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Director Animation Production Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Sway Creative Labs

Art Director

Norfolk, VA · On-site

$70K - $90K/yr

Develop pre-production materials including mood boards, shot references, and frame guides ... Experience with motion design and animation principles; ability to direct animators or provide ...

Sway Creative Labs

Art Director

Norfolk, VA

$117K - $122K/yr

Develop pre-production materials including mood boards, shot references, and frame guides ... Experience with motion design and animation principles; ability to direct animators or provide ...

Childhood Cancer Society

$15 - $20/hr

Apparel Design Merchandise concepts, wearable branding, and product design * Animation / Motion ... Direct collaboration with the Founder and executive leadership * Ownership of real-world creative ...

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Director Animation Production information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director Animation Production, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director Animation Production, you need deep expertise in animation production processes, project management, and a degree in animation, film, or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard software such as Maya, Toon Boom, or Adobe Creative Suite, as well as experience with production tracking tools, is essential. Strong leadership, creative vision, and excellent communication skills are crucial for managing teams and collaborating across departments. These skills ensure projects are delivered on time, meet creative goals, and maintain high production quality in a fast-paced environment.

What does a Director of Animation Production do?

A Director of Animation Production oversees the entire animation process for films, television shows, or other media projects. They manage the production timeline, coordinate between creative and technical teams, and ensure that the project stays within budget and meets quality standards. This role involves significant leadership, problem-solving, and communication to guide animators, editors, and other staff from concept development through final delivery. The director is responsible for maintaining the creative vision while efficiently managing resources and schedules.

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

In media, roles such as senior animation directors, executive producers, and creative directors often earn $150,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, leadership responsibilities, and proficiency in industry-standard tools like Maya or Adobe Creative Suite. These positions typically require strong project management skills and a proven track record of successful productions.

Does Disney still hire 2D animators?

Disney continues to hire 2D animators for projects that require traditional animation skills, though the company primarily focuses on 3D animation for most productions. Skilled 2D animators with proficiency in software like Toon Boom or Adobe Animate remain valuable for certain specialized or nostalgic projects.

How much does an animation director make?

An animation director's salary typically ranges from $70,000 to $150,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the size of the studio. Senior animation directors or those working on major projects can earn higher compensation, often supplemented with bonuses and benefits.

What does an animation director do?

An animation director oversees the creative and technical aspects of an animation project, guiding the artistic vision, supervising animators, and ensuring the final product aligns with the project's goals. They coordinate with producers, story artists, and other departments, often using tools like Maya or Adobe Animate, and typically require strong leadership and communication skills. The role involves managing schedules and maintaining quality standards throughout production.

What is the difference between Director Animation Production vs Animation Producer?

AspectDirector Animation ProductionAnimation Producer
CredentialsExperience in animation, leadership skills, industry knowledgeProject management, budgeting, industry experience
Work EnvironmentCreative teams, animation studios, production companiesProduction offices, client meetings, studio settings
Employer & Industry UsageAnimation studios, media companies, entertainment industryProduction companies, studios, media firms
Common Search/ComparisonYesYes

The main difference is that the Director Animation Production focuses on overseeing the creative vision and directing the animation process, while the Animation Producer manages the overall production, budgets, and schedules. Both roles require industry experience, but the director emphasizes creative leadership, whereas the producer emphasizes project management.

How does a Director of Animation Production typically collaborate with other departments during a project?

A Director of Animation Production works closely with various departments such as storyboarding, character design, visual effects, sound, and post-production to ensure seamless workflow and creative alignment. They facilitate regular cross-departmental meetings to address project timelines, resource allocation, and artistic vision, while also resolving any production bottlenecks that arise. This collaborative approach helps maintain consistent quality and ensures that the final product meets both creative and technical standards. Effective communication and leadership are essential for fostering teamwork and keeping the project on track.
What are the most commonly searched types of Animation Production jobs in Virginia? The most popular types of Animation Production jobs in Virginia are:
What are popular job titles related to Director Animation Production jobs in Virginia? For Director Animation Production jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Director Animation Production jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Director Animation Production jobs in Virginia are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Director Animation Production jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Director Animation Production job openings:
Director Animation Production jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Animation Production job openings in Virginia as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 37% As Needed, 40% Full Time, 15% Part Time, 2% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 3% Nights. Highlights an 74% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 23% Remote job distribution.

Art Director

Sway Creative Labs

Norfolk, VA • On-site

$70K - $90K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 17 days ago

Job description

Sway Creative Labs is seeking an experienced and versatile Art Director to join our team. This role is ideal for a creative professional with strong conceptual instincts and the range to execute across multiple disciplines - web, print, brand identity, broadcast, and social. We're looking for someone who can ideate and lead, not just produce, and who brings the same rigor to a brand strategy conversation as they do to a final file.
Strong candidates will demonstrate fluency in at least three of our five core creative disciplines and will have a portfolio that reflects both conceptual thinking and craft-level execution.
What You'll Own
Creative Leadership & Concepting
  • Lead creative concept development across integrated campaigns, bringing original, strategy-driven ideas to briefs
  • Serve as the creative lead on assigned accounts, articulating and defending the visual direction to clients and internal teams
  • Collaborate with producers, developers, copywriters, and media teams to ensure the creative vision carries through every channel and deliverable

Web & Digital
  • Design digital experiences in Figma with proficiency in UX principles, responsive layouts, design systems, and developer handoff
  • Produce web assets, display advertising, email campaigns, and landing pages with consistency, accessibility awareness, and spec accuracy
  • Work fluidly with development teams, understanding how your designs will be built and communicating accordingly

Print & Identity
  • Lead brand identity projects from discovery through standards documentation - logos, typography, color systems, and usage guidelines
  • Design and prepare print-ready files across a range of formats, with a thorough understanding of production specifications and vendor requirements

Broadcast & On-Set
  • Art direct photo and video productions with confidence - providing clear visual direction on composition, wardrobe, set, and color
  • Develop pre-production materials including mood boards, shot references, and frame guides
  • Maintain creative integrity from concept through final delivery, including post-production review

Social
  • Design for social platforms with an understanding of each channel's native formats, content culture, and audience behavior
  • Concept social-first creative that is built for the medium, not adapted from other channels
  • Stay current on platform trends and emerging formats and apply that knowledge proactively

What We're Looking For
Core Qualifications
  • 3-5+ years of art direction experience in an agency or comparable creative environment
  • A portfolio demonstrating range across multiple disciplines - web, identity, print, broadcast, and/or social
  • Deep proficiency in Figma, including components, auto-layout, prototyping, and design system workflows
  • Strong command of Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign
  • Solid understanding of design fundamentals: typography, color theory, composition, and visual hierarchy
  • Working knowledge of HTML and CSS sufficient to communicate effectively with developers
  • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and communicate proactively on timelines and scope
  • Occasional travel and on-set availability required

Additional Assets
  • Experience with motion design and animation principles; ability to direct animators or provide keyframe-level guidance
  • Familiarity with After Effects, Lottie, or comparable animation tools
  • Background working on travel/tourism, food/beverage, healthcare, or entertainment accounts

What Success Looks Like
By the end of your first year, clients will request your involvement on their most important projects. Your work will raise the creative standard across the accounts you touch, and internal team members will seek you out early in the process because your involvement improves outcomes. Leadership will trust your creative judgment on complex, high-visibility initiatives.
Why Sway Creative Labs
Sway is an independent agency where your contributions are seen and valued by hands-on leadership. You'll work across industries and project types - brand campaigns, tourism initiatives, documentary content, digital platforms - with real ownership over creative decisions. We're looking for an Art Director who wants to grow across disciplines, not deepen a single specialty.
What We Offer
  • 15 Paid Vacation Days: Days reset at your start date and do not roll over. You'll have the ability to withdraw a negative balance of up to 5 days, and you begin the year with your days already afforded
  • Paid Holidays: Your Birthday, New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Monday after the Super Bowl, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the week between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day
  • Two-Hour Windows: So long as the privilege is not abused, we offer each employee 2-hour leave windows at the beginning (9am - 11am EST) and end of the workday (3pm - 5pm EST) to tend to any appointments like unexpected child care challenges, doctor's visits, home maintenance, etc. that do not count against your allotted paid time off
  • Health Plan: All employees are eligible to enroll in one of (3) Sentara Health Plans; with Sway covering 80% of employee's cost and 50% of your dependents
  • Dental Insurance: Sway pays 100% of employee's United Concordia Dental Plan
  • Retirement Benefits: Sway's 401(k) policy offers a solid foundation for your retirement planning; we match your contributions at a 1:1 rate for the first 3% of your pay, and then add an extra $0.50 for each dollar you contribute on the following 2% of your pay. Contributions are fully vested immediately.
  • Upskilling Opportunities: As "curiosity of craft" is one of our core values, Sway encourages continued education and skill advancement with 100% reimbursement of at least one approved employee upskilling initiative per year (conferences, courses, certifications, etc.)

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