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Art Director Animation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Walt Disney Company

Art Director

New York, NY · On-site +1

$132K - $178K/yr

Art Director Req ID: 10157177 The Visual Storytelling division of ESPN Creative Studio is a team of creative directors, art directors, animators, concept artists, visual journalists, photo editors ...

Spinplay Games

Art Director

Las Vegas, NV

$115K - $121K/yr

The ideal candidate will be comfortable with animation (Spine) and serving as the "product owner" who is responsible for seeing the project through to completion. The Art Director must have the ...

The New York Times

Art Director

New York, NY · Hybrid

$132K - $138K/yr

Art Directors do the following: they imagine ways to tell stories visually. They present visual ... Research and oversee selection of visual reference that inspires (Design, Page Animation ...

The New York Times

Art Director

New York, NY · On-site

$120K - $130K/yr

Art Directors do the following: they imagine ways to tell stories visually. They present visual ... Research and oversee selection of visual reference that inspires (Design, Page Animation ...

Skydance

Art Director

Santa Monica, CA

$2.9K - $4.6K/wk

Skydance Animation is seeking an Art Director to help shape the visual identity of an upcoming animated feature film. This role is central to defining and executing the overall look and feel of the ...

Skydance

Art Director

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$2.9K - $4.6K/wk

Skydance Animation is seeking an Art Director to help shape the visual identity of an upcoming animated feature film. This role is central to defining and executing the overall look and feel of the ...

Curaleaf

Art Director

Stamford, CT

$129K - $135K/yr

Title: Art Director Location: Stamford, CT Job Type: Full-Time, Exempt - On Site About the Role ... animation and video). * Create compelling presentation documents that communicate your ideas in a ...

loyalkaspar

Art Director

New York, NY

$132K - $138K/yr

The Art Director will lead projects and teams to develop and build concepts, presentations, storyboards, designs, and animations for all west coast projects across a breadth of entertainment media ...

loyalkaspar

Art Director

New York, NY · On-site

$132K - $138K/yr

The Art Director will lead projects and teams to develop and build concepts, presentations, storyboards, designs, and animations for all west coast projects across a breadth of entertainment media ...

Floss Creatives Limited

3D Creative Art Director

Portland, OR · On-site +1

$128K - $134K/yr

We are a specialised team of engineers, machine learning programmers, designers, art directors and ... You will lead external teams of designers, animators, artists, and technologists to deliver world ...

Tombras

Art Director

Knoxville, TN · On-site

$115K - $121K/yr

Collaborating with creative directors, art directors, copywriters, strategists, videographers and photographers, editors, designers, and animators: all in-house * Working at the speed of social ...

SHADOW

Art Director

New York, NY · On-site

$90K - $115K/yr

SHADOW is seeking an Art Director with 4-6 years of design and art direction experience, preferably ... animation platforms, including Premiere Pro and After Effects. * Innovative: You are always on the ...

SHADOW

Art Director

New York, NY · Hybrid

$90K - $115K/yr

SHADOW is seeking an Art Director with 4-6 years of design and art direction experience, preferably ... animation platforms, including Premiere Pro and After Effects. * Innovative: You are always on the ...

caleres

Art Director

Saint Louis, MO

$113K - $118K/yr

Join our dynamic and thriving footwear company as an Art Director in St. Louis, MO where you'll ... Create graphics, photography concepts, and GIF animations to support digital marketing efforts

Adecco

Art Director Sr

Chicago, IL · On-site

$42.33/hr

Experience creating motion graphics, animations, and video content. What's in this Senior Art Director position for you? · Pay: $42.33/hr. · Shift: Hybrid Monday - Friday / 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST ...

The New York Times

Art Director

New York, NY

$132K - $138K/yr

You are an art director with a demonstrated talent for narrative visual storytelling. You have ... animation. Ultimately, you are a team player, able to bring your enthusiasm to projects big and ...

Saks Fifth Avenue

Art Director & Design

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$87 - $117/hr

## Art Director & DesignApplylocations: SF\_0689\_Saks Directtime type: Full timeposted on: Posted ... Experience with motion graphics and animation for digital and social -- a strong plus* Ability to ...

Canoo

Creative / Art Director

Justin, TX · On-site

$142K - $150K/yr

Job Purpose As Creative/Art Director, you must have deep knowledge and passion for leading a team of animators, photographers, videographers, motion graphic and visualization artists creating images ...

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Art Director Animation information

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$44.5K

$121.8K

$146.5K

How much do art director animation jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for art director animation in the United States is $121,757.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $121,000.00 and $127,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an art director in animation do?

An Art Director in Animation is responsible for overseeing the visual style and artistic direction of an animated project, such as a film, TV series, or video game. They collaborate with directors, producers, and designers to develop the look and feel of the animation, ensuring consistency in color, lighting, character design, and background art. Art Directors also guide and mentor the art team, review artwork, and make key creative decisions to achieve the desired visual storytelling. Their role is crucial in shaping the project's unique aesthetic and bringing the director's vision to life.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an art director in animation?

To thrive as an Art Director in Animation, you need a solid background in visual design, storytelling, and animation principles, often supported by a degree in fine arts or animation and a strong portfolio. Mastery of industry-standard tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Toon Boom, Maya, and other 2D/3D animation software is typically required. Exceptional leadership, creative vision, and communication skills help you guide teams and unify diverse artistic styles. These skills are essential for delivering visually cohesive projects that meet creative goals and production deadlines in a collaborative environment.

How does an art director in animation typically collaborate with other departments during a production?

As an Art Director in animation, you’ll frequently collaborate with a variety of departments including storyboarding, character design, modeling, and lighting. You’ll be responsible for communicating the visual style and ensuring consistency across all assets, often attending cross-departmental meetings to review progress and provide feedback. This role requires strong interpersonal skills, as you’ll need to translate creative vision into actionable direction for artists, animators, and technical staff. Effective collaboration is essential to keep the production on schedule and maintain the project’s artistic integrity.

What is the difference between Art Director Animation vs Character Designer?

AspectArt Director AnimationCharacter Designer
Primary FocusOversees the visual style and overall look of animation projectsCreates and designs characters for animation or games
Required SkillsArt direction, leadership, animation knowledge, visual storytellingDrawing, character development, creativity, understanding of anatomy
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with animators, designers, and producers in studiosWorks closely with directors, storyboards, and animation teams
Industry UsageCommon in film, TV, and large animation projectsPrimarily in animation, gaming, and character-centric media

While both roles require strong artistic skills, the Art Director Animation focuses on guiding the overall visual style of an animation project, whereas the Character Designer specializes in creating individual characters. Understanding these differences helps professionals choose the right career path or job focus within the animation industry.

How to become an art director for animation?

To become an art director for animation, individuals typically need a bachelor's degree in art, design, or a related field, along with several years of experience in animation or illustration. Building a strong portfolio, developing skills in visual storytelling, and proficiency with tools like Adobe Creative Suite and animation software are essential, along with leadership and communication skills to oversee creative teams.
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Cities with the most Art Director Animation job openings:

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Art Director Animation jobs near you
Infographic showing various Art Director Animation job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 10% Contract. Highlights an 70% In-person, 15% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $121,757 per year, or $58.5 per hour.

Art Director

The Walt Disney Company

New York, NY • On-site, Remote

$132K - $178K/yr

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago

Walt Disney Company rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 129 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

3rd of 52 rated entertainment

Job description

Job Posting Title:

Art Director

Req ID:

10157177

Job Description:

The Visual Storytelling division of ESPN Creative Studio is a team of creative directors, art directors, animators, concept artists, visual journalists, photo editors, web developers, graphic designers and strategy producers whose work reaches across every ESPN platform: We lead the creative direction and execution of on-air brand identities for ESPN's live events and studio shows. We are responsible for the creative content on ESPN.com and the ESPN app, including photography, illustration, and interactive storytelling. We create and produce key art for ESPN+ and manage product art across our digital products. We manage the design voice of our ESPN brand, from holistic marketing campaigns to cross-platform creative systems.

Position Summary:
ESPN Creative Studio is looking for an Art Director to join its award-winning Visual Storytelling team. The Art Director willbe responsible for idea development and hands-on creative execution for various high-priority, multi-discipline projects for ESPN, leading teams big and small. This includes DTC initiatives, identity branding, motion design, info system graphic builds, live action shoots, design toolkits, and large-scale animation design campaigns.

Responsibilities:

  • Create industry leading work that inspires and brings big ideas to life.

  • Oversee and create multi-discipline design projects across platforms and products; with an emphasis in live broadcast initiatives.

  • Direct strategic design systems that are engineered for long-term success.

  • Lead advanced design and animation builds and understand changing industry tools and technology.

  • Prepare and present creative briefs to internal and external stakeholders.

  • Continually evolve the build and infrastructure of our multiplatform design campaigns.

  • Push for creative excellence and innovation while balancing the priorities of the business.

  • Partner with stakeholder groups across ESPN to ensure collaborative success.

  • Adhere to established team workflows and processes.

  • Build, lead, and inspire a talented team of designers.

  • Hold regular 1:1s with your team members to foster an environment of growth and communication.

Basic Qualifications:

  • Minimum of 10 years of professional experience working within a creative studio or media organization.

  • In-depth knowledge of motion graphics, animation principles/techniques and render engines.

  • Experience in responsive digital design deliverables.

  • Experience in leading brand identities and design systems.

  • An understanding of the common behaviors of deliverables for digital and broadcast.

  • A complete understanding of typography, composition, hierarchy, and design.

  • Comfort and experience in leading teams and presenting to Senior Leadership.

  • Fluent with Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and Cinema 4D.

  • Proven project management skills with ability to prioritize and meet multiple deadlines.

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.

  • Reliable work-from-home setup with strong internet connection.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience managing individuals or small teams of people.

  • Knowledge of the sports design space, trends, and an understanding of ESPN's place amongst the competition.

  • Knowledge of ESPN distribution points, including MVPDs and SVODs.

  • Knowledge of project management tools, including Asana, Smartsheet, etc.

Required Education:

  • High School Diploma

#ESPNMedia

The hiring range for this position in New York, NY is $132,800 to $178,000 per year based on a 40 hour work week. The amount of hours scheduled per week may vary based on business needs. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

Job Posting Segment:

ESPN Creative Studio

Job Posting Primary Business:

Visual Storytelling

Primary Job Posting Category:

Art Direction Entertainment - Sports

Employment Type:

Full time

Primary City, State, Region, Postal Code:

New York, NY, USA

Alternate City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Date Posted:

2026-08-10

What Walt Disney Company employees say

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About Walt Disney

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Disney, we're storytellers. We make the impossible, possible. We do this through utilizing and developing cutting-edge technology and pushing the envelope to bring stories to life through our movies, products, interactive games, parks and resorts, and media networks. Now is your chance to join our talented team that delivers unparalleled creative content to audiences around the world. "We create happiness." That's our motto at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. And it permeates everything we do. At Disney, you'll help inspire that magic by enabling our teams to push the limits of entertainment and create the never-before-seen!

Industry

Amusement, gambling, and recreation

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Burbank, CA, US

Social media

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