ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Character Designer Animation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Skydance

Character Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$2.90K - $4K/wk

Skydance Animation is seeking an experienced Character Designer to join our team on an upcoming feature film. In this role, you will play a pivotal part in bringing stories to life by shaping the ...

Skydance

Character Designer

Santa Monica, CA

$2.90K - $4K/wk

Skydance Animation is seeking an experienced Character Designer to join our team on an upcoming feature film. In this role, you will play a pivotal part in bringing stories to life by shaping the ...

Epic Games

Character Animation Lead

Cary, NC · On-site

Collaborate closely with engineers and technical designers to design scalable, flexible animation ... Expert-level understanding of character animation principles, with the ability to deliver both ...

Swaybox Studios

CG Animator

New Orleans, LA

You will collaborate closely with the animation team, character designers, and director to ensure that performances align with the storytelling vision. Key Responsibilities: * Integrate and refine ...

Swaybox Studios

CG Animator

New Orleans, LA · On-site

You will collaborate closely with the animation team, character designers, and director to ensure that performances align with the storytelling vision. Key Responsibilities: * Integrate and refine ...

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 ... Collaborate with Technical Designers in Animation (TDiA) across Epic Games to share solutions ...

CD PROJEKT RED

Senior Animation Programmer

Boston, MA · On-site +1

$118.80K - $217.80K/yr

Through utilizing strong collaboration skills to align with cross-functional partners, you'll collaborate closely with animators, designers, character artists, and gameplay engineers. This role is ...

CD PROJEKT RED

Senior Animation Programmer

Boston, MA · On-site +1

$118.80K - $217.80K/yr

Through utilizing strong collaboration skills to align with cross-functional partners, you'll collaborate closely with animators, designers, character artists, and gameplay engineers. This role is ...

Aquent

Visual Designer

Orlando, FL · On-site

$58.60 - $65.11/hr

As a Sr. Product Designer, you will play a crucial role in enhancing our digital experiences by ... Create 2D and 3D character animations, motion graphics, and interactive motion experiences for ...

New

CD PROJEKT RED

Senior Animation Programmer

Boston, MA · On-site +1

Through utilizing strong collaboration skills to align with cross-functional partners, you'll collaborate closely with animators, designers, character artists, and gameplay engineers. This role is ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

People also search for

All JobsCharacter Designer Animation Jobs

Character Designer Animation information

See salary details

$19

$31

$47

How much do character designer animation jobs pay per hour?

As of May 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for character designer animation in the United States is $31.64, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $28.85 and $36.30 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Character Designer in Animation, you need strong drawing abilities, a solid understanding of anatomy and movement, and a relevant degree in art, animation, or a related field. Familiarity with digital illustration tools like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and animation software such as Toon Boom Harmony or TVPaint is typically required. Creativity, adaptability, and strong collaboration skills help you effectively interpret scripts and work well with directors and other team members. These skills and qualities are essential to create compelling, visually consistent characters that support storytelling and resonate with audiences.

What are some typical challenges faced by Character Designers in animation studios, and how can they overcome them?

Character Designers in animation often face the challenge of balancing creative vision with production constraints, such as tight deadlines or the technical limitations of animation pipelines. Collaborating closely with directors, animators, and modelers is crucial to ensure that designs are both appealing and functional for animation. Effective communication and flexibility help address feedback and revisions, while staying updated on industry-standard software and design trends can streamline the workflow. Building a strong portfolio and learning to adapt to different art styles also support long-term career growth in this competitive field.

What does a Character Designer do in animation?

A Character Designer in animation is responsible for creating the visual appearance and personality of characters that appear in animated films, TV shows, or games. They develop concept art, sketches, and model sheets that define a character's look, expressions, and poses, ensuring consistency throughout the production. Their designs are crucial for guiding animators and other team members in bringing the characters to life. Character Designers often collaborate closely with directors, writers, and other artists to make sure the characters fit the story and style of the project.

What is the difference between Character Designer Animation vs Character Modeler?

AspectCharacter Designer AnimationCharacter Modeler
Primary FocusDesigning characters' appearance, personality, and style for animation projectsCreating detailed 3D models of characters based on designs
Skills & ToolsConcept art, character design, animation principles, software like Photoshop, Illustrator3D modeling, sculpting, texturing, software like Maya, ZBrush
Work EnvironmentAnimation studios, game development, film production3D modeling studios, game studios, VFX companies

While both roles involve character creation, Character Designer Animation focuses on conceptual design and visual storytelling, whereas Character Modeler specializes in building the 3D models based on those designs. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and skill requirements in animation and game development industries.

More about Character Designer Animation jobs
What job categories do people searching Character Designer Animation jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Character Designer Animation jobs are:
Character Designer Animation jobs near you
Infographic showing various Character Designer Animation job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $65,817 per year, or $31.6 per hour.
Character Designer

Character Designer

Sony Pictures Animation

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$59.16 - $72/hr

Other

Posted 8 days ago

Job description

The Character Designer is in charge of exploring all options when crafting the look, feel, personality, and appeal of a character. Working with the Director, Art Director, and other creative leads, you will explore multiple looks for each character to bring them to life. This is a union covered position.

Sony Pictures Animation is a pre-production animation studio based in Los Angeles, California, creating both feature animation and animated series with artists from around the world. We pride ourselves on empowering filmmakers to lead the creative process, and allowing the hand of the artist to be truly felt, with the goal of producing bold and innovative visual storytelling.

Responsibilities:
  • Collaborate with the creative lead throughout the pitch, design and production process to visually explore and discover the characters' look, feel, and personality.
  • Create multiple iterations of each character (including character poses, expressions and turnarounds) in rough pass form and approved final designs.
  • Propose design approaches that consider downstream departments (modeling and texturing).
  • Able to work independently and within a team environment.
  • Work closely with the Art Director to resolve design issues.
Qualifications:
  • Previous experience on an animated feature film, tv series, or game preferred.
  • Ability to articulate creative ideas.
  • Excellent draftsmanship.
  • Skilled in character pose, facial expressions and character turnarounds.
  • Outstanding research skills and an understanding of costume design.
  • Knowledge of anatomy and volumetric drawing.
  • We value inventiveness! Each Sony Pictures Animation project has its own distinctive and outstanding visual language so it is helpful to have stylistic versatility.
  • Photoshop knowledge required.

The anticipated base salary for this position is $59.16/hour to $72/hour. This role qualifies for benefits pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement. The actual salary offered will depend on a variety of factors.

To apply, please include a resume and a link to your portfolio. Please make sure to include any passwords to your work in your cover letter and/or in your resume. 

Sony Pictures Animation is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics.

Apply