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Animation Researcher Jobs (NOW HIRING)

CD PROJEKT RED

Senior Gameplay Animator (Locomotion)

Boston, MA · On-site +1

$115K - $131K/yr

Research, explore and advocate new techniques, systems, and workflows to improve animation quality, efficiency, and support evolving gameplay and previsualization needs. * Curate motion capture shot ...

Crane Currency

Animator / Designer

Alpharetta, GA · On-site

Research and develop new effects and techniques to advance micro-optic technologies * Ensure on-time delivery of animations, lab samples, and production tooling with a focus on quality * Partner with ...

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Animation Researcher information

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$30K

$113.1K

$164.5K

How much do animation researcher jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for animation researcher in the United States is $113,102.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,000.00 and $154,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as an Animation Researcher, you need strong research skills, knowledge of animation history and techniques, and typically a degree in animation, film studies, or a related field. Familiarity with animation software, databases, and digital asset management systems is often required. Attention to detail, creativity, and strong communication skills help an Animation Researcher excel in gathering and presenting relevant information to creative teams. These skills are vital for ensuring the accuracy, innovation, and authenticity of animated projects.

How does an Animation Researcher typically collaborate with animators and directors during a production?

Animation Researchers play a key support role by gathering visual and factual references, historical context, and technical information that help animators and directors achieve authenticity and accuracy in their work. They frequently consult with creative teams to clarify specific needs, present their findings in accessible formats, and attend production meetings to ensure their research aligns with the project's artistic vision. Strong communication and adaptability are essential, as Animation Researchers must translate complex information into practical insights while responding to evolving creative directions.

What are animation researchers?

Animation researchers are professionals who conduct thorough investigations to support the creative and technical aspects of animation production. They gather reference materials, study movement, behavior, and environments, and provide accurate information to animators and production teams. Their work ensures that animated content is realistic, consistent, and grounded in factual or stylistic research, enhancing the quality and believability of the final product. Animation researchers may work on topics ranging from character design and historical authenticity to the physics of motion.

What is the difference between Animation Researcher vs Animation Artist?

AspectAnimation ResearcherAnimation Artist
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in animation, film, or related field; strong research skillsDiploma or degree in animation, fine arts, or related field; strong artistic skills
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, studios, production companiesAnimation studios, post-production houses, freelance work
Employer & Industry UsageFilm, TV, gaming, animation production companiesAnimation studios, advertising agencies, entertainment industry
Common Search & ComparisonYesNo

Animation Researchers focus on gathering and analyzing information to support animation projects, often working in research or pre-production phases. Animation Artists create the visual content, bringing characters and scenes to life through their artistic skills. While both roles are essential in animation production, they differ in their primary responsibilities and skill sets.

What cities are hiring for Animation Researcher jobs? Cities with the most Animation Researcher job openings:
Infographic showing various Animation Researcher job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 79% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 5% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 67% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 29% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $113,102 per year, or $54.4 per hour.
Design Technologist, Robot Animation , Fauna

Design Technologist, Robot Animation , Fauna

Amazon

New York, NY • On-site

Full-time

Posted 2 hours ago

Amazon rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 6,811 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 39 rated national retailers

Job description

We are seeking a Design Technologist to define the expressive motion vocabulary that makes our robot feel alive: how it gestures when speaking, how it shows curiosity, excitement, hesitation, and calm. You will work with motion capture, hand animation, and procedural techniques to build a library of movements that bring our robots to life in real time.
This role sits at the intersection of character animation and robotics.

You need strong animation instincts - timing, weight, personality - and enough technical fluency to work within the constraints of physical robots that must work in the real world.
Key job responsibilities
- Author expressive robot animations that articulate the robot's core personality: locomotion styles, conversational gesture, emotional reactions, interactive behaviors
- Partner closely with HRI researchers and robotics engineers to understand what the robot can physically do and what interactions need to feel like
- Work with motion capture to create base animations, then adapt and refine them for our robot's form factor and joint constraints
- Develop tools and workflows (Python, Blender/Maya scripting) to accelerate animation authoring and integrate with the robot's behavior pipeline
- Test animations on real hardware and iterate based on how they read in person, from all angles
About the team
Fauna Robotics, an Amazon company, is building capable, safe, and genuinely delightful robots for everyday life. Our goal is simple: make robots people actually want to live and interact with in everyday human spaces.


We believe that future won't arrive until building for robotics becomes far more accessible. Today, too much effort is spent reinventing the fundamentals. We're changing that by developing tightly integrated hardware and software systems that make it faster, safer, and more intuitive to create real-world robotic products.


Our work spans the full stack: mechanical design, control systems, dynamic modeling, and intelligent software. The focus is not just functionality, but experience. We're building robots that feel responsive, expressive, and genuinely useful.


At Fauna, you'll work at the frontier of this space, helping define how robots move, manipulate, and interact with people in natural environments. It's an opportunity to solve hard problems across hardware and software with a team focused on making robotics accessible and joyful to build.
If you care about making robotics real for everyone and building systems that are as delightful as they are capable, we're interested in hearing from you.

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About Amazon

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Amazon.com, Inc., commonly known as Amazon, is an American multinational technology company. It was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and initially started as an online marketplace for books. Since then, Amazon has expanded its operations and become one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world. Amazon's primary business is its online retail platform, where customers can purchase a vast array of products, including electronics, clothing, books, home goods, and much more. The company offers a convenient and user-friendly shopping experience, with features such as fast shipping, customer reviews, and personalized recommendations. In addition to its e-commerce platform, Amazon has diversified its business into various other areas. One of its notable ventures is Amazon Web Services (AWS), a comprehensive cloud computing platform that provides services such as storage, compute power, and database management to individuals and businesses. AWS has become a leader in the cloud computing industry, powering many websites and applications worldwide. Amazon has also developed its own consumer electronics, including the popular Amazon Kindle e-reader, Fire tablets, Fire TV streaming devices, and the Alexa-powered Echo smart speakers. The Alexa voice assistant, integrated into these devices, allows users to interact with their devices using voice commands, perform tasks, and access information. Furthermore, Amazon has expanded into media and entertainment. It operates Prime Video, a streaming service that offers a wide range of movies, TV shows, and original content. Amazon Music provides a platform for streaming and purchasing digital music, while Audible offers audiobooks and other audio content. The company's commitment to customer satisfaction and convenience is demonstrated by its membership program, Amazon Prime. Prime members receive various benefits, including free two-day shipping, access to streaming services, exclusive deals, and more.

Industry

It services, book publishers, retail, real estate and computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Seattle, WA, US

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