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Character Designer Animation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

TrueShort

Reference Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

Reference Designer About TrueShort TrueShort is one of the fastest-growing streaming apps in the ... Examples of character, prop, or environment design work * Optional: links to any animation, film ...

PlayStation Global

Senior Gameplay Animator

OR · On-site +1

$105K - $120K/yr

Ability to utilize motion capture data and hand key animation to create believable characters ... Designers, Programmers, Writers, Project Managers, Art, Audio, Character and Rigging teams, to ...

New

Absurd Ventures

Character Art Lead

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$150K - $185K/yr

Collaborate with Animation, Technical Art, and Engineering to establish character asset ... Knowledge of Marvelous Designer or similar clothing and garment simulation tools. * Experience with ...

New

Cinnamon

Technical Animator / Rigger

Atlanta, GA · On-site

... maintain character and creature rigs for animation across animation, comics-related media, and ... animators, designers, and engineers to ensure rigs are intuitive, performant, and visually ...

Absurd Ventures

Character Art Lead

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$150K - $185K/yr

Collaborate with Animation, Technical Art, and Engineering to establish character asset ... Knowledge of Marvelous Designer or similar clothing and garment simulation tools. * Experience with ...

New

Insomniac Games

Senior Gameplay Animator (CONTRACT)

OR · On-site +1

$105K - $120K/yr

Ability to utilize motion capture data and hand key animation to create believable characters ... Designers, Programmers, Writers, Project Managers, Art, Audio, Character and Rigging teams, to ...

IGT

Art Director

Reno, NV · On-site

$120K - $126K/yr

Responsible for developing (original and/or licensed) game logos, backgrounds, logos, user interface, innovative themes, character designs, animations, and story board graphics of the highest caliber ...

New

Progressive Gaming

Art Director

Reno, NV

$120K - $126K/yr

Responsible for developing (original and/or licensed) game logos, backgrounds, logos, user interface, innovative themes, character designs, animations, and story board graphics of the highest caliber ...

New

Ten4

Senior Gaming Animator

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$129K - $148K/yr

Join forces with designers and engineers to create characters that are expressive and that still ... College/University Degree in Character Animation or similar * Full comprehension of camera, layout ...

Corkyy

Senior Motion Designer (Remote)

New York, NY · Remote

$116K - $132K/yr

Freelance Senior Motion Graphics Designer (2D) We are looking for a Senior 2D Motion Specialist to ... Expert command of Adobe After Effects and Creative Cloud (character rigging and animation ...

Eclipse Gaming Systems, LLC

Core Animator

Duluth, GA · On-site

Collaborate with mathematicians, animators, designers and product managers to implement game ... Experience with effects, compositing, creating fluid and natural character animations that ...

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Character Designer Animation information

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How much do character designer animation jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 13, 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 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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a character designer in animation?

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 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.

How to become a character designer for animation?

To become a character designer for animation, develop strong drawing skills and a portfolio showcasing original character concepts. Obtain relevant education in art, illustration, or animation, and gain experience through internships or freelance work. Proficiency in digital tools like Adobe Photoshop or Toon Boom is also beneficial.
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Character Designer Animation jobs near you
Infographic showing various Character Designer Animation job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 91% Full Time, and 8% Part Time. Highlights an 98% Physical, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $65,817 per year, or $31.6 per hour.

Reference Designer

Los Angeles, CA • On-site, Remote

TrueShort
See more jobs at TrueShortexternal

Full-time

Re-posted yesterday

Job description

Reference Designer
About TrueShort
TrueShort is one of the fastest-growing streaming apps in the United States. An AI studio and streaming platform where we experiment, develop and release original series and films constantly. No development purgatory.
Built for mobile-first viewing, TrueShort delivers premium, bingeable storytelling across an expanding slate of genres, reimagining how modern audiences discover and experience great stories.
Our team is experimenting at the frontier of AI-powered entertainment production across animation, live action, and emerging storytelling formats.
Backed by Jeffrey Katzenberg (Founder of DreamWorks), Scott Belsky, Ravi Nandan (A24), Khosla Ventures, and others.
Role Overview
We're looking for Reference Designers to help develop the visual foundation of original series and films across a wide range of genres and formats.
Reference Designers are responsible for creating the core visual assets that guide production across each series, including character references, environments, props, color direction, and visual worldbuilding materials. Your work will help establish consistency and creative clarity for AI filmmakers, editors, and showrunners throughout production.
This role sits at the intersection of concept design, visual development, and AI-native production workflows. We're looking for artists with strong visual taste, storytelling instincts, and an understanding of how to design assets that translate effectively into AI generation pipelines.
Responsibilities
  • Design character reference sheets, props, environments, and worldbuilding assets
  • Develop cohesive visual identities and style direction for original series
  • Collaborate closely with Showrunners, writers, and AI filmmakers during development and production
  • Create organized reference packs that help maintain consistency across episodes
  • Iterate quickly based on creative feedback and evolving production needs
  • Help establish visual rules, tone, color language, and design continuity for each project
  • Prepare assets and references optimized for AI image and video generation workflows
  • Contribute to the overall creative development of new series and worlds

Preferred Skills & Experience
  • Strong background in character design, concept art, production design, or visual development
  • Strong eye for composition, color, silhouette, shape language, and visual storytelling
  • Experience with AI image-generation tools (Midjourney, Nano Banana, Seedream, Flux, etc.)
  • Familiarity with AI video-generation workflows is a plus (Kling, Veo, Seedance, Runway, etc.)
  • Comfortable working across multiple visual styles and genres
  • Ability to create clear, production-ready visual reference materials
  • Familiarity with Photoshop or other visual editing/compositing tools
  • Passion for animation, filmmaking, internet culture, and emerging creative technology

Compensation & Details
  • Contract Role
  • Potential for long-term employment or full-time role
  • $300 - $800 per series
  • Los Angeles preferred (open to remote)

To Apply
Please send:
  • Portfolio or relevant work samples
  • Examples of character, prop, or environment design work
  • Optional: links to any animation, film, game, or visual development projects
  • A brief overview of your workflow and preferred creative tools

Apply