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Animation Job Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Jam City

Technical Animator

San Francisco, CA

$90K - $110K/yr

Augment and maintain the animation pipeline. * Propose or create tools to automate the animation pipeline. * Assist the animation team with high quality animation. This includes short loops ...

Rouge Studios

Cinematic Animator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$70K - $110K/yr

We are passionate about storytelling and pushing the boundaries of animation technology. The ideal candidate will have a great understanding of animation fundamentals, body mechanics and how they ...

New

2K

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Set up animation blends, overlays, events, and related systems in Unreal. * Iterate on animation and player feel through playtesting and hands-on tuning. * Develop quick animation prototypes for new ...

2K

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA

$123K - $182K/yr

Set up animation blends, overlays, events, and related systems in Unreal. * Iterate on animation and player feel through playtesting and hands-on tuning. * Develop quick animation prototypes for new ...

Jam City

Technical Animator

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

Augment and maintain the animation pipeline. * Propose or create tools to automate the animation pipeline. * Assist the animation team with high quality animation. This includes short loops ...

31st Union

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Set up animation blends, overlays, events, and related systems in Unreal. * Iterate on animation and player feel through playtesting and hands-on tuning. * Develop quick animation prototypes for new ...

2K

Lead Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Partner with the Animation Director and leadership to establish the animation vision, evangelize studio values, and shape a positive and inclusive team culture. * Develop and refine animation ...

2K

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Set up animation blends, overlays, events, and related systems in Unreal. * Iterate on animation and player feel through playtesting and hands-on tuning. * Develop quick animation prototypes for new ...

Cloud Chamber

Lead Animator

Novato, CA · Remote

$123K - $182K/yr

Partner with the Animation Director and leadership to establish the animation vision, evangelize studio values, and shape a positive and inclusive team culture. * Develop and refine animation ...

Cloud Chamber

Lead Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Partner with the Animation Director and leadership to establish the animation vision, evangelize studio values, and shape a positive and inclusive team culture. * Develop and refine animation ...

2K

Lead Animator

Novato, CA

$123K - $182K/yr

Partner with the Animation Director and leadership to establish the animation vision, evangelize studio values, and shape a positive and inclusive team culture. * Develop and refine animation ...

Socket.dev

Lead Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$123 - $182/hr

Partner with the Animation Director and leadership to establish the animation vision, evangelize studio values, and shape a positive and inclusive team culture. * Develop and refine animation ...

Bonfire Studios, Inc

Lead Gameplay Animator

Irvine, CA · On-site

$196.50 - $247.13/hr

Inspiring and guiding the animation discipline, setting the creative vision and quality bar for characters and combat in a competitive multiplayer game. * Leading and mentoring a lean animation team ...

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All JobsAnimation Job JobsAnimation Job Jobs in California

Animation Job information

What is an animation job?

Animation jobs involve creating moving images using drawings, computer graphics, models, or other visual media. Professionals in this field may work on films, television shows, video games, advertising, or web content. Common roles include animators, character designers, storyboard artists, and visual effects artists. These jobs require creativity, technical skills, and often proficiency with animation software such as Adobe After Effects, Maya, or Blender. Animation professionals collaborate with directors, writers, and other team members to bring stories and concepts to life.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an animator?

To thrive as an Animator, you need strong drawing skills, a solid understanding of motion and timing, and typically a degree in animation or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard software such as Adobe After Effects, Autodesk Maya, or Toon Boom Harmony is essential, and certifications in these tools can be advantageous. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help animators bring characters and stories to life and collaborate with teams. These abilities ensure high-quality, engaging animations that meet project goals and client expectations.

What are some common challenges faced by animators when working on collaborative projects?

A common challenge animators face in collaborative projects is ensuring consistency in style and movement across different scenes, especially when multiple team members are involved. Communication with directors, storyboard artists, and other animators is essential to maintain a unified vision and meet tight production deadlines. Adapting to feedback and making revisions quickly is also a frequent part of the process. Animators often use shared asset libraries and project management tools to streamline collaboration and keep everyone aligned.

What is the difference between Animation Job vs 3D Modeler?

AspectAnimation Job3D Modeler
Required SkillsAnimation principles, storytelling, timingModeling, texturing, topology
Work EnvironmentFilm, TV, gaming, advertisingGame development, film, product visualization
Tools UsedAdobe After Effects, Maya, BlenderMaya, ZBrush, 3ds Max
Common Industry UsageBrings characters and scenes to lifeCreates detailed 3D assets and models

Animation Jobs focus on bringing characters and scenes to life through movement and storytelling, while 3D Modelers specialize in creating detailed 3D assets. Both roles often collaborate in the entertainment and gaming industries but require different skill sets and tools.

Is animation a well paid job?

Animation jobs can be well paid, especially for experienced professionals working in high-demand industries like film, gaming, or advertising. Salaries vary based on skill level, location, and the complexity of projects, with many animators earning competitive wages and benefits. Developing strong skills in software such as Maya or Adobe After Effects can improve earning potential.

What kind of jobs can animation jobs get?

Animation jobs can lead to roles such as 2D or 3D animator, character designer, storyboard artist, visual effects artist, and motion graphics designer. These positions often require proficiency in software like Adobe After Effects, Maya, or Blender and may involve working in film, television, video game development, advertising, or online media.

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

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

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

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

What cities in California are hiring for Animation Job jobs?

Cities in California with the most Animation Job job openings:

Animation Job jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Job job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution.

Technical Animator

Jam City

San Francisco, CA

$90K - $110K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 18 days ago

Job description

As a leading mobile games developer, Jam City is looking to "level up" our talent. We're on the hunt for innovators who consider themselves dynamic, collaborative and thrive in a fast-paced environment. 
 
PERKS & BENEFITS
Unlimited Vacation, Paid Sick Days, Kin Care & Holidays*
100% Covered Medical and Company-Sponsored Dental & Vision (Plans Vary)*
Life Insurance, 401k, Flexible Spending Accounts, & More*
Wellness Activities & Programs
12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave*
Happy Hours
Company Events
*Only applies to full-time positions.

We are currently looking for a talented Technical Animator to join our tightly knit group of artists, animators and tech artists! The ideal candidate will have experience in assisting animation teams with technical solutions and animating . You will work alongside our world-class animation team to create intuitive rigs and visually stunning animations for our upcoming and live games!


**In order to be considered, you MUST provide us with a Demo Reel with examples of your most rigging and animation work. Along with your reel, you should provide a shot breakdown with an explanation of responsibilities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Rig characters, creatures and props that adhere to all the animation needs.

  • Export, import and assemble animations in Unity.

  • Create State Machine and Blend Trees in Unity.

  • Augment and maintain the animation pipeline.

  • Propose or create tools to automate the animation pipeline.  

  • Assist the animation team with high quality animation. This includes short loops, locomotion cycles, and full cinematics with camera and character animations.

  • Collaborate with the Lead Animator to refine and maintain the game's animation style and feel.

  • Embellish story scenes with high quality FX using particles or shaders in Unity. 

  • Setup and maintain cloth simulation pipelines.

  • Able to maintain clean and organized work files.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • A minimum of 5 years of experience rigging characters and props using Maya.

  • A minimum of 3 years of experience animating characters using Maya.

  • Master of Unity, with emphasis on anything animation and rigging related. 

  • Self-motivated, an excellent communicator and a team player. Go to great lengths to create outstanding work rather than settling for bare minimum.

  • Excellent understanding of human and animal anatomy.

  • Skilled in 3D character animation for bipedal humanoids, creatures, and organic forms.

  • Expertly apply animation principles to in-game animation: timing, acting, & body mechanics.

  • Experience with Unity particle systems. 

  • Proven problem-solving and prototyping ability, collaborating within the animation team and across adjacent teams.

  • Excellent grasp of the English language.

  • Able to be onsite 5x a week.
NICE TO HAVE

  • Have shipped AAA and/or mobile games as a technical animator, animator, rigger or tech artist.

  • Experience in creating animated shaders.

  • Film animation experience.

  • A passion for games!

In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation for this role.  The range listed is just one component of Jam City's total compensation package for employees, which may also include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled.  Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of job-related factors, which may include education, training, experience, certifications, location, business needs, or market demands. This range is based on a full-time position. This range may be modified in the future. In addition, Jam City provides a variety of benefits to employees, including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, parental leave, paid time off, a 401(k) plan, life, disability, and accident insurance.  Pay Range: $90,000 - $110,000 salary per year.

CHECK OUT LIFE AS A JAM CITIZEN:
- Company news and events on our LinkedIn
- Company Blog
- Employee Feedback on our Comparably page
- Find videos on our teams and games on our Youtube
 
OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, DIVERSITY, & INCLUSION
We believe in creating games that unite people across the world and that showcase our commitment to providing an environment that is both inclusive and diverse for our players and employees. We strive to create a workforce that is reflective of our global player community as we know that we are stronger and better when we play together. To help promote an inclusive culture, we celebrate the visible and invisible diversity of our Jam Citizens through initiatives including Employee Resource Groups, cultural events, trainings, speaker series, and more. 
 
Jam City is an equal opportunity employer. We enthusiastically accept our responsibility to make employment decisions without regard to race, age, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, religion, ethnicity, marital, or domestic partnerships status, disability, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, veteran status, domestic violence victim status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expressions, or any other classification protected by federal, state, and local laws. Our management is committed to following this policy with respect to hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, recruiting, pay, and other forms of compensation, training, and general treatment during employment.
 
ABOUT JAM CITY
Jam City is a leading entertainment studio with a proven track record of creating some of the world's most beloved casual puzzle and story-driven mobile games. As the creative force behind fan-favorite, award-winning titles such as Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Cookie Jam and Panda Pop, Jam City develops engaging and dynamic games that become an enduring part of our players' lives. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles with a global network of studios and talent. For more information, please visit www.jamcity.com.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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