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Assistant Character Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Skydance

Costume Designer

Santa Monica, CA

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

... character, and show designs * Art Direct asset building teams to fulfil costume pipeline * Oversee Costume Design Assistants; distribute assignments, make corrections, give notes, track delivery ...

Skydance

Costume Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

... character, and show designs * Art Direct asset building teams to fulfil costume pipeline * Oversee Costume Design Assistants; distribute assignments, make corrections, give notes, track delivery ...

Skydance

Associate Costume Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$67 - $75/hr

Responsibilities * Assist in the development and visual styles of costumes alongside the Head of Costume Design and Production Designer by following the Director's overall vision for story, character ...

Skydance

Associate Costume Designer

Santa Monica, CA

$67 - $75/hr

Responsibilities * Assist in the development and visual styles of costumes alongside the Head of Costume Design and Production Designer by following the Director's overall vision for story, character ...

Niagen Bioscience

Senior Digital Designer

Westwood, CA

$95K - $110K/yr

Character - A positive attitude, commitment to success, and strong ethics. Horsepower - Good ... These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions ...

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How much do assistant character designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average hourly pay for assistant character designer in California is $24.30, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.99 and $28.22 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an assistant character designer?

To thrive as an Assistant Character Designer, you should have strong drawing and illustration skills, a solid grasp of anatomy and proportion, and typically a degree or coursework in art, design, or animation. Familiarity with industry-standard digital tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Photoshop, and programs like Toon Boom or Clip Studio Paint is highly beneficial. Collaboration, adaptability, attention to detail, and effective communication are valuable soft skills in this role. These abilities ensure you can effectively contribute to creative teams, support lead designers, and help bring engaging character concepts to life in a fast-paced production environment.

Are assistant character designers in demand?

Assistant character designers are in steady demand within the entertainment and gaming industries, especially as animation and visual effects continue to grow. They often require skills in design software like Adobe Photoshop and knowledge of character development, with opportunities increasing in studios and production companies worldwide.

How hard is it to get a job in assistant character design?

Securing an assistant character design position typically requires a strong portfolio demonstrating drawing skills, knowledge of character development, and familiarity with industry tools like Adobe Photoshop or Clip Studio Paint. Competition can be high, and relevant experience or internships can improve chances, but entry-level roles are often available for those with a solid foundation in art and design. Building a network and continuously improving skills are important for increasing job prospects.

What kind of projects and tasks can I expect to work on as an assistant character designer?

As an Assistant Character Designer, you will typically assist senior designers in developing character concepts, preparing model sheets, refining poses, and adjusting designs based on art direction or feedback. Your daily tasks may include sketching variations of characters, organizing reference materials, cleaning up line art, and supporting design revisions throughout production. Depending on the studio or project size, you may also collaborate closely with animators, storyboard artists, and writers to ensure visual consistency and alignment with the story. This role offers a dynamic environment where you can learn industry workflows, contribute creatively, and gradually build your portfolio for future advancement in character design.

What is an assistant character designer?

An Assistant Character Designer supports the creation and development of characters for animations, video games, or other media. They assist in sketching, refining designs, and ensuring characters align with the project's style and vision. They may also collaborate with senior designers, animators, and writers to finalize character aesthetics. Their role often includes gathering reference materials, making revisions based on feedback, and preparing assets for production.

How to get hired as an assistant character designer?

To get hired as an assistant character designer, build a strong portfolio showcasing your drawing and design skills, often using industry-standard software like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. Gaining experience through internships, networking within the industry, and understanding character development and storytelling can improve your chances of employment in animation, gaming, or entertainment companies.

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

The most popular types of Character Designer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Assistant Character Designer jobs in California?

For Assistant Character Designer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Assistant Character Designer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Assistant Character Designer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Assistant Character Designer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Assistant Character Designer job openings:

Assistant Character Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Assistant Character Designer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 21% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $50,552 per year, or $24.3 per hour.

Costume Designer

Skydance

Santa Monica, CA

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

Full-time

Re-posted 16 days ago

Job description

Skydance Animation is seeking a Costume Designer to lead the design and execution of wardrobe across all characters, from leads to crowds, ensuring visual consistency throughout our film. As a key member of the art leadership team, the role will collaborate closely with the Director, Production Designer, Lead Character Designer, and report directly to the studio’s Head of Costume Design.

This position is responsible for defining and maintaining the film’s distinctive visual style through clothing, hairstyles, and accessories while finding innovative and researched ways to enhance character performance, express personality, and elevate the storytelling.

The ideal candidate combines strong creative vision with deep technical expertise in garment construction, tailoring, fabrics, and sewing techniques. The Costume Designer will play a pivotal role in mentoring and guiding the broader team, providing clear instruction on costume preparation and packeting from both a costume and visual development perspective.

Previous experience as a visual development artist in animation is required.

Responsibilities
  • Design and develop the visual style for all costumes on a film by understanding the Director’s overall vision for the story, character development, and visual tone
  • Partner with other art leadership (Production Designers, Art Directors, and Lead Character Designers) to ensure world, characters, and costumes are cohesive and elevate overall storytelling
  • Drive costume research in support of the films vision and provide findings to the broader team
  • Visually explore research by pitching, iterating, adapting, and designing
  • Create multiple iterations of each main character’s costume from rough pass to final design and use these iterations to later inform all other costumes from secondary, tertiary, and crowds
  • Provide and share expertise on clothing styles, fabrics, fabrication techniques, and patterns to align with the narratives, character, and show designs
  • Art Direct asset building teams to fulfil costume pipeline
  • Oversee Costume Design Assistants; distribute assignments, make corrections, give notes, track delivery dates and production deadlines, and overall be a teacher and mentor
  • Teach Costume Design Assistants and Visual Development Artists how to prepare detailed costume packets for downstream CG departments by instilling clarity on required information such as pattern cuttings, fabric swatches, draping, texture, color, silhouette, and pattern design
  • Champion a positive, collaborative, and inclusive team culture within the larger Production and Art team that promotes professionalism, creativity, and continuous improvement
  • Creative problem solving
  • Involvement in hiring and mentoring of costume design crew
Requirements
  • 8+ years of experience working as a visual development artist on animated projects and 1+ years working on costume designs in visual development, theater, live action, or related field
  • Education in Fashion Design, Costume Design, Toy Design, or Art preferred
  • Self-starter and organizer with the ability to drive all production needs keeping mind production pipeline and deadlines
  • Demonstrated ability to prepare detailed costume packets for downstream animation departments that inform final design execution
  • Knowledge of and ability to teach costume terminology, methods, practices, and techniques such as textiles, fabric properties, and garment construction including pattern making and draping
  • Proficiency in drawing (including human and animal anatomy), design, perspective, composition, painting, lighting and color theory
  • Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop
  • Experience working hands-on with fabrics
  • Previous experience leading a team
  • Requirement to be, or become, a member in good standing of the Animation Guild (Local 839)
The compensation range for this non-exempt position in Los Angeles, CA is $2,900-4,000/week. The rate offered may vary based on the candidate’s location, qualifications, experience and relevant expertise, among other factors.  The range indicated is for base salary only and does not reflect the total compensation package, including bonus, benefits, etc.