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Animation Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Cloud Chamber

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$124K - $142K/yr

... animation director's vision for the project. * Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to integrate animations into the game. * Problem-solve, debug, and optimize animations to ensure smooth ...

Cloud Chamber

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA

$124K - $142K/yr

... animation director's vision for the project. * Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to integrate animations into the game. * Problem-solve, debug, and optimize animations to ensure smooth ...

New Venture

Technology Director

Santa Monica, CA

Work closely with Game Director, Animation Director, Art Director and other members of the development team to plan tech requirements and implementation and assist with problem solving technical ...

New Venture

Technology Director

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

Work closely with Game Director, Animation Director, Art Director and other members of the development team to plan tech requirements and implementation and assist with problem solving technical ...

Epic Games

Cinematics Director

Cary, NC · On-site

Collaborate with the Animation Director to direct motion capture sessions and oversee scene assembly in Unreal Engine 5 using Sequencer and Control Rig. * Communicate shot design and pacing through ...

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Animation Director information

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$11K

$172.5K

How much do animation director jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for animation director in the United States is $171,000.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $171,000.00 and $171,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as an Animation Director, you need a strong background in animation principles, storytelling, visual design, and often a degree in animation or related fields. Proficiency with animation software such as Adobe After Effects, Maya, Toon Boom, or Blender, along with experience in project management tools, is typically required. Leadership, creative vision, and excellent communication are essential soft skills for guiding teams and collaborating with clients or stakeholders. These skills ensure cohesive, high-quality animations delivered on time, aligned with the project's creative goals.

What are some common challenges Animation Directors face when leading a team on a large project?

Animation Directors often encounter challenges such as aligning the creative vision across a diverse team, managing tight production schedules, and ensuring consistent animation quality throughout the project. Balancing creative input from animators, storyboard artists, and producers while adhering to budget and time constraints can be demanding. Effective communication, regular feedback sessions, and strong organizational skills are essential for overcoming these challenges and delivering a cohesive final product.

What Do Animation Directors Do?

An animation director is responsible for performing and overseeing a number of creative duties during the design, production, and post-processing of an animation. You may work at a film studio or video game company, collaborating with writers, illustrators, and visual designers to develop stories and graphics, and to define guiding aesthetic principles. You work closely with voice actors, animators, and sound design artists to create the final product, such as an animated movie, web short, TV show, or animation for a website.

What does an animation director do?

An animation director oversees the creative and technical aspects of an animation project, guiding the animation team to ensure the visual style and storytelling meet the project's goals. They review and approve animation work, coordinate with other departments, and often use tools like Maya or Adobe After Effects. Strong leadership, communication skills, and a solid understanding of animation principles are essential for this role.

How much does an animation director get paid?

Animation directors typically earn between $70,000 and $150,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the size of the studio. Senior animation directors or those working on major projects can earn higher salaries, often supplemented with bonuses and benefits. Strong skills in animation software and leadership are important for higher pay levels.

What is the difference between Animation Director vs Animation Supervisor?

AspectAnimation DirectorAnimation Supervisor
ResponsibilitiesOversees the overall animation style, guides creative vision, and manages animation teams to ensure consistency and quality.Manages day-to-day animation production, assigns tasks, and ensures deadlines are met within the animation team.
Required SkillsStrong artistic vision, leadership, and experience in animation production.Technical expertise, team management, and workflow coordination.
Work EnvironmentCreative leadership in studios, overseeing multiple animation projects.Supervisory role within animation teams, often reporting to the Animation Director.

The Animation Director focuses on the creative and artistic vision of the animation, guiding the overall style and quality. The Animation Supervisor handles the operational aspects, managing the team to meet production goals. Both roles are essential in animation production, with the Director setting the creative tone and the Supervisor ensuring smooth execution.

Does Disney still hire 2D animators?

Disney Animation still employs 2D animators, particularly for projects that preserve traditional animation styles. While the industry has shifted toward 3D animation, some departments and productions continue to seek skilled 2D artists familiar with software like Toon Boom and Adobe Animate.

What are Animation Directors?

Animation Directors are creative professionals who oversee the visual development and production of animated projects such as films, TV shows, or video games. They manage teams of animators, guide the artistic direction, and ensure that the animation aligns with the project's vision and story. Animation Directors collaborate closely with producers, writers, and other departments to maintain consistency and quality throughout the animation process. Their role is crucial in bringing characters and worlds to life in a cohesive and engaging manner.

How can I become an animation director?

To become an animation director, you typically need a bachelor's degree in animation, film, or a related field, along with several years of experience in animation or visual effects. Developing strong leadership skills, a solid portfolio showcasing your work, and proficiency with animation software like Maya or Adobe After Effects are essential for advancing to this role.
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Animation Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Director job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% Internship, 49% As Needed, 32% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 3% Nights. Highlights an 70% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 27% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $171,000 per year, or $82.2 per hour.

Senior Gameplay Animator

Cloud Chamber

Novato, CA • On-site

$124K - $142K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 22 days ago

Job description

As a Senior Gameplay Animator at Cloud Chamber, you will be part of a remarkably talented team of animators who are tasked with breathing life into the world of BioShock. You will be responsible for the creation of exemplary gameplay animations as well as implementation and optimization of your work in the Unreal Engine. You will work in close collaboration with a distributed group of developers, across disciplines, to set the standards that educate and inspire our team; ultimately bringing the world of BioShock to life.
What You'll Do:
  • Create gameplay, AI, and scripted animation that matches the visual style of the game, using both keyframe and augmented mocap techniques.
  • Work closely with programmers and designers to support a multitude of features.
  • Collaborate with Senior Animators on complicated sets of animation data to fulfill various gameplay and AI systems.
  • Participate in reviews with the gameplay team, give and receive constructive feedback.
  • Communicate and collaborate with members of other disciplines as needed.
  • Estimate the time required to carry out your own tasks and to meet deadlines.
  • Provide knowledge and solutions for everyday animation challenges.
  • Work closely with programmers to establish and refine the animation pipeline.
  • Develop high-quality gameplay animations that meet project standards and ensure animations align with the animation director's vision for the project.
  • Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to integrate animations into the game.
  • Problem-solve, debug, and optimize animations to ensure smooth gameplay experiences.
  • Utilize exceptional knowledge to create and maintain gameplay and AI systems related to gameplay animation.
  • Maintain a strong understanding of character performance, form, gestures, and silhouettes for both player characters and AI entities.
  • Apply expertise in anatomy and caricature to enhance the visual appeal and believability of character animations.
  • Excel in animating various elements, including the human bipedal figure, organic forms, quadrupedal creatures, and mechanical objects.
  • Utilize motion capture data and hand-keyed facial animation techniques for realism.
  • Engage in research, gather reference materials, and document findings to share with the team, aiding in animation development.
  • Mentor, coach, and train more junior animators.

What We'll Do Together:
At Cloud Chamber, we are champions of high standards, pushing for progress and embracing change. 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 identify solutions to overcome developmental obstacles to deliver a unique, world-class, immersive AAA experience.
Skills & Experience:
  • Previous experience as a Senior Animator on a AAA title.
  • Exemplary skills in keyframe, stylized 3D animation, using Maya and/or Motion Builder.
  • Experience working in Unreal Engine for animation implementation and debugging.
  • Strong understanding of character performance, form, gesture, and silhouette in regard to player character and AI.
  • Excellent understanding of anatomy and caricature.
  • Exceptional skills in animating the human bipedal figure, organic forms, quadrupedal, and mechanical objects.
  • Exceptional knowledge of how to create and maintain gameplay and AI systems in game engines as they pertain to video game animation.
  • Experience structuring & maintaining animation processes such as rigging or prototyping.
  • Experience working with motion capture data and editing it.
  • Excellent problem solving and debugging skills.
  • Experience with hand key facial animation and tools such as Jali.
  • A love for research, reference, and documenting your findings to share with the team.

Who You Are:
  • A reliable, positive force multiplier, actively seeking opportunities to integrate work across disciplines and contribute to a healthy, supportive team environment.
  • A solid communicator with excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly, package information for diverse audiences, and deliver difficult feedback with empathy and professionalism.
  • Experienced in working in cross-disciplinary teams with strong communication skills.
  • Persistent and self-motivated with a proactive mindset.
  • Able to maintain effectiveness and quality under pressure, ambiguity, and fast-changing priorities.
  • An active listener able to build and maintain trust-based relationships across all levels of the organization, understand differing perspectives, and navigate organizational complexity with tact and emotional intelligence.
  • Highly open to feedback and direction, possessing a desire to learn new skills, and capable of producing quick, quality revisions based on new insights or constraints.
  • A strong ownership of tasks, striving to drive work forward autonomously while maintaining a critical eye for detail and organization, ensuring high standards of quality.
  • Dedicated to upholding Cloud Chamber's core values, contributing to a positive and respectful company culture while striving for excellence in all endeavors.

Who We Are:
At Cloud Chamber we strive to make BioShock games that move people: evocative, immersive, and meaningful experiences that stay with you long after you've rolled credits. Great games are born from great collaborations, supported by a culture that brings out the best in our teams. We work openly, learn through play, take ownership, push ourselves to be better, and deliver for our players.
For candidates located in Quebec:This position requires professional proficiency in both French and English. Proficiency in English is required to collaborate with our U.S. teams and international partners, as well as to handle specialized technical documentation (reading, writing, and communication).
#LI-Hybrid
The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $100,200 and $148,320 per Year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards and eligibility to participate in our 401(K) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program. Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including: medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage; 14 paid holidays per calendar year; paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days) or eligibility to participate in the Company's discretionary time off program; up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year; paid parental and compassionate leave; wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support; family planning support through Maven; commuter benefits; and reimbursements for fitness-related expenses.
As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to ensuring that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform their essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us if you need reasonable accommodation.
Please note that 2K Games and its studios never use instant messaging apps or personal email accounts to contact prospective employees or conduct interviews. When emailing prospective employees, we only use 2K.com accounts

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