The Manager oversees animation staff, technology resources, schedules, and team performance. They have a comprehensive understanding of animation team software, hardware, workflows, along with knowledge of individual staff skillsets and development areas. They are proactive problem-solvers with an eye on emerging production trends to anticipate future animation needs. They help create an innovative, collaborative, and creatively positive environment for the entire team. They engage and align with internal leaders on workflows to deliver against company priorities and key business goals.


Responsibilities:

  • Daily leadership, planning, monitoring, and support of all staff and assignments
  • Daily assessment of workloads and priorities to keep projects running smoothly
  • Easily pivot attention to where needed & readily open to diverse ideas and discussion
  • Direct management, mentoring and coaching of supervisor- and staff-level personnel
  • Develop and align team workflows and strategies with ESPN Creative Studio priorities
  • Assess staff capabilities & proactively plan against known and anticipated project needs
  • Foster a team environment that encourages innovation, creativity, and skills growth
  • Identify and drive resolutions to technical, operational, and organizational challenges
  • Collaborate with IT partners to guide enhancements to team software and hardware
  • Engage with ECS leaders and outside vendors to influence and align on workflows

Basic Qualifications:

  • Minimum 10 years of experience in animation, design, tv production
  • Strong understanding of industry-standard animation software and workflows
  • Detail-oriented with the ability to manage priorities and meet tight deadlines
  • Confident problem solver; able to think quickly in pressure situations
  • Technical curiosity; keen to generate and explore new ideas
  • Excellent organizational, communication, presentation, and group dynamic skills
  • Excellent coaching and motivational skills

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Proven experience supervising in-person and remote creative teams
  • Proven experience working with DEET/IT and outside vendors
  • Strong knowledge of ESPN studio and event animation packages
  • Strong technical troubleshooting abilities
  • Deadline Render Manager experience
  • Microsoft 365 application experience

Required Education:

  • High School Diploma or Equivalent

Preferred Education:

  • Degree in Animation, VFX, Graphic Design, TV/Film Production, or related field

#ESPNMedia


The hiring range for this position in Bristol, CT is $126,800.00 to $170,000.00 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

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