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Animation Writing Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Fox

Web Writer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$78K - $93K/yr

... of award-winning animation studio Bento Box Entertainment (Bob's Burgers, The Great North ... TMZ is looking for a Web Writer who can write short form stories accurately, fairly and with speed.

FOX News Network, LLC

Web Writer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$78K - $93K/yr

... of award-winning animation studio Bento Box Entertainment (Bob's Burgers, The Great North ... TMZ is looking for a Web Writer who can write short form stories accurately, fairly and with speed.

mxdwn

Movie News Writer / Researcher

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

Applications without writing samples will not be considered. You've got great grammar and know how ... things Disney animation). You're familiar with things like Wordpress, Google Drive, and Slack.

SpaceX

Motion Graphics Producer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$95K - $120K/yr

Able to multi-task on animation projects with a tireless work ethic * Ability to work collaboratively with cross functional teams * Excellent verbal, written, and visual communication skills

Absurd Ventures

Character Technical Artist

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$130K - $165K/yr

Absurd Ventures is building narrative worlds, creating characters, and writing stories for a variety of genres, without regard to medium, to be produced for live-action and animation; video games and ...

SpaceX

Motion Graphics Producer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$95K - $120K/yr

Able to multi-task on animation projects with a tireless work ethic * Ability to work collaboratively with cross functional teams * Excellent verbal, written, and visual communication skills

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All JobsAnimation Writing JobsAnimation Writing Jobs in California

Animation Writing information

See California salary details

$5

$30

$74

How much do animation writing jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation writing in California is $30.56, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.23 and $36.78 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges animation writers face when working on collaborative projects?

Animation writers often work closely with directors, storyboard artists, and other writers, which can lead to challenges such as balancing creative visions and adapting scripts to fit visual storytelling needs. Changes in animation production timelines or feedback from multiple stakeholders may require quick script revisions. Successfully navigating these dynamics requires strong communication skills, flexibility, and the ability to incorporate feedback while maintaining narrative consistency.

What is animation writing?

Animation writing is the process of crafting scripts, dialogue, and storylines specifically for animated films, TV shows, web series, or shorts. Animation writers collaborate closely with directors, animators, and producers to develop engaging narratives, memorable characters, and visual humor that fit the unique possibilities of animation. Unlike live-action scripts, animation writing often requires more detailed scene descriptions and visual cues, since animators rely heavily on the script to bring the story to life. Effective animation writers must blend creativity, storytelling skills, and an understanding of animation production.

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

To thrive as an Animation Writer, you need strong storytelling abilities, a solid grasp of script formatting, and often a background in creative writing, film, or animation. Familiarity with screenwriting software like Final Draft, Celtx, or Adobe Story, as well as knowledge of animation production pipelines, is typically required. Creativity, adaptability, and strong collaboration skills help you excel when working with animators, directors, and producers. These skills ensure that scripts are engaging, feasible for animation, and effectively support the visual storytelling process.

What is the difference between Animation Writing vs Scriptwriting?

AspectAnimation WritingScriptwriting
CredentialsWriting skills, storytelling, animation industry knowledgeWriting skills, storytelling, film/TV industry knowledge
Work EnvironmentAnimation studios, media companiesFilm, TV, digital media productions
Industry UsagePrimarily in animated series, movies, web contentIn live-action and animated productions

Animation Writing focuses on creating scripts specifically for animated content, often requiring knowledge of animation processes. Scriptwriting is broader, covering scripts for live-action or animated media. While both roles involve storytelling and script development, Animation Writing is specialized for animation projects, making it distinct in industry applications and skill requirements.

What are popular job titles related to Animation Writing jobs in California? For Animation Writing jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Animation Writing jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Animation Writing jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Animation Writing jobs? Cities in California with the most Animation Writing job openings:
Animation Writing jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Writing job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 62% Full Time, 31% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 97% In-person, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $63,557 per year, or $30.6 per hour.
Designer III, Visualization

Designer III, Visualization

Mazda Motor Corporation

Irvine, CA

$95K - $145K/yr

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago

Job description

Job DescriptionThe Visualization Designer III creates high-quality visualizations and animations for innovative automotive and brand concepts in support of defined project objectives. This role requires a high level of attention to detail to produce compelling imagery and animations that align with Mazda's brand standards. This position contributes to key design decisions by collaborating closely with designers to develop accurate and expressive 3D renderings, visuals, and animations.

Major Responsibilities

  • (70%) Design Visualization & Animation
    • Collaborates closely with automotive and brand designers to develop and execute high fidelity images and animations that support storytelling and presentations for senior design management.
    • Works directly with design teams to establish project-specific art direction, ranging from quick turn imagery to feature-level animations.
    • Translate defined art direction into visuals that accurately convey design intent and adhere to agreed-upon "Tone and Manner" standards.
    • Utilizes a variety of rendering tools and software to deliver professional-grade imagery for both automotive and brand design solutions.
    • Imports, compiles, and manages multiple 3D file formats (including STL, IGES, STEP, 3DS, DXF and Wire) to create workable rendering files.
  • (15%) Digital Surface Development
    • Utilizes a variety of software tools (including, but not limited to, Alias, Blender, and Sub-D) to work directly with designers to translate 2D concepts into accurate 3D digital surfaces.
    • Partners with fabrication team, as needed, to translate 3D digital files into physical outputs, including hand-offs for milling, 3D printing, and coordination with external vendors.
  • (15%) Concept Design Development
    • Develops innovative design solutions using sketches, models, and mockups to support Mazda's automotive and brand concepts.
    • Works closely with designers to explore, refine, and communicate design ideas throughout the concept development process.
    • Supports effective communication of design intent through clear visual assets, including renderings, animations, sketches, and presentation-ready materials.
  • Perform other duties as assigned
  • Comply with all policies and standards
  • The preceding functions have been provided as examples of the types of work performed by employees assigned to this job classification. Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job

Work Experience

  • 7+ years Digital experience to include a combination of:
    Experience in automotive or relevant industry
    Experience with Alias Autodesk and V-red Rendering software
    required


Education

  • Bachelor Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) Industrial Design Required
  • Bachelor of Science (BS) Automotive Engineering Required
  • An equivalent mix of education, training, and/or work experience may be considered in place of a degree Required


Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

  • Detailed knowledge of Alias Studio Tools and Alias related software, in addition to Photoshop, Illustrator and Microsoft office programs required (Advanced-Authority)
  • Knowledge of automotive mechanisms, the automotive Industry, and feasibility requirements related to design development required (Intermediate-Advanced)
  • Knowledge of surfacing and automotive terminology, vehicle design processes, basic engineering, packaging and component functions required (Intermediate-Advanced)
  • Ability to comprehend verbal direction from designers to create 3D surfaces and create complete vehicle exteriors, interiors, wheels and other automotive components required (Advanced-Authority)
  • Strong communication skills (both written and verbal) to work in a team-oriented environment required (Intermediate-Advanced)
  • Ability to verbally and graphically articulate design concepts required (Intermediate-Advanced)
  • Prepare Autodesk VRED files for VR reviews required (Advanced-Authority)
  • Ability to meet tight schedule with creative thinking preferred (Intermediate-Advanced)
  • Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize tasks are essential preferred (Intermediate-Advanced)
  • Strong visual and problem-solving skills required (Intermediate-Advanced)


Physical Demands

  • Stationary Position/Seated: Frequently
  • Communicate/Talking: Constantly
  • Communicate/Hearing: Constantly
  • Repetitive Motions: Frequently
  • Coordination: Frequently
  • Seeing/Observing: Constantly
Pay Range$95,500.00 - $145,675.00

Salary to be determined by education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.

Learn more about MNAO's comprehensive benefits packagehere

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