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Contract Game Animation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Game Producer (contract)

Los Angeles, CA · Remote

$26 - $41/hr

By building a live service mobile game and portfolio of collectible toys, we aim to popularize a ... Manage external relationships, including freelance artists, animators, and external development ...

Aston Carter

Technical Animator

Seattle, WA

$45 - $46/hr

Essential Skills * 4+ years of experience in Technical Animation, Character Animation, Game ... Job Type & Location This is a Contract position based out of Seattle, WA. Pay and Benefits The pay ...

Aston Carter

Technical Animator

Bellevue, WA

$45 - $46/hr

Essential Skills * 4+ years of experience in Technical Animation, Character Animation, Game ... Job Type & Location This is a Contract position based out of Bellevue, WA. Pay and Benefits The pay ...

Posted today

Aston Carter

Technical Animator

Seattle, WA · On-site

$45 - $46/hr

Essential Skills * 4+ years of experience in Technical Animation, Character Animation, Game ... Job Type & Location This is a Contract position based out of Seattle, WA. Pay and Benefits The pay ...

teamLFG

OR · On-site

Do you spend your time thinking about how different game mechanics can come together to create ... effects, and animation to clearly communicate gameplay affordances to players REQUIRED SKILLS ...

Big Shot Pictures

Senior Animator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$114K - $130K/yr

... animation franchises across all platforms - from digital to theatrical, gaming to streaming, and ... This is a contract role which would report in-person at our studio in Los Angeles Responsibilities

Big Shot Pictures

Previs Animator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

... animation franchises across all platforms - from digital to theatrical, gaming to streaming, and ... This is a contract role which would report in-person at our studio in Los Angeles Responsibilities

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All JobsContract Game Animation Jobs

Contract Game Animation information

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$47K

$156K

How much do contract game animation jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract game animation in the United States is $149,118.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $155,000.00 and $155,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Contract Game Animation vs Contract 3D Modeler?

AspectContract Game AnimationContract 3D Modeler
Required SkillsAnimation software, storytelling, riggingModeling software, sculpting, texturing
Work EnvironmentGame studios, freelance projectsGame studios, freelance projects
Industry UsageHigh in game development, animation studiosHigh in asset creation, game development

Contract Game Animators focus on creating animated sequences, character movements, and rigging for games, emphasizing storytelling and motion. Contract 3D Modelers specialize in building detailed 3D assets, characters, and environments. While both roles often work within the same industry and environment, their core skills and deliverables differ, with animation centered on movement and modeling on asset creation.

More about Contract Game Animation jobs
What cities are hiring for Contract Game Animation jobs? Cities with the most Contract Game Animation job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Game Animation jobs? The most popular types of Game Animation jobs are:
What states have the most Contract Game Animation jobs? States with the most job openings for Contract Game Animation jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Contract Game Animation jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Contract Game Animation jobs are:
Contract Game Animation jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract Game Animation job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 30% As Needed, 35% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 2% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 15% Nights. Highlights an 68% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 28% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,118 per year, or $71.7 per hour.

Senior Animator, Unannounced Super Fun Video Game (Contract)

Second Dinner Studios, Inc

Remote

$60 - $70/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 8 days ago

Job description

Our Team
We're building a PvE co-op action game with a small, highly autonomous team.
Each discipline is represented by a single owner. There is no large animation department, dedicated technical animation team, or production layer separating disciplines. The people who thrive here are comfortable making decisions, solving problems independently, and moving work forward without extensive process or oversight.
We care more about demonstrated capability than years of experience, previous titles, or studio pedigree. Show us great animation work, shipped games, side projects, game jam projects, mods, tools you've built, pipelines you've improved, or anything else that demonstrates your ability to create and ship great experiences.
Your Role
Animation is the primary focus of this role.
We're looking for someone who can create both expressive character performances and exceptional gameplay animation. Our characters need to feel compelling when viewed up close through facial expressions, acting, personality, and charm, while also feeling responsive, readable, and satisfying during gameplay.
You'll own animation from rigging and implementation through final polish. Most of your time will be spent creating animation, but because of our team's size, you'll also be expected to identify technical challenges, improve workflows, and occasionally step outside traditional discipline boundaries when it helps the project move forward.
This is a fully remote role. Much of the team's coordination happens asynchronously, so success requires clear written communication, proactive updates, and the ability to make progress without waiting for meetings or direction.
The strongest candidates tend to be builders. They make games outside of work, participate in game jams, create mods, experiment with new tools, or otherwise demonstrate a habit of learning and creating beyond their day job.
What You'll Do
  • Create high-quality character, gameplay, and combat animation.
  • Bring personality, appeal, emotion, and charm to characters through performance and facial animation.
  • Create responsive, readable, and satisfying gameplay animation that supports combat and player feedback.
  • Rig, skin, and prepare assets for animation.
  • Implement, iterate on, and polish animation directly in Unreal Engine.
  • Work closely with Design and Engineering to improve gameplay feel, responsiveness, readability, and player experience.
  • Coordinate with Character Art, Environment Art, and VFX to ensure assets integrate smoothly into the game.
  • Identify bottlenecks and improve workflows through tooling, automation, technical solutions, or process improvements.
  • Evaluate and leverage AI-assisted workflows when they meaningfully improve iteration speed, content creation, or production efficiency.
  • Occasionally collaborate with external art partners to review deliverables, communicate feedback, and maintain quality standards.
  • Own animation as a discipline from concept through final implementation.

What You'll Need
  • A portfolio demonstrating exceptional animation work.
  • Demonstrated strength in both character performance animation and gameplay animation.
  • Strong understanding of character acting, facial expression, appeal, timing, and physicality.
  • Strong understanding of gameplay readability, responsiveness, combat feel, and player feedback.
  • Strong rigging skills.
  • Experience implementing animation content in Unreal Engine.
  • Comfort working directly in-engine to solve problems and iterate on content.
  • The ability to independently own a discipline and make forward progress with minimal oversight.
  • Strong written communication skills and comfort working in a fully remote, asynchronous
  • environment.
  • The ability to discuss technical and creative tradeoffs with designers, engineers, artists, and external partners.
  • Comfort learning unfamiliar tools, workflows, or disciplines when doing so benefits the project.
  • Comfort using AI-assisted tools as part of a modern game development workflow.

Nice to Have, But Not Necessary
  • Experience as a Technical Animator, Tech Artist, Art Director, or other cross-disciplinary role.
  • Experience building tools, pipelines, procedural systems, or workflow automation.
  • Experience managing external vendors or outsourcing relationships.
  • Experience shipping an indie game, game jam project, mod, or significant personal project.
  • Experience working on small teams where individuals routinely contribute outside their primary discipline.
  • Experience with cooperative action games, boss-focused encounters, or other highly replayable multiplayer experiences.
  • Affinity for complex competitive games such as League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, or similar titles.
  • Experience with endgame MMO content such as raiding in World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV, or similar games.
  • Familiarity with anime-inspired visual styles, character archetypes, and modern anime storytelling conventions.

This position pays a range of $60 - 70 per hour (USD).
Individual pay within this range may span multiple levels within the discipline and is determined by assessed job-related skills, experience, relevant education, or training. It also factors in market demands and business needs. The disclosed range is not adjusted based on location and may be subject to change or modification based on business needs in the future. This role is contracted through a third-party that provides health benefits, etc., which your recruiter can discuss more during the hiring process.
We are an equal opportunity employer that places high value on diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, disability status, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military status, or veteran status.
You must be legally authorized to work and reside in the United States. We do not sponsor visas or support employment outside the U.S. for this role.

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