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Animation Development Jobs in New York (NOW HIRING)

Work with the animation lead on tool, system and game play prototypes. * Collaborate with the Tech Art Team in the development tools that support the animation pipeline. * Collaborate with Design ...

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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 Jul 15, 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:

Senior Gameplay Animator

Half Mermaid Productions

Brooklyn, NY • On-site, Remote

$80K - $100K/yr

Contractor

Posted 22 days ago


Job description

Work With Us on Project D████
Job Description
We are looking for an experienced and talented Senior Gameplay Animator to join the development effort on our exciting new game "Project D."
The project is a third person horror game with experimental narrative, a return to the genre that our director, Sam Barlow, previously explored with Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. Candidates with experience of shipping a third person Unreal title on console are preferred. We're combining AAA experience with indie agility to deliver a big, ambitious game and are assembling a small team to make it happen.
This is a long term contract position on a remote team. Candidates in European timezones are preferred. Our studio is based in Brooklyn, NY and occasional travel to New York City may be required.
Applicants from traditionally marginalized identities within the game industry are highly encouraged to apply. Half Mermaid Productions does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status.
To apply, please use our Job Application form. Do not email your application, it will not be reviewed if it is not submitted using the Job Application form.
If you have any questions or encounter any issues using our job application form, please email jobs@halfmermaid.co.
Responsibilities
  • Create animations for both grounded, real world human characters and inhuman characters alike
  • Take animations from design spec through key pose to finished animation, creating responsive but authentic motion
  • Collaborate with other departments to implement animations in engine

Skills
Required Skills:
  • Have shipped a character-based game on console
  • High level understanding of combat and grapple animations
  • Fluency in Maya and Unreal Engine 5
  • Strong communication skills, contributing to the productivity and success of working in a remote team environment
  • An appreciation for narrative and psychological horror

Nice-to-Have Skills:
  • Experience working with MGear
  • Proficiency in body and facial rigging
  • Experience with motion capture pipelines and interest in cutting edge technologies to reduce cost and effort for performance capture