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Animation Programmer Jobs in Toronto, ON (NOW HIRING)

As a Senior Unity Game Developer you will work within a cross-functional team of talented developers, artists, animators, and play designers to create beautiful 2D and 3D mobile apps for children.

Connaissance des principes DevOps et CI/CD (atout). * Excellentes compétences en animation et en facilitation d'ateliers ; * Capacité à adapter son discours à différents niveaux hiérarchiques

Connaissance des principes DevOps et CI/CD (atout). * Excellentes compétences en animation et en facilitation d'ateliers ; * Capacité à adapter son discours à différents niveaux hiérarchiques

Connaissance des principes DevOps et CI/CD (atout). * Excellentes competences en animation et en facilitation d'ateliers ; * Capacite a adapter son discours a differents niveaux hierarchiques

Connaissance des principes DevOps et CI/CD (atout). * Excellentes competences en animation et en facilitation d'ateliers ; * Capacite a adapter son discours a differents niveaux hierarchiques

We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through our powerhouse film and television studios, including Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, and Focus Features, and ...

Expérience avec des outils comme JIRA, Azure DevOps, Trello ; * Excellentes compétences en facilitation et animation d'ateliers ; * Empathie et écoute active pour comprendre les besoins de ...

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Animation Programmer information

See Toronto, ON salary details

$31.5K

$94K

$168K

How much do animation programmer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for animation programmer in Toronto, ON is $93,954.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $63,940.00 and $119,769.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Animation Programmer vs 3D Animator?

AspectAnimation Programmer3D Animator
Required SkillsProgramming, scripting, technical knowledge of animation pipelinesArtistic skills, character animation, storytelling
Work EnvironmentGame studios, software companies, technical teamsGame studios, film, advertising, freelance
Tools & SoftwareUnity, Unreal Engine, scripting languagesMaya, Blender, 3ds Max
FocusImplementing animation systems, optimizing performanceCreating and refining character animations

While both roles involve animation, an Animation Programmer focuses on coding and technical implementation of animations within software, whereas a 3D Animator emphasizes creating artistic character movements. Understanding these differences helps employers and professionals identify the right skill set for each role.

How do Animation Programmers typically collaborate with animators and game designers during a project?

Animation Programmers work closely with animators to ensure that character movements and environmental animations are seamlessly integrated into the game engine. They often participate in regular meetings with animators and designers to discuss technical constraints, workflow improvements, and creative solutions for complex animation systems. This collaboration ensures that artistic vision aligns with technical feasibility, resulting in smooth, responsive animations. Effective communication and an understanding of both creative and technical perspectives are essential for success in this role.

What is the highest paid animation job?

The highest paid animation jobs typically include lead or senior roles such as Animation Director, VFX Supervisor, or Creative Director, often earning six-figure salaries. These positions require extensive experience, strong leadership skills, and proficiency with industry-standard tools like Maya or Houdini.

What does an animation programmer do?

An animation programmer develops and implements the code that brings character and object animations to life in video games and multimedia projects. They work with animation tools, game engines, and scripting languages to ensure smooth, realistic movement and interactions, often collaborating with artists and designers. Proficiency in programming languages like C++ or Python and understanding of animation principles are essential for this role.

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

To thrive as an Animation Programmer, you need strong programming skills in languages like C++ or Python, a solid understanding of mathematics (especially linear algebra), and experience with animation systems in game engines. Familiarity with industry-standard tools such as Unreal Engine, Unity, and Autodesk Maya, as well as relevant APIs and scripting languages, is typically required. Creativity, problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork are standout soft skills for this role. These skills ensure the creation of smooth, realistic animations and seamless integration with gameplay, which are vital for engaging and immersive user experiences.

What are animation programmers?

Animation programmers are software developers who specialize in creating and implementing animation systems within video games or interactive media. They work closely with animators and designers to ensure that character and object movements are smooth, realistic, and responsive. Their responsibilities often include building tools for animators, optimizing animation performance, and integrating animations with game mechanics. Animation programmers use programming languages like C++ or C# and often work with game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine.

Are animators still in demand?

Animation programmers are still in demand as the entertainment, gaming, and virtual reality industries continue to grow, requiring skilled professionals to develop and implement animated content. Proficiency in programming languages like C++ and tools such as Maya or Unity enhances job prospects in this field.
What are popular job titles related to Animation Programmer jobs in Toronto, ON? For Animation Programmer jobs in Toronto, ON, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Senior Unity Game Developer

Sago Mini

Toronto, ON • On-site

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

Sago Mini is an award-winning company devoted to play. With three subscription services and over 10 million monthly active users, Sago Mini creates apps that seed imagination, grow wonder, and bring thoughtful design to life for preschoolers and parents worldwide. Proudly Canadian, Sago Mini is a subsidiary of Spin Master, a leading global children’s entertainment company. Along with sister studios Toca Boca and Originator, Sago Mini is part of the Piknik bundle – a collection of the world’s best apps for kids in one subscription. 


About the Role

Do you want to create games that encourage exploration, imagination and discovery? Then come work at Sago Mini where you can focus your efforts on finding creative ways to make kids giggle. As a Senior Unity Game Developer you will work within a cross-functional team of talented developers, artists, animators, and play designers to create beautiful 2D and 3D mobile apps for children. Our work is technically challenging and also incredibly rewarding.

It’s important to note that this role requires you to work from our downtown Toronto studio one day a week.


The anticipated salary range for this role is $85,000 - $135,000 per annum. The salary offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to years of experience within the job, years of experience within the required industry, education, etc. 

This job posting is tied to an open vacancy.


You’ll thrive in this role if you…

  • Have a deep appreciation of the details that take an experience from good enough to great.
  • Can work collaboratively with designers and artists, and have an eye for visual design.
  • Can iterate quickly, write clear, modular and maintainable code with a team of experienced developers.
  • Can break down complicated tasks into discrete solvable components, prioritize what is important, and provide accurate time estimates.
  • Are excited about contributing to all phases of game development, including gameplay logic, core architecture, user interface programming, and custom editor tooling.
  • Are skilled at communicating complex technical topics in a way anyone can understand.


What You’ll Be Doing

  • Working as a Senior C# gameplay developer on our 3D and 2D mobile games on a variety of projects, moving between both lead and support roles.
  • Applying your skills to a wide range of development tasks, including creating 3D and 2D gameplay systems, helping plan the architecture for new game features, writing mobile optimized shaders, and writing Unity editor tools.
  • Mentoring and leading other developers and helping guide projects towards achieving their vision.
  • Seeing how kids react to your work. Seeing their delight and also their struggles so you know what is working or what needs to be improved. 
  • Collaborating closely with a team of artists and play designers.


Qualifications and Skills

  • 10+ years developing software professionally and have acted as a senior or lead developer on multiple released games.
  • Directly drove the architecture and execution of multiple large-scale technical initiatives, taking hands-on ownership from idea to launch.
  • Expert level understanding of C# and Unity.
  • A love for making beautiful things with code and excel at writing custom code-driven motion.
  • Deep understanding of how to use Unity to create mobile apps for iOS or Android.
  • Strong understanding of computer science fundamentals and 3D math.


About the Process

  • You’ll get an email response confirming we’ve received your application, and we’ll let you know within a few weeks if we’d like to schedule a follow-up.
  • If you are moving ahead, your first interview will be a 30 min chat where we'll learn more about you and answer any questions you have about the role.
  • Next, we will ask you to complete a short take-home assignment assessing your technical skills.
  • Your third interview will be a 2hr technical interview where we will explore your technical experiences through questions/answers and a live coding exercise.
  • In your fourth and final interview, you meet with a cross-functional group of Sago Mini members for 1hr. You'll discuss your past work experience and let us know what you're excited to tackle next in your career.


We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.  

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Based in Toronto, Sago Sago Toys is a subsidiary of Spin Master Limited a leading global children’s entertainment company that creates, designs and manufactures a diversified portfolio of innovative toys, games, products and entertainment properties. We hire humble and collaborative people who care about doing great work. Sago Mini is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity at our company.

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