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Animation Layout Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Epic Games

Cinematics Animation Director

Cary, NC · On-site

Direct and work with motion capture data as a core part of the layout process. * Refine animations as needed to achieve the highest quality within project timelines. Research, evaluate, and prototype ...

Ten4

Senior Gaming Animator

Redwood City, CA

$129.80K - $148.10K/yr

College/University Degree in Character Animation or similar * Full comprehension of camera, layout, and stagingS * Self-directed and independent worker Major Plus: * Excellent hand-keyed facial ...

Ten4

Senior Gaming Animator

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$129.80K - $148.10K/yr

College/University Degree in Character Animation or similar * Full comprehension of camera, layout, and stagingS * Self-directed and independent worker Major Plus: * Excellent hand-keyed facial ...

loyalkaspar

Senior Designer / Animator

New York, NY · On-site

$116K - $132.40K/yr

Qualifications • 6+ years professional design & animation experience for entertainment brands • ... layout, and typography • Expert knowledge of broadcast show package elements and identity systems ...

loyalkaspar

Senior Designer / Animator

New York, NY

$116K - $132.40K/yr

Qualifications 6+ years professional design & animation experience for entertainment brands Mastery ... layout, and typography Expert knowledge of broadcast show package elements and identity systems ...

That's No Moon Entertainment

OR

$120K - $145K/yr

The animation will be of the highest quality and in-game functionality. This person will collaborate with other departments and key roles such as the Lead Animator, Camera Layout, Design, Tech Art ...

Filmless

Freelance Animator & GFX Artist

Manhattan, NY · On-site +1

... animation • Must have a reel or portfolio of work to demonstrate skills and abilities • Strong foundational knowledge of layout, color, grids, icons, typography, proportion, photography, and ...

Filmless

Freelance Animator & GFX Artist

Manhattan, NY · Remote

... animation Must have a reel or portfolio of work to demonstrate skills and abilities Strong foundational knowledge of layout, color, grids, icons, typography, proportion, photography, and motion/rich ...

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How much do animation layout jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 1, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation layout in the United States is $41.30, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.55 and $58.41 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an Animation Layout Artist do?

An Animation Layout Artist is responsible for setting up the composition, perspective, and camera angles for scenes in an animated production. They translate storyboards into detailed shot designs, ensuring proper staging and continuity. They also define character placement, background positioning, and camera movements to guide animators and other departments. Their work helps establish the visual storytelling and overall flow of the animation.

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

To excel in Animation Layout, a strong understanding of cinematic composition, perspective, and storytelling principles is essential, often supported by a degree in animation, fine arts, or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard software like Adobe After Effects, Toon Boom Harmony, and Autodesk Maya is highly valued, and knowledge of camera staging in 2D and 3D environments can be a plus. Effective communication, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate with directors, animators, and other team members are crucial soft skills. These competencies ensure that key story elements are visually clear and engaging, directly impacting the pacing and flow of animated productions.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of an Animation Layout artist?

An Animation Layout artist is primarily responsible for translating storyboards into detailed scene compositions, establishing camera angles, character placement, and background layouts for each shot. Their day often includes collaborating with directors and animation teams to ensure visual continuity, making technical adjustments to camera movement, and fine-tuning spatial relationships within scenes. They may also address feedback during review sessions and help prepare files for animators and other departments. This role is a critical bridge between story conception and final animation, ensuring the narrative is visually clear and compelling from frame to frame.
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Animation Layout jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Layout job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 29% Full Time, 65% Part Time, and 6% Nights. Highlights an 50% Physical, 20% Hybrid, and 30% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $85,906 per year, or $41.3 per hour.
Cinematics Animation Director

Cinematics Animation Director

Epic Games

Cary, NC • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 17 days ago

Job description

WHAT MAKES US EPIC?
At the core of Epic's success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a collaborative, welcoming, and creative environment. Whether it's building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make visually stunning interactive experiences, we're always innovating.
Being Epic means being a part of a team that continually strives to do right by our community and users. We're constantly innovating to raise the bar of engine and game development.
CINEMATICS
What We Do
In the Cinematics Team, we are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in realtime. We are in the early stages of this growth in realtime quality work and we are growing quickly and implementing various techniques and ideas to improve what can be done in Unreal Engine. Our team is one of the few at the forefront of delivering innovation, through cinematic quality visuals.
What You'll Do
Epic Games is searching for a Cinematic Animation Director to join our cinematic team working on projects, including Fortnite and other IP. You'll create original animation with a strong emphasis on style and appeal, grounded in realistic world physics - and you'll help shape how we make that animation, not just what it looks like. This role requires a deep understanding of animation fundamentals and how they translate to game animation, combined with genuine curiosity about emerging tools and workflows. You'll take animation from initial concept through implementation using our animation system in Unreal Engine 5, while actively exploring new approaches - from AI-assisted motion generation and video-to-animation pipelines (Meshcapade, video2fbx, etc.) to whatever comes next.
In this role, you will
  • Lead and mentor a small team of experienced internal cinematic animators.
  • Own the animation direction and quality control for all cinematic animation outsourcing efforts.
  • Create character-specific animations based on narrative collaborations with cinematic directors, using Unreal Engine's Sequencer and Control Rig toolset.
  • Drive collaboration across disciplines - including Production, Technical Animation, and Design - to help define the style and feel of Epic's cinematic animation.
  • Collaborate with other discipline leads (environment, lighting, fx, game dev, etc) in a dailies-style critique environment, find optimal solutions, and address issues as they arise.
  • Direct and work with motion capture data as a core part of the layout process.
  • Refine animations as needed to achieve the highest quality within project timelines. Research, evaluate, and prototype emerging animation workflows and tools, helping the team stay ahead of the curve on production innovation.
What we're looking for
  • A strong animation reel demonstrating expertise in keyframed character and creature animation.
  • Experience in a lead or senior role, managing animators and owning animation quality for both internal and outsourced teams.
  • Relevant experience in cinematic animation.
  • Strong instincts for both realistic and stylized motion.
  • Strong story and problem solving skills when adjustments are needed.
  • Ability and affinity for brainstorming and collaborating with a small team to design short stories that align with the creative brief.
  • Familiarity with Unreal Engine and the Control Rig workflow.
  • Experience directing and working with motion capture.
  • A technical mindset - someone who enjoys digging into pipelines, scripting tools, and figuring out how to make workflows faster and better, not just animating within them.
  • Demonstrated interest in emerging animation technology: AI-driven motion synthesis, video-to-animation capture, procedural animation, or similar tools and techniques. Strong communication skills and the ability to thrive in a collaborative team environment. Ability to work independently and own a project from start to completion.

Nice to have
  • Experience animating hard-surface or vehicle animation.
  • Understanding of modeling, skinning, and rigging.
  • Hands-on experience with tools like Meshcapade, DeepMotion, Rokoko, or similar emerging motion capture and generation platforms.
  • Background in scripting or technical art (Python, MEL, Blueprints).

EPIC JOB + EPIC BENEFITS = EPIC LIFE
Our intent is to cover all things that are medically necessary and improve the quality of life. We pay 100% of the premiums for both you and your dependents. Our coverage includes Medical, Dental, a Vision HRA, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance & a 401k with competitive match. We also offer a robust mental well-being program through Modern Health, which provides free therapy and coaching for employees & dependents. Throughout the year we celebrate our employees with events and company-wide paid breaks. We offer unlimited PTO and sick time and recognize individuals for 7 years of employment with a paid sabbatical.
ABOUT US
Epic Games spans across 25 countries with 46 studios and 4,500+ employees globally. For over 25 years, we've been making award-winning games and engine technology that empowers others to make visually stunning games and 3D content that bring environments to life like never before. Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to build high-fidelity, interactive experiences for PC, console, mobile, and VR, it is also a tool being embraced by content creators across a variety of industries such as media and entertainment, automotive, and architectural design. As we continue to build our Engine technology and develop remarkable games, we strive to build teams of world-class talent.
Like what you hear? Come be a part of something Epic!
Epic Games deeply values diverse teams and an inclusive work culture, and we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. Learn more about our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy here.
Note to Recruitment Agencies: Epic does not accept any unsolicited resumes or approaches from any unauthorized third party (including recruitment or placement agencies) (i.e., a third party with whom we do not have a negotiated and validly executed agreement). We will not pay any fees to any unauthorized third party. Further details on these matters can be found here.

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