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Character Rigging Jobs in Los Angeles, CA (NOW HIRING)

Naughty Dog

Senior Character Artist

Santa Monica, CA

$135K - $142K/yr

The Character Art team is looking for a highly technical and artistic Senior Character Artist to ... Monitor the needs of rigging, animation, and design to ensure clear characters in game Maintain a ...

New

Naughty Dog

Senior Character Artist

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$69.09 - $86.35/hr

The Character Art team is looking for a highly technical and artistic Senior Character Artist to ... Monitor the needs of rigging, animation, and design to ensure clear characters in game • Maintain ...

New

thatgamecompany

Animator (Mid-Senior)

Los Angeles, CA · Remote

$78K - $127K/yr

Character Rigging and Scripting * Traditional art skills such as drawing and sketching * Ability to draw storyboards * Interested in ancient human civilization * Experience with or knowledge of ...

Big Shot Pictures

Technical Animator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

... real-time character and animation pipeline. This role operates at the intersection of animation, rigging, tools development, and engine integration, and is critical to ensuring characters and ...

New

AGBO

Expression of Interest - Animator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

Experience structuring & maintaining animation processes such as rigging, or prototyping. * Character Performance experience. * Effectively tell the story in a meaningful way through vivid and ...

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All JobsCharacter Rigging JobsCharacter Rigging Jobs in Los Angeles, CA

Character Rigging information

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$11

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How much do character rigging jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for character rigging in Los Angeles, CA is $20.56, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.52 and $26.15 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are character rigging jobs?

Character rigging is the process of creating an animated person, animal, or other moving object and adding features for movement to make it look more realistic or to match the flow of the storyline. In this role, you develop characters for cartoon shows, animated films, and video games. You create the framework of the character using rigging tools such as Maya or Motionbuilder and manipulate the character to make it jump, run, smile, or do other actions. Once the framework is set, you may add physical features, such as skins and facial shapes, to be used by the animator to develop the movement flow within the show or game.

What is character rigging?

Character rigging is the process of creating a digital skeleton for a character model so that it can be posed and animated in 3D software. Riggers add bones, joints, and control systems to a character, allowing animators to move and deform the model realistically. This is a crucial step in the animation pipeline for films, video games, and visual effects, enabling expressive and lifelike character movements.

What are some typical challenges faced in a character rigging role, and how can they be addressed?

Character rigging artists often encounter challenges such as creating rigs that are both flexible for animators and efficient for real-time rendering. Balancing complexity with usability, ensuring deformation looks natural, and maintaining performance in game engines are common hurdles. Collaboration with modelers and animators is essential to iterate on rigs quickly based on feedback. Staying updated with the latest rigging tools and scripting techniques can greatly help in overcoming these challenges and delivering high-quality rigs on tight production schedules.

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

AspectCharacter Rigging3D Modeler
Primary FocusCreating skeletons and controls for character animationModeling 3D objects and characters
Skills RequiredRigging techniques, anatomy, software like Maya or BlenderModeling, texturing, topology, software like Maya, Blender, 3ds Max
Work EnvironmentAnimation studios, game development, VFXGame studios, film, animation, product visualization
CertificationsOften not mandatory but relevant courses in rigging and animationOften not mandatory but relevant in modeling and design courses

While both roles work closely in 3D production, Character Rigging specializes in creating the underlying structure for animation, whereas a 3D Modeler focuses on building the visual and geometric aspects of models. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or job search focus.

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

To thrive as a Character Rigger, you need a solid grasp of anatomy, 3D modeling, and an understanding of animation principles, usually supported by a background in computer graphics or animation. Expertise in industry-standard software like Autodesk Maya, Blender, and scripting languages such as Python or MEL is typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills make a rigger stand out when collaborating with animators and modelers. These skills ensure character rigs are both functional and intuitive, resulting in smooth animation workflows and high-quality visual output.
More about Character Rigging jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Character Rigging jobs in Los Angeles, CA? The most popular types of Character Rigging jobs in Los Angeles, CA are:
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Character Rigging jobs near you
Infographic showing various Character Rigging job openings in Los Angeles, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 1% Temporary. Highlights an 97% Physical, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $42,755 per year, or $20.6 per hour.

Expression of Interest - Character Artist

AGBO

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$130K - $136K/yr

Temporary

Re-posted 24 days ago

Job description

About the Company:

Founded in 2017 by Anthony and Joe Russo, AGBO is an artist-led independent studio shaping the future of film and television. The Russo Brothers and AGBO have generated more than $7 billion at the global box office, including Avengers: Endgame. The studio's projects include Academy Awardwinning Everything Everywhere All at Once, Netflix hits The Gray Man and Extraction, and Prime Video's visceral thriller The Bluff and the global Citadel franchise. Citadel Season 2 premieres in May 2026.
AGBO is currently in production with Netflix on Tygo and Mercenary, both part of the Extraction universe, as well as with Lionsgate on John Rambo, a prequel to the iconic franchise. The studio is in post-production on The Whisper Man, starring Robert De Niro, and Avengers: Doomsday, which will be released December 18, 2026. AGBO will begin shooting Avengers: Secret Wars later this year. Both upcoming Avengers films are directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and co-produced by AGBO and Marvel Studios.

About the Position:
AGBO is seeking a talented Character Artist to join our Visual Effects (VFX) team. The Character Artist will be responsible for creating highly realistic and expressive character models that push the boundaries of digital art. They will collaborate with a team of artists and developers to conceptualize, design, and execute characters that enhance the narrative and emotional depth of our projects.

This is an Expression of Interest role.


Key Responsibilities:

  • Generate lifelike digi-doubles by capturing the essence and nuances of real-world models.
  • Work closely with the animation and rigging teams to ensure models are optimized for motion.
  • Participate in the creative process, offering insights and solutions to achieve the desired artistic vision.
  • Sculpt high-detail characters and creatures.
  • Create dynamic and realistic clothing for character models.
  • Stay updated with the latest industry trends and technologies to continually refine and enhance your work.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.


Qualifications & Skills:

  • 5+ years of proven experience as a Character Artist in the gaming, film, or similar industry.
  • Strong understanding of character modeling techniques and anatomy.
  • Experience with digi-doubles and creating highly realistic character models.
  • Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and communicate effectively.
  • Passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail.
  • Rigging experience is a plus.
  • Experience with ZBrush and Marvelous Designer preferred.

Additional Information:

  • This is a temporary position with the possibility of extension based on project needs.
  • This is an Expression of Interest role. You will be contacted once an opportunity becomes available.
  • Remote candidates may be considered; however, preference will be given to those who can work in Los Angeles.
  • Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for sponsorship.
  • Please submit a portfolio or demo reel for consideration.


AGBO Labs LLC is committed to operating fair and unbiased recruitment procedures allowing all applicants an equal opportunity for employment, free from discrimination on the basis of religion, race, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, color, ethnic or national origin or any other classification as may be protected by applicable law. We aim to recruit the right people for the jobs we have to offer, and to assess applications on the basis of relevant skills, education and experience.
AGBO participates in E-Verify - English | Spanish

The job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent to this position.

AGBO logo

About AGBO

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Angeles, CA, US

Year founded

2020

Social media

Twitter

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