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Animator Intern Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Fuser

Brand & Motion Design Intern

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$21 - $24/hr

Why You're Here As a Brand & Motion Design Intern , you'll help define how Fuser looks, moves, and ... Create short-form videos, animations, and tutorials using Fuser and motion tools * Contribute to ...

Fuser

Brand & Motion Design Intern

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$21 - $24/hr

Why You're Here As a Brand & Motion Design Intern , you'll help define how Fuser looks, moves, and ... Create short-form videos, animations, and tutorials using Fuser and motion tools * Contribute to ...

Childhood Cancer Society

$16.25 - $21.50/hr

Animation / Motion Short-form content, storytelling, and character animation for Adventure Ted Core Responsibilities * Design and execute creative assets across print, digital, and event environments

Childhood Cancer Society

$16 - $21.25/hr

Animation / Motion Short-form content, storytelling, and character animation for Adventure Ted Core Responsibilities * Design and execute creative assets across print, digital, and event environments

Childhood Cancer Society

$15 - $19.75/hr

Animation / Motion Short-form content, storytelling, and character animation for Adventure Ted Core Responsibilities * Design and execute creative assets across print, digital, and event environments

Childhood Cancer Society

$15 - $20/hr

Animation / Motion Short-form content, storytelling, and character animation for Adventure Ted Core Responsibilities * Design and execute creative assets across print, digital, and event environments

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All JobsAnimator Intern JobsAnimator Intern Jobs in California

Animator Intern information

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$7

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$53

How much do animator intern jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for animator intern in California is $24.42, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.83 and $30.13 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an animator intern do?

An Animator Intern assists the animation team by creating animated sequences, storyboards, or motion graphics under the supervision of senior animators. They may help with tasks like character rigging, editing animations, and preparing assets for production. Interns often learn industry-standard software such as Adobe After Effects, Maya, or Blender and gain hands-on experience in the animation pipeline. This role provides valuable exposure to collaborative projects and helps interns develop both artistic and technical skills.

What types of projects and responsibilities can an animator intern expect during their internship?

As an Animator Intern, you can expect to work on a variety of tasks, such as creating storyboards, developing 2D or 3D animations, and assisting with character or environment design. Interns often collaborate closely with senior animators, art directors, and other creative team members to support ongoing projects and refine animation assets. You may also participate in team meetings, receive feedback on your work, and have opportunities to contribute creative ideas. This hands-on experience helps interns build a strong portfolio and gain insight into the animation production pipeline.

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

To thrive as an Animator Intern, you need a solid understanding of animation principles, basic drawing or design skills, and familiarity with animation software, often supported by coursework or a portfolio. Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Adobe Animate, After Effects, or Maya is typically expected. Creativity, teamwork, and a willingness to take feedback help an intern stand out in collaborative studio environments. These skills ensure that you can contribute effectively to animation projects, learn quickly, and adapt to the fast-paced demands of the industry.

What is the difference between Animator Intern vs Animation Assistant?

AspectAnimator InternAnimation Assistant
Required CredentialsTypically enrolled in or recent graduate of animation or related programsOften has some experience or coursework in animation
Work EnvironmentInternship setting, learning-focused, entry-levelSupport role within animation teams, more hands-on tasks
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in studios, production companies, and educational settingsCommon in professional animation studios and media companies

Animator Interns are primarily learning and gaining experience, often as students or recent graduates. Animation Assistants have more practical responsibilities, supporting the animation team with tasks like asset preparation and scene setup. Both roles serve as entry points into the animation industry, but the Animator Intern role emphasizes training, while the Animation Assistant role involves more active contribution to projects.

What are the most commonly searched types of Animator jobs in California?

The most popular types of Animator jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Animator Intern jobs in California?

For Animator Intern jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Animator Intern jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Animator Intern jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Animator Intern jobs?

Cities in California with the most Animator Intern job openings:

Animator Intern jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animator Intern job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 18% Internship, 1% As Needed, 57% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $50,787 per year, or $24.4 per hour.

Intern - Animator and Rigging Artist

Human Computer Lab

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Internship

Posted 15 days ago

Job description

Human Computer Lab is a research lab building character robots that feel alive and responsive. Our first robot, LeLamp, explores a new category of consumer robotics where everyday objects become interactive and help us reshape our attachment to technology.
Our goal is to push the frontier of human-robot interaction by making technology more legible, emotionally intuitive, and human-centered. We are building the foundation for a new generation of robots designed for everyday environments.
What to expect
We're looking for a technical animator to rig LeLamp, our first robot, and own the animation pipeline that brings it to life on physical hardware people will actually live with. This role sits at an unusual intersection: the technical depth to build a rig that maps onto real joint constraints and actuator limits, and the creative sensibility to design motion that feels intentional and warm, shaping whether the robot comes across as alive or mechanical. You'll work closely with the CEO and engineers to translate design intent into motion that runs on the robot itself, not just in a viewport.
In this role, you will:
  • Build and maintain the robot rig, defining joint hierarchies, constraints, and control structures aligned with hardware limits
  • Design and animate behaviors including idle motion, reactions, transitions, gestures, and interaction sequences
  • Work with controls and firmware engineers to translate animation intent into real robot motion
  • Stay aligned with mechanical updates and maintain the rig as the platform evolves
  • Maintain a URDF-compatible or simulation-ready representation of the robot
  • Help define the robot's motion language and expressive vocabulary
  • Build internal tools, workflows, and documentation for the animation pipeline
  • Evaluate animations on physical hardware and iterate until intent translates reliably

You may be a good fit if you:
  • Have professional experience as a technical animator or rigger with a strong rigging and animation portfolio
  • Are fluent in Maya, Blender, or similar DCC tools and can build production-quality rigs from scratch
  • Understand animation principles such as timing, weight, anticipation, and follow-through
  • Have experience rigging mechanical or non-organic subjects with real-world constraints
  • Have strong intuition for what makes motion feel alive rather than mechanical
  • Are comfortable building pipelines in environments where they don't yet exist
  • Have experience animating robots, mechanical characters, or non-humanoid subjects
  • Have exposure to procedural animation, motion graphs, or behavior trees
  • Are familiar with URDF, ROS, or simulators such as Gazebo, MuJoCo, or Isaac Sim
  • Have experience working in Unity, Unreal, or other real-time animation environments
  • Have experience collaborating with engineering teams on hardware or robotics projects

You will be a strong fit, if you:
  • Care deeply about motion as a form of communication
  • See constraints like joint limits and actuator bandwidth as part of the creative process
  • Take ownership of the robot's motion language from keyframe to hardware execution
  • Work well in small, collaborative teams across animation, engineering, and design
  • Want to create motion for a physical object that lives in someone's home, not just on a screen

The early team becomes the DNA of the company. We set ourselves and others to a high standard, and we respond with kindness when things get hard but keep everyone accountable. This requires us to be curious, creative, and diverse in our thinking and approach.
We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer and consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Even if you don't meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. Studies show that women and underrepresented groups often hold back unless they meet 100% of the criteria - we don't want that to be the reason we miss out on great talent.

Apply