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Animation Development Jobs in Philadelphia, PA (NOW HIRING)

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Design, Animation, Applied Media, or related field. * 4-5+ years in creative development within a media company, integrated marketing team, or agency. * Advanced ...

Blender Tutor

Trenton, NJ · Remote

$40/hr

Ability to explain polygon modeling workflows, procedural texturing, and compositing while preparing students for 3D art, game development, animation, and visual effects careers. * Conceptual ...

Blender Tutor

Chester, PA · Remote

$40/hr

Ability to explain polygon modeling workflows, procedural texturing, and compositing while preparing students for 3D art, game development, animation, and visual effects careers. * Conceptual ...

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Design, Animation, Applied Media, or related field. * 4-5+ years in creative development within a media company, integrated marketing team, or agency. * Advanced ...

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Design, Animation, Applied Media, or related field. * 4-5+ years in creative development within a media company, integrated marketing team, or agency. * Advanced ...

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Design, Animation, Applied Media, or related field. * 4-5+ years in creative development within a media company, integrated marketing team, or agency. * Advanced ...

... animations, and configuring render settings for quality output. Emphasizes production pipeline understanding and connects 3DS Max skills to architectural visualization, film VFX, and game development.

... animations, and configuring render settings for quality output. Emphasizes production pipeline understanding and connects 3DS Max skills to architectural visualization, film VFX, and game development.

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Animation Development information

See Philadelphia, PA salary details

$50.5K

$108.7K

$175.1K

How much do animation development jobs pay per year?

As of May 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for animation development in Philadelphia, PA is $108,676.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $88,800.00 and $122,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 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 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 popular job titles related to Animation Development jobs in Philadelphia, PA? For Animation Development jobs in Philadelphia, PA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Animation Development jobs in Philadelphia, PA look for? The top searched job categories for Animation Development jobs in Philadelphia, PA are:
Adjunct - Westphal - Animation and Visual Effects

Adjunct - Westphal - Animation and Visual Effects

Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA • On-site

Part-time

Posted 24 days ago


Drexel University rating

7.1

Company rating: 7.1 out of 10

Based on 12 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

342nd of 528 rated colleges and universities


Job description

Adjunct - Westphal - Animation and Visual Effects
Job no: 506412
Work type: Part-Time
Location: University City - Philadelphia, PA
Categories: Drexel University, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
About the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design:
The creative heart of Drexel University, the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design trains the next generation of scholars, thinkers, makers, and doers in the fields of media, entertainment, design, and the visual and performing arts. Westphal offers 18 undergraduate and nine graduate majors, housed in award-winning facilities that encourage collaboration across creative disciplines. At Westphal, we reimagine the role of design, media, and the arts in building a better future. Our programs challenge students to center sustainability, access, and equity in their approaches to art, fashion, architecture, gaming, entertainment, and scholarship. Through experiential learning, studio-based curriculum, and Drexel's widely-recognized Cooperative Education program (co-op), our students are uniquely positioned to face the world's challenges and define the creative careers of the 21st century.
About the Program
The Animation & Visual Effects major provides students with the artistic, technological, storytelling, and design skills necessary to succeed as 3D animators and visual effects artists in the highly competitive entertainment, design, and communications industries.
Animation and Visual Effects has grown beyond its traditional applications in the entertainment industry. In addition to film, television, and internet-based programming, these production techniques are also widely used in medical research, engineering, virtual and augmented reality systems, immersive media, web content, the performing arts, interactive game systems, corporate communications, and higher education. The depth and complexity of this field necessitates a rigorous course of study.
To best prepare students for the demands of careers in these cutting-edge disciplines, our program provides a foundational understanding of design and technology with core courses in digital media, the option to choose between a 6- or 18-month co-op plan, and a curriculum of rigorous coursework covering specialized aspects of digital animation, visual effects, and immersive media. Students will learn the underlying principles of animation, along with advanced, industry-standard software and hardware technologies. The entire creative pipeline from storyboarding to modeling and animation to rendering and compositing is covered in depth, allowing students to experience all aspects of a production.
Job Summary
The Adjunct instructor will employ a variety of strategies to foster student artistic development, learning and discussions, as well as encourage active learning in all students, maintain proper course-related records, and evaluate student work and provide students with feedback as to the progress toward meeting the objectives of the course. Each adjunct faculty member is responsible for effectively teaching students in the assigned classroom or remote settings. Each adjunct faculty member is responsible for effectively implementing the mission of the Department of Digital Media within Drexel's Westphal College of Media Arts & Design. Responsibilities may include teaching days, evenings, nights, or weekends, with the potential for online only, in-person only, or a combination of both.
Courses within the Animation & VFX (ANFX) program cover a wide range of topics at different skill levels. All aspects of the CG pipeline are covered using industry standards such as Maya, Houdini, Nuke, Adobe Suite, Unreal Engine, and more.
Essential Functions
  • Teach required number of credit hours per quarter based on their contract
  • Teach studio, lecture, and/or practicum courses per their contract
  • Plan and provide instructional experiences that reflect an understanding of the philosophy, objectives, and curriculum of the program
  • Evaluate student achievement of curricular objectives/outcomes
  • Maintain communication with the program director regarding any course or student issues
  • Perform other similar duties as assigned

Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's Degree in Animation, Digital Media, Computer Science, or related field.
  • Minimum of 2 years of teaching or professional experience.

Location
University City, Philadelphia PA
Special Instructions to the Applicant
Please make sure you upload your CV/resume and cover letter that indicates your strong areas of expertise when submitting your application. In your cover letter, please list any applications, render engines, and program languages you have experience in and your skill level. Also include links to personal demo reels and portfolios.
Advertised: May 4 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: Jun 5 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
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