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Animation Lead Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Carlost Inc.

Account Manager

Burlingame, CA · On-site

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 ...

Carlost Inc.

Account Manager

Burlingame, CA · On-site

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 ...

2K

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Lead Animator San Mateo, California, United States Who We Are: We are a diverse team of developers ... Iterate on animation and player feel through playtesting and hands-on tuning. * Develop quick ...

2K

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Lead Animator San Mateo, California, United States Who We Are: We are a diverse team of developers ... Iterate on animation and player feel through playtesting and hands-on tuning. * Develop quick ...

2K

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Lead Animator San Mateo, California, United States Who We Are: We are a diverse team of developers ... Iterate on animation and player feel through playtesting and hands-on tuning. * Develop quick ...

2K

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Lead Animator San Mateo, California, United States Who We Are: We are a diverse team of developers ... Iterate on animation and player feel through playtesting and hands-on tuning. * Develop quick ...

2K

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA

$123K - $182K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We are seeking a Lead Animator to lead by example through high-quality animation work while gaining ... Iterate on animation and player feel through playtesting and hands-on tuning. * Develop quick ...

31st Union

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We are seeking a Lead Animator to lead by example through high-quality animation work while gaining ... Iterate on animation and player feel through playtesting and hands-on tuning. * Develop quick ...

31st Union

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We are seeking a Lead Animator to lead by example through high-quality animation work while gaining ... Iterate on animation and player feel through playtesting and hands-on tuning. * Develop quick ...

2K

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We are seeking a Lead Animator to lead by example through high-quality animation work while gaining ... Iterate on animation and player feel through playtesting and hands-on tuning. * Develop quick ...

Mattel

Sr Manager, TV Animation

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$112K - $128K/yr

Lead the creative development and execution of assigned long-form and short-form animated projects ... Monitor trends in animation, streaming, comedy, digital media, and audience behavior to inform ...

Mattel

Sr Manager, TV Animation

El Segundo, CA

$112K - $128K/yr

Lead the creative development and execution of assigned long-form and short-form animated projects ... Monitor trends in animation, streaming, comedy, digital media, and audience behavior to inform ...

Mattel

Sr Manager, TV Animation

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$150 - $210/hr

Lead the creative development and execution of assigned long-form and short-form animated projects ... Monitor trends in animation, streaming, comedy, digital media, and audience behavior to inform ...

Mattel

Sr Manager, TV Animation

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$112K - $128K/yr

Lead the creative development and execution of assigned long-form and short-form animated projects ... Monitor trends in animation, streaming, comedy, digital media, and audience behavior to inform ...

Bonfire Studios

Lead Gameplay Animator

Irvine, CA · On-site

As our Lead Animator , you'll be accountable for how our game moves and how our animation ... Inspiring and guiding the animation discipline, setting the creative vision and quality bar for ...

Bonfire Studios

Lead Gameplay Animator

Irvine, CA · On-site +1

As our Lead Animator , you'll be accountable for how our game moves and how our animation ... Inspiring and guiding the animation discipline, setting the creative vision and quality bar for ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsAnimation Lead JobsAnimation Lead Jobs in California

Animation Lead information

See California salary details

$10

$25

$71

How much do animation lead jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation lead in California is $25.40, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.19 and $23.70 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Animation Lead vs Animation Supervisor?

AspectAnimation LeadAnimation Supervisor
ResponsibilitiesOversees animation teams, manages project timelines, and ensures animation qualityManages multiple animation teams, reviews work, and coordinates with production managers
Required SkillsStrong animation skills, leadership, project managementAdvanced animation expertise, team management, quality control
Work EnvironmentCreative studios, film, TV, gamingLarge production studios, animation houses, film and TV projects
Common UsageUsed in project-specific roles, often as a team leadUsed in larger teams or productions overseeing multiple projects

The main difference between an Animation Lead and an Animation Supervisor lies in scope and responsibility. An Animation Lead typically manages a specific animation team and focuses on day-to-day project tasks, while an Animation Supervisor oversees multiple teams and ensures overall quality and consistency across projects. Both roles require strong animation skills and leadership, but the Supervisor position involves broader oversight and strategic coordination.

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

To thrive as an Animation Lead, you need advanced animation skills, a strong portfolio, and experience overseeing projects or teams, often supported by a degree in animation or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard software like Autodesk Maya, Adobe After Effects, and familiarity with project management tools is essential. Leadership, creativity, clear communication, and the ability to mentor team members are standout soft skills. These competencies ensure high-quality animation output, efficient team collaboration, and successful project delivery.

How does an animation lead typically collaborate with other departments during a production?

As an Animation Lead, you'll work closely with directors, storyboard artists, rigging and modeling teams, and occasionally sound designers to ensure that animated sequences align with the project's creative vision. You’ll be responsible for communicating feedback, coordinating workflow, and resolving technical or artistic challenges across departments. Effective collaboration is essential, as you'll often need to balance the creative intent with production schedules and technical constraints, helping to facilitate seamless integration of animation with other elements of the project.

What is an animation lead?

Animation Leads are senior professionals in the animation industry responsible for overseeing the creative and technical aspects of animation projects. They guide teams of animators, ensure that the artistic vision is maintained, and coordinate workflow between departments. Animation Leads often mentor junior animators, review completed work for quality, and communicate with directors or producers to align on project goals. Their expertise ensures that animation sequences are delivered on time and meet both artistic and technical standards.

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

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

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

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

Animation Lead jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Lead job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $52,823 per year, or $25.4 per hour.

Supervisor, AI & Animation

Promise Advanced Imagination

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$120K - $140K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 23 days ago

Job description

About Promise
Promise is a pioneering film and TV studio at the forefront of the generative AI revolution. Our mission is to reimagine what's possible in entertainment by bringing together the world's most visionary storytellers and GenAI creators, empowered by cutting-edge tools and proprietary workflows. Through bold collaborations and a forward-thinking approach to sourcing IP, we are building a dynamic slate of original and licensed projects that push creative boundaries. Backed by premier VC firms, Promise is shaping a new era in GenAI-powered storytelling, where creativity knows no limits.
Role Overview
As the Supervisor, you will be the key technical and creative innovative thinker driving the integration of Animation and GenAI technologies into our production workflows. This leadership role is responsible for researching new methods in AI, animation, ensuring our productions maintain visual excellence while leveraging the efficiency of modern tools. You will shepherd the visual quality of our projects from concept through final delivery, acting as the bridge between creative vision, AI animation, and our proprietary GenAI R&D initiat
Key Responsibilities
  1. Generative AI & Pipeline Advancement
    • Research and implement new methodologies in animation, with a core focus on Machine Learning (ML) and Generative AI applications.
      • Work closely with R&D teams to prototype and integrate AI tools with standard VFX software to accelerate asset creation, character animation, and compositing.
  2. Virtual & Hybrid Production Leadership
    • Lead and supervise methodology of complex Animation and/or Anime that can include character animation, digital environments, etc...), ensuring seamless technical and creative execution on set.
      • Knowledge of facial animation
      • Knowledge of character animation
      • AI integration with traditional animation
      • Character and creature design
    • Architect hybrid workflows that successfully bridge traditional animation and AI workflows.
  3. Creative Supervision & Project Execution
    • Provide world-class artistic and technical direction for all animation projects, ensuring the final output aligns with the Director's vision.
      • Oversee talent selection for large-scale, AAA film and television projects.
      • Mentor and lead internal and external VFX teams and supervisors, fostering an environment of technical excellence and creative problem-solving.

Qualifications
  • Experience in animation, including a significant tenure as a HOD on large-scale, AAA feature films or premium episodic content.
  • Proven leadership role experience, with the ability to inspire and manage highly skilled creative and technical teams.
  • Demonstrated history of advancing technology or implementing innovative workflows within a major Animation or VFX studio or production company.
  • Expert-level knowledge of cinematic techniques, lighting, and color science.
  • Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, with experience acting as the primary creative liaison with Directors and Producers.
Technical Skills / Qualifications
  • Deep, practical expertise in Machine Learning/Generative AI techniques as they apply to VFX (e.g., neural rendering, content generation, data management).
  • Strong command of industry-standard software packages.
  • Solid understanding of ML/data pipelines and asset management in a high-volume production environment.

Compensation
We offer a highly competitive compensation package commensurate with experience, including equity.
Benefits
We believe in supporting our team's well-being and growth. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:
  • Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage, with employee premiums covered 100%.
  • Time Off: Generous paid time off (PTO) policy, including company holidays and sick leave.
  • Financial Security: 401(k) matching program to help you plan for your future.
  • Work Environment: A dynamic, creative, and inclusive hybrid work environment based out of our innovative studio.

Promise is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Apply