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Character Animator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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 ...

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 ...

Epic Games

Technical Designer in Animation

Cary, NC · On-site

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

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How much do character animator jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 19, 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 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.

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 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.
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Character Animator jobs near you

Senior Gameplay Animator

Half Mermaid Productions

Brooklyn, NY • On-site, Remote

$80K - $100K/yr

Contractor

Posted 25 days ago

Job description

Work With Us on Project D████
Job Description
We are looking for an experienced and talented Senior Gameplay Animator to join the development effort on our exciting new game "Project D."
The project is a third person horror game with experimental narrative, a return to the genre that our director, Sam Barlow, previously explored with Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. Candidates with experience of shipping a third person Unreal title on console are preferred. We're combining AAA experience with indie agility to deliver a big, ambitious game and are assembling a small team to make it happen.
This is a long term contract position on a remote team. Candidates in European timezones are preferred. Our studio is based in Brooklyn, NY and occasional travel to New York City may be required.
Applicants from traditionally marginalized identities within the game industry are highly encouraged to apply. Half Mermaid Productions does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status.
To apply, please use our Job Application form. Do not email your application, it will not be reviewed if it is not submitted using the Job Application form.
If you have any questions or encounter any issues using our job application form, please email jobs@halfmermaid.co.
Responsibilities
  • Create animations for both grounded, real world human characters and inhuman characters alike
  • Take animations from design spec through key pose to finished animation, creating responsive but authentic motion
  • Collaborate with other departments to implement animations in engine

Skills
Required Skills:
  • Have shipped a character-based game on console
  • High level understanding of combat and grapple animations
  • Fluency in Maya and Unreal Engine 5
  • Strong communication skills, contributing to the productivity and success of working in a remote team environment
  • An appreciation for narrative and psychological horror

Nice-to-Have Skills:
  • Experience working with MGear
  • Proficiency in body and facial rigging
  • Experience with motion capture pipelines and interest in cutting edge technologies to reduce cost and effort for performance capture

Apply