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Contract Disney Animation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Contract Disney Animation information

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$10

$39

$70

How much do contract disney animation jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for contract disney animation 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 contract Disney animation artist?

Contract Disney Animation jobs are temporary positions at Walt Disney Animation Studios where individuals are hired for a specific duration or project rather than as permanent staff. These roles cover various areas such as animation, visual development, storyboarding, and technical support. Contract employees work alongside full-time staff to help complete feature films, shorts, or other animation projects. Contract terms can vary in length, and these positions often provide valuable industry experience and networking opportunities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract Disney animation artist?

To thrive as a Contract Disney Animation Artist, you typically need strong drawing and storytelling abilities, a solid understanding of animation principles, and a relevant degree or portfolio of work. Proficiency with industry-standard animation software such as Toon Boom Harmony, Adobe Creative Suite, or Autodesk Maya is often required. Creativity, collaboration, adaptability, and effective communication are essential soft skills for excelling in team-based, fast-paced production environments. These skills and qualifications ensure the delivery of high-quality animation that meets Disney's artistic standards and production timelines.

What are some common challenges faced by contract animators at Disney Animation, and how can they prepare for success?

Contract animators at Disney Animation often face the challenge of adapting quickly to established workflows and artistic styles while meeting tight production deadlines. Since contract roles are project-based, animators must be flexible and ready to collaborate closely with both creative teams and technical departments. Success in this environment requires strong communication skills, a willingness to receive and implement feedback, and the ability to manage time effectively. Demonstrating adaptability and a proactive approach to learning new tools or processes can help contract animators make a positive impression and potentially open up opportunities for longer-term engagement.

What is the difference between Contract Disney Animation vs Contract Pixar Animation?

AspectContract Disney AnimationContract Pixar Animation
Required CredentialsAnimation degree, portfolio, industry experienceAnimation degree, portfolio, industry experience
Work EnvironmentDisney studios, collaborative teams, creative settingPixar studios, collaborative teams, creative setting
Employer & Industry UsageMajor animation studio, entertainment industryMajor animation studio, entertainment industry
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared due to similar roles in animationOften compared due to similar project types

Contract Disney Animation and Contract Pixar Animation roles share similar credentials, work environments, and industry usage. Both involve working on high-profile animated projects within leading studios, making them common points of comparison for animation professionals seeking contract opportunities in top-tier entertainment companies.

How to get a job in Disney animation?

To get a job in Disney animation, candidates should develop strong skills in animation, illustration, or related fields, often through formal education or a portfolio showcasing their work. Relevant experience with industry-standard tools like Maya or Adobe Creative Suite and understanding of storytelling are also important; applying through Disney's careers website or industry networks can improve chances.

What cities are hiring for Contract Disney Animation jobs?

Cities with the most Contract Disney Animation job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Disney Animation jobs?

The most popular types of Disney Animation jobs are:

What states have the most Contract Disney Animation jobs?

States with the most job openings for Contract Disney Animation jobs include:

Infographic showing various Contract Disney Animation job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $81,974 per year, or $39.4 per hour.

Technical Director II - Disney Television Animation

The Walt Disney Company

Glendale, CA • On-site

$60.12 - $61.92/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 11 days ago


Walt Disney Company rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 129 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

3rd of 52 rated entertainment


Job description

Job Posting Title:

Technical Director II - Disney Television Animation

Req ID:

10149315

Job Description:

About this Role and our Studio

Disney Television Animation(DTVA)has over 40 years of legacy as a top producer of kids & family entertainment. Our work is integraltoThe Walt Disney Company, bringing Disney-branded characters and stories to families' homes across the globe.

DTVA createsboth long-form and short-form content spanningtraditional2D, rig-based 2D, CG (preschool), CG (premium), and stop-motion.We createshows ina broad range of unique and innovative styles, and we aim to match the right talent with the right production in terms of skill and artistic style.

Bysubmittingan applicationfor thisTD II role, youmaybeconsideredforanyTD II positions that arise until theexpirationdate provided.

Applications submitted to this job posting will remain valid until December 31, 2026.

Whatyou willdo

The Technical Director II is responsible for executing retakes or creating shots from scratch to facilitating the movies' overall creative vision to life. The ideal candidate is comfortable digging into complex shots created by our international animation partners and improving them with surgical precision and artistry. Extensive knowledge of all stages of 2D/Harmony production including Importing, creation of new scenes, compositing, and the file structure of ToonBoom Harmony is required. This position requires technical skills combined with refined artistic skills, including an eye for composition, color, and lighting and a strong knowledge of animation principles. This position works closely with the Senior TD of Digital Department, Creative Leadership, Production and other Technical Directors in Digital Production.

  • Perform shot work as needed, including fixes at any stage of the pipeline. For 2D/Harmony series this would include adjusting color, adjusting lighting, adjusting animation timing, re-animating, fx and compositing.

  • Support the production in facilitating creative and technical workflows that pertain to pre-production artwork, necessary technical assets for production, or tool creation and retake calls within series approved assumptions.

  • If applicable, for CG shots, support the production via shot or asset troubleshooting, artistic or technical input, research and development, or tool creation.

  • Facilitate creation and delivery of final domestic source master materials to broadcast and streaming business units.

  • Create or recommend tools or pipelines to increase efficiency.

  • Ingest incoming shot data for editorial as needed.

  • Provide occasional technical support for shot and asset data for subcontractors and other groups in the Walt Disney Company specific to the pipeline of the assigned production.

  • Promote a positive, productive, and highly collaborative work environment.

  • Additional duties as necessary, or as defined by individual contracts.

Required Qualificationsand Skills

  • Minimum of 3 years of experience in animation production.

  • Expert knowledge of all stages of 2D/Harmony workflows. CG production knowledge including modeling, surfacing, rigging, lighting, rendering, fx, and compositing required.

  • Expert knowledge of Harmony and Photoshop required.

  • ToonBoom Harmony, TV Paint, or Adobe Animate (Flash) and CG experience a plus.

  • Familiarity with other CG technologies such as Houdini, BiFrost, Blender, After Effects, Redshift, Maya, Arnold, Nuke, vRay and Ornatrix a plus.

  • For CG series, Python and MEL experience utilizing the Nuke and Maya APIs, and Unix shell scripting experience strongly preferred.

  • Solution-oriented outlook and a proactive personality; willing to roll up their sleeves and directly fix shot, data, or asset issues.

  • Demonstrated ability to integrate artistic vision with technical expertise.

  • Must be able to work in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.

  • Experience working with subcontractor animation studios a plus.

Education

  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science or Computer Graphics, or Bachelor of Arts in Film and Animation Production, or equivalent industry experience required.

Job Location

  • This is a fully on-site role based in Glendale, CA.

The pay rate for this role in California is $60.12 to $61.92 per hour, which follows the pay scale agreed upon in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The base pay actually offered may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, among other factors. Select benefits may be provided as part of the compensation package, such as medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered. To learn more about our benefits visit: https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.

Job Posting Segment:

Disney Branded Television

Job Posting Primary Business:

TVA Production Management

Primary Job Posting Category:

Production

Employment Type:

Full time

Primary City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Glendale, CA, USA

Alternate City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Date Posted:

2026-04-22

What Walt Disney Company employees say

Pay

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About Walt Disney

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Disney, we're storytellers. We make the impossible, possible. We do this through utilizing and developing cutting-edge technology and pushing the envelope to bring stories to life through our movies, products, interactive games, parks and resorts, and media networks. Now is your chance to join our talented team that delivers unparalleled creative content to audiences around the world. "We create happiness." That's our motto at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. And it permeates everything we do. At Disney, you'll help inspire that magic by enabling our teams to push the limits of entertainment and create the never-before-seen!

Industry

Amusement, gambling, and recreation

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Burbank, CA, US

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