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Creature Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Big Shot Pictures

Senior Animator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$114K - $130K/yr

Collaborate closely with directors, designers, technical artists, and production partners to ... Creature and non-human animation experience * Storyboarding and/or layout experience * Experience ...

Anduril Industries

Program Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

... designed, built and sold. Anduril's family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered ... You are not a creature of process but can build structure where it is needed * You can distinguish ...

Anduril Industries

Program Chief Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

... designed, built and sold. Anduril's family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered ... You are not a creature of process but can build structure where it is needed * You can distinguish ...

Anduril Industries

Program Chief Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

... designed, built and sold. Anduril's family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered ... You are not a creature of process but can build structure where it is needed * You can distinguish ...

All JobsCreature Designer JobsCreature Designer Jobs in California

Creature Designer information

See California salary details

$35K

$82.1K

$108.6K

How much do creature designer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for creature designer in California is $82,059.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $57,200.00 and $107,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much do creature designers make?

Creature designers typically earn between $40,000 and $80,000 annually, depending on experience, industry, and location. Senior or specialized creature designers working in film, video games, or animation can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $100,000 with a strong portfolio and proficiency in tools like ZBrush or Maya.

What jobs will no longer exist in 2030?

By 2030, roles heavily reliant on manual labor or routine tasks, such as certain assembly line positions and data entry jobs, are expected to decline due to automation and AI advancements. Creative roles like creature designers are less likely to disappear but may see increased use of digital tools and virtual environments, requiring adaptation to new technologies.

What kind of jobs in media bring in $150,000 a year?

In media, high-paying roles such as senior creature designer, visual effects supervisor, or lead character artist can earn $150,000 or more annually. These positions typically require extensive experience, advanced skills in 3D modeling and animation, and proficiency with industry tools like Maya or ZBrush.

How does a Creature Designer typically collaborate with other departments during a production?

Creature Designers work closely with concept artists, animators, modelers, and directors to ensure their designs fit the project's creative vision and technical requirements. Early in production, they often participate in brainstorming sessions and provide sketches or 3D models for feedback. As designs are refined, they collaborate with modeling and rigging teams to address anatomical feasibility and movement, and with visual effects or animation teams to ensure the creature's look and behaviors translate well on screen. This collaborative process ensures that the final creature is both visually compelling and functional within the production's constraints.

What are Creature Designers?

Creature Designers are artists who specialize in creating original and imaginative creatures for film, television, video games, and other media. They combine knowledge of anatomy, biology, and storytelling to develop believable and visually compelling beings that fit within a project's world. Their work often involves sketching, digital sculpting, and collaborating closely with directors and other creative team members to bring these creatures to life.

What is the difference between Creature Designer vs Character Artist?

AspectCreature DesignerCharacter Artist
Required CredentialsArt degree, portfolio, knowledge of anatomy and creature designArt degree, portfolio, strong understanding of anatomy and character development
Work EnvironmentFilm, video games, animation studios focusing on creature creationVideo games, film, animation studios focusing on character creation
Industry UsagePrimarily in entertainment industries requiring creature conceptsIn industries requiring detailed character models and designs

Creature Designers focus on creating unique creatures for entertainment media, emphasizing anatomy and imaginative design. Character Artists develop detailed human or humanoid characters, often with a focus on realism and personality. While both roles require strong artistic skills and industry experience, Creature Designers specialize in fantastical beings, whereas Character Artists work on a broader range of characters.

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

To thrive as a Creature Designer, you need strong artistic skills in anatomy, concept sketching, and visual storytelling, often backed by a degree in illustration, fine arts, or a related field. Mastery of digital illustration software such as Adobe Photoshop, ZBrush, and 3D modeling tools is typically required. Creativity, adaptability, and effective collaboration are key soft skills for developing original designs that meet project goals. These abilities ensure that creature designs are both imaginative and functionally appropriate for film, games, or animation, contributing to immersive and engaging experiences.

Is creature design a job?

Yes, creature design is a professional role in industries such as film, video games, and animation, where artists create fictional creatures and characters. It typically requires skills in drawing, 3D modeling, and knowledge of anatomy, often using tools like Photoshop or ZBrush. Creature designers may work as freelancers or within studios, and a strong portfolio is essential for employment.
What are popular job titles related to Creature Designer jobs in California? For Creature Designer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Creature Designer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Creature Designer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Creature Designer jobs? Cities in California with the most Creature Designer job openings:
Creature Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Creature Designer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 68% Full Time, 21% Temporary, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 74% In-person, and 26% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,059 per year, or $39.5 per hour.

Creature Technical Director (Character Technical Artist / Rigger) - Expression of Interest - ILM ...

The Walt Disney Company

San Francisco, CA

$94K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago

Walt Disney Company rating

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

Based on 128 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

5th of 51 rated entertainment

Job description

Job Posting Title:

Creature Technical Director (Character Technical Artist / Rigger) - Expression of Interest - ILM San Francisco (Project Hire)

Req ID:

10156277

Job Description:

Position Summary

We are looking for a creative problem solver who reflects the innovative spirit, creative talent, production excellence, collaborative mindset and passion for great storytelling that defines ILM Immersive.

Creature Technical Directors design and build animation setups and systems, and partner with Modelers, Animators, Designers, and Engineers to bring our characters to life.

What You'll Do

  • Design, build and test advanced animation rigs, setups, systems and workflows for a variety of ultra high-end characters, creatures, vehicles and props via Maya, Unreal and ILM's proprietary toolsets.

  • Assist in development & maintenance of systems and workflows for animating and rigging characters which expedite our character setup and animation process, as well as writing scripts to facilitate art production when required.

  • Up to date on the industry standard tools and systems (in Unreal Engine, Maya, etc.) and constantly curious about promising new techniques for skeletons, facial animation methodologies, and constraints used for character animation.

  • Develop familiarity of proprietary toolsets & workflows in the ILM pipeline, integrating as necessary with established best-practices for real-time production workflow, adapting and evolving to solve problems within that hybrid framework. This position calls for an individual who enjoys the difficulty of solving problems, with a keen attention to detail and sense of anticipation.

  • Consult in development of breakdowns, task lists, estimates, schedules, milestones and overall project goals as necessary; participate in project stand-ups, meetings, and reviews.

  • Actively participate in concept testing of new ideas and building of rapid prototypes.

What We're Looking For

  • 3+ years experience as a Character TD, Technical Artist-Rigger or Technical Animator role for AAA game development, directly supporting the production with rigging, scripting & tool development.

  • 2+ years production experience with Maya, Maya API.

  • Excellent working knowledge of scripting - Maya Python/PyMEL, C++ API, and PySide/PyQt GUI design experience.

  • Knowledgeable of the real-time art production pipeline & process for different types of asset creation - especially of potential pitfalls and other risks involved with movement mechanics & deformation.

  • Strong grasp of basic animation principles, clear understanding of anatomy, kinematics & deformation.

  • Extensive experience with integration of performance capture animation for both body & face.

  • Experience with run-time, blend-tree based animation systems. Unreal and Maya experience preferred.

  • Bonus points for:

    • Deep knowledge of Unreal Animation features & toolsets: blueprints, component anims, physics-based anims, Sequencer, Control Rig

    • Experience with cloth, hair, fracturing and rigid simulations

    • Working knowledge of Linux, Perforce, Linear Algebra

    • VFX production experience

    • Experience or interest in the creation of VR & MR experiences

* A portfolio / reel submission - including a detailed breakdown of your work in each section - is required with all applications.
JoinILM

The hiring range for this position in San Francisco is $94,100 to $120,400 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

Job Posting Segment:

ILM San Francisco

Job Posting Primary Business:

ILM San Francisco

Primary Job Posting Category:

Modeling - Studios

Employment Type:

Full time

Primary City, State, Region, Postal Code:

San Francisco, CA, USA

Alternate City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Date Posted:

2026-07-16

What Walt Disney Company employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Walt Disney logo

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

Social media

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