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Character Animation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Ten4

Senior Gaming Animator

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$129K - $148K/yr

College/University Degree in Character Animation or similar * Full comprehension of camera, layout, and stagingS * Self-directed and independent worker Major Plus: * Excellent hand-keyed facial ...

2K

Principal Character Technical Artist

San Mateo, CA · On-site +1

$133K - $198K/yr

You will use your mastery of DCC applications, Unreal Engine 5, rigging, and complex character and animation pipelines to actively expand the creative decision space for our playable characters. Your ...

2K

Principal Character Technical Artist

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$133K - $198K/yr

You will use your mastery of DCC applications, Unreal Engine 5, rigging, and complex character and animation pipelines to actively expand the creative decision space for our playable characters. Your ...

Flying Bark Productions

3D Animation Lead

Denver, NC · On-site

Flying Bark Productions is a dynamic and innovative animation studio dedicated to pushing the boundaries of character animation and storytelling. We are working on exciting projects such as Avatar:

Electronic Arts Inc.

3D Artist

Redwood City, CA · On-site

The Role Are you a deeply curious 3D tinkerer with outstanding character animation skills? Do you geek out about workflow and organization? Is your love of art bolstered by a cursory knowledge of ...

Montgomery College

MD · On-site

Specialized experience with 3D character animation. * Willingness to incorporate- and a familiarity with- current trends in new technology. * Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ...

Character.ai

Research Engineer, Multimodal

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$225K - $400K/yr

Experience with AIGC, video effects, character animation, or asset generation products * Familiarity with ML deployment and orchestration (Kubernetes, Slurm, Docker, cloud platforms) * Publications ...

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Character Animation information

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$10

$19

$37

How much do character animation jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for character animation in the United States is $19.08, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.46 and $24.28 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Will AI replace animators?

AI can automate certain repetitive tasks in character animation, such as in-betweening and motion capture processing, but it is unlikely to fully replace animators. Skilled animators are needed to create creative, expressive, and nuanced performances that AI tools currently cannot replicate entirely. The role of character animators will evolve to incorporate AI as a tool to enhance productivity and creativity.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Character Animator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Character Animator, you need a strong understanding of animation principles, storytelling, and anatomy, often supported by a degree in animation or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, Blender, or Adobe After Effects, as well as familiarity with rigging and motion capture, is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and strong collaboration skills help animators bring characters to life and work effectively within production teams. These skills and qualities are essential for creating engaging, believable animations that meet both artistic vision and production deadlines.

What art-related jobs are about $80,000 a year?

In the field of character animation, senior roles such as Lead Animator or Animation Director often earn around $80,000 or more annually, especially with experience and in larger studios. These positions typically require strong skills in software like Maya or Blender, a solid portfolio, and often involve overseeing projects or teams. Salaries can vary based on location, company size, and individual experience.

Does Disney hire animators?

Yes, Disney hires character animators to work on their animated films and projects. These roles typically require strong drawing skills, proficiency in animation software like Maya or Toon Boom, and a portfolio demonstrating animation ability. Disney often looks for candidates with relevant education and experience in animation or related fields.

How do character animators typically collaborate with other departments during a production?

Character animators frequently work closely with modelers, riggers, storyboard artists, and directors to ensure that animated characters move and emote consistently with the project’s vision. Regular meetings and feedback sessions are common, allowing animators to address notes from the creative team and make necessary adjustments. This collaborative environment helps maintain continuity and quality, and also provides opportunities for animators to learn from other disciplines and contribute creatively to the storytelling process.

What is the difference between Character Animation vs 3D Modeler?

AspectCharacter Animation3D Modeler
Primary FocusCreating movement and performance for charactersDesigning and building 3D models, including characters
Skills NeededAnimation principles, timing, riggingModeling, topology, texturing
Work EnvironmentAnimation studios, game companies, film productionVFX studios, game development, animation studios
Common CertificationsAnimation courses, rigging and character setup3D modeling certifications, software proficiency

While both roles involve working with 3D assets, Character Animation focuses on bringing characters to life through movement, whereas 3D Modelers create the detailed models that serve as the foundation for animation. Understanding these differences helps professionals choose the right career path or skill development focus.

What does a Character Animator do?

A Character Animator creates and brings to life digital characters through movement, facial expressions, and gestures using animation software such as Maya or Adobe Animate. They work closely with storyboards, voice actors, and directors to ensure characters convey the intended emotions and actions, often working within tight deadlines in a collaborative environment.

What is character animation?

Character animation is the process of bringing animated characters to life using movement and expression. Animators use digital tools or traditional techniques to create believable motions, gestures, and facial expressions that convey a character’s personality and emotions. This field is essential in industries such as film, television, video games, and advertising. Character animators collaborate closely with other artists and directors to ensure characters fit seamlessly into the story and environment. The work requires creativity, attention to detail, and a strong understanding of human and animal movement.
More about Character Animation jobs
What cities are hiring for Character Animation jobs? Cities with the most Character Animation job openings:
What states have the most Character Animation jobs? States with the most job openings for Character Animation jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Character Animation jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Character Animation jobs are:
Character Animation jobs near you
Infographic showing various Character Animation job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, and 9% Part Time. Highlights an 69% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 27% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $39,680 per year, or $19.1 per hour.
Design Technologist, Robot Animation , Fauna

Design Technologist, Robot Animation , Fauna

Amazon

New York, NY

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago

Amazon rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 6,854 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th 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.

What Amazon employees say

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Hours and flexibility

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About Amazon

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

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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