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Character Animator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Experience with effects, compositing, creating fluid and natural character animations that demonstrate understanding of physical motion, weight, balance and form. * Experience with Unity.

Senior Gaming Animator

Redwood City, CA ยท 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 ...

In this course, you'll focus on character acting in 2D animation, learning how to bring emotion and personality into your work. You'll develop expressive performances by studying references and ...

Senior Gaming Animator

Redwood City, CA

$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 ...

$189K - $315K/yr

As a TDiA, you will use your animation sense and technical understanding of character animation to design and create gameplay animation systems that facilitate appealing, high-quality character ...

Senior Technical Designer in Animation

Cary, NC ยท On-site

$98K - $112K/yr

As a TDiA, you will use your animation sense and technical understanding of character animation to design and create gameplay animation systems that facilitate appealing, high-quality character ...

The Technical Animator / Rigger will design, build, and maintain character and creature rigs for animation across animation, comics-related media, and games. Day-to-day responsibilities include ...

Animate medium-level shots with a strong focus on storytelling and character performance * Extract ... Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Animation, Fine Arts, or a related field * Strong understanding ...

Animate medium-level shots with a strong focus on storytelling and character performance * Extract ... Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Animation, Fine Arts, or a related field * Strong understanding ...

Collaborate with Tech Art, Character, and Creature teams to test rigs. * Set up and implement animation files using Unreal, Unreal Sequencer, Autodesk Maya, and the Metahuman Performance Asset auto ...

Collaborate with Tech Art, Character, and Creature teams to test rigs. * Set up and implement animation files using Unreal, Unreal Sequencer, Autodesk Maya, and the Metahuman Performance Asset auto ...

Lead Animator

Novato, CA ยท On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

As a Lead Gameplay Animator at Cloud Chamber, you will join our talented development team to help shape the character performance and movement systems of our project. In this role, you'll collaborate ...

Lead Animator

Novato, CA ยท Remote

$123K - $182K/yr

As a Lead Gameplay Animator at Cloud Chamber, you will join our talented development team to help shape the character performance and movement systems of our project. In this role, you'll collaborate ...

Senior Technical Gameplay Animator

Santa Monica, CA ยท On-site

$119K - $135K/yr

Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention ... We are looking for an animator that is capable of being the bridge between art and technical teams ...

3D Animation Lead

Denver, NC ยท On-site +1

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:

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Character Animator information

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$39

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How much do character animator jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for character animator in the United States is $39.41, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.88 and $63.94 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a character animator?

A Character Animator is a professional who creates animated characters for films, television, video games, and other media. They use specialized software to bring characters to life, designing their movements, expressions, and behaviors to convey emotions and tell stories. Character Animators collaborate with artists, directors, and other animators to ensure the animation fits the project's style and vision. Their work is essential in making characters appear believable and engaging to audiences.

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

Character Animators often work as part of multidisciplinary teams alongside modelers, riggers, and directors, which can present challenges in maintaining consistency and meeting creative visions. Communication is key, as animators must interpret feedback from multiple stakeholders and quickly adapt to changes in storyboards or character designs. Managing tight deadlines while ensuring smooth, believable character movement also requires strong organizational and time management skills. Collaboration tools and regular team check-ins help address these challenges and keep projects moving forward efficiently.

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 strong artistic abilities in drawing and movement, a solid understanding of animation principles, and often a relevant degree in animation or a related field. Expertise in industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, Adobe After Effects, or Blender is typically required, and a strong portfolio is essential. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective collaboration are standout soft skills in this role. These skills are crucial for bringing characters to life convincingly and ensuring seamless integration into larger creative projects.

How do you become a character animator?

To become a character animator, you typically need a bachelor's degree in animation, fine arts, or a related field, along with strong skills in drawing, storytelling, and motion. Proficiency in animation software such as Adobe Animate, Toon Boom, or Autodesk Maya is essential, and building a portfolio of animated work helps demonstrate your abilities to employers.
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Infographic showing various Character Animator job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, and 4% Part Time. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $81,974 per year, or $39.4 per hour.

Core Animator

Duluth, GA โ€ข On-site

Eclipse Gaming Systems, LLC
Gambling Activitiesย โ€ขย 11 - 50 employees

Full-time

Posted 17 days ago


Job description

Eclipse Gaming Systems is an award-winning company that develops best in class slot games for the Native American gaming market. With a phenomenal office campus in the metro Atlanta, GA area and a presence in Las Vegas, NV, we are a team of innovative and passionate trailblazers who have backgrounds in casino gaming, technology, and entertainment sectors. We are imaginative creators that push boundaries and deliver exceptional experiences to our players and our business partners.  

Preferred locations for this role are Atlanta, Ga, and Las Vegas, NV.

Some travel may be required. Candidates with casino gaming experience are strongly preferred for this role. 
Remote candidates with the appropriate background will be considered. 

Primary Responsibilities: 

  • Work with an existing studio team to concept and create innovative casino games and features from beginning to end
  • Collaborate with mathematicians, animators, designers and product managers to implement game elements based on design documentations and gameplay feedback
  • Develop and deliver exciting animations to game design and engineering specifications
  • Participate in daily stand-up meetings and provide regular visual updates in a team setting
  • Provide updates to our management team as and when appropriate or requested
  • Maintain file organization including proper asset and component naming convention
  • Stay current with trends in casino games, including play on mobile devices and casino visits
  • Implement modern trends for optimization and integration.

Required Qualifications: 

  • 2+ years of professional experience in a creative studio, or related field. 
  • Technically proficient in 2D animation with proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Spine and Unity.
  • Experience with effects, compositing, creating fluid and natural character animations that demonstrate understanding of physical motion, weight, balance and form.
  • Experience with Unity. 
  • Experience with JIRA, Confluence and Sharepoint 
  • Eagerness to source and incorporate feedback from all disciplines
  • Strong communication skills and problem-solving skills
  • Proficient in managing their objectives within set schedules

Preferred Qualifications:

  • 3+ years’ experience in casino game development 
  • Casino/Slot gaming experience