1

Director Animation Production Jobs (NOW HIRING)

... โ€ข Direct video productions and voice-over recording sessions โ€ข Ensure editors and animators have the necessary directions and assets โ€ข Estimate, budget, and track video project costs โ€ข ...

Lead Designer

Gainesville, FL ยท On-site

$70K - $80K/yr

Work closely with the Assistant Director of Video Production & Content Strategy to uphold and ... Develop visually engaging animations, title sequences, and narrative-driven content that enhances ...

Senior Accountant

Hollywood, CA ยท On-site

$83K - $104K/yr

Bento Box Entertainment (BBE) is a multiple Emmy ยฎ Award-winning animation production company and ... Support the Director, Corp Accounting WHAT YOU WILL NEED * 3+ years of progressive accounting and ...

Senior Accountant

Los Angeles, CA

$79K - $100K/yr

Bento Box Entertainment (BBE) is a multiple Emmy Award-winning animation production company and a ... Support the Director, Corp Accounting WHAT YOU WILL NEED * 3+ years of progressive accounting and ...

What You'll Do Epic Games is looking for a Character Animation Director to join our Special ... Experienced AAA development or equivalent real-time production environments Bonus Points

Art Director

Norfolk, VA ยท 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 ...

Provide regular feedback in partnership with the Animation Director, mentoring animators ... Collaborate closely with Production on roadmap planning, task estimation, and risk assessment ...

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA ยท On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Provide regular feedback in partnership with the Animation Director, mentoring animators ... Collaborate closely with Production on roadmap planning, task estimation, and risk assessment ...

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA ยท On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Provide regular feedback in partnership with the Animation Director, mentoring animators ... Collaborate closely with Production on roadmap planning, task estimation, and risk assessment ...

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA ยท On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Provide regular feedback in partnership with the Animation Director, mentoring animators ... Collaborate closely with Production on roadmap planning, task estimation, and risk assessment ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Director Animation Production information

See salary details

$24K

$107.5K

$189.5K

How much do director animation production jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for director animation production in the United States is $107,478.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,000.00 and $129,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.
More about Director Animation Production jobs
What cities are hiring for Director Animation Production jobs? Cities with the most Director Animation Production job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Animation Production jobs? The most popular types of Animation Production jobs are:
What states have the most Director Animation Production jobs? States with the most job openings for Director Animation Production jobs include:
Infographic showing various Director Animation Production job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% Internship, 49% As Needed, 32% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 3% Nights. Highlights an 70% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 27% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,478 per year, or $51.7 per hour.

Acting & Animation Performance Consultant

Weekday AI

New York, NY โ€ข On-site

$60 - $90/hr

Part-time

Posted 16 days ago


Job description

This role is for one of our clients

Compensation: $60-$90 per hour

Join a leading AI lab at the forefront of generative AI innovation and help shape the future of performance-driven AI systems. We are seeking experienced professionals from film, animation, visual storytelling, and performance disciplines to contribute their expertise toward evaluating and improving AI models that transfer and preserve human performances across different outputs.

These advanced AI systems are designed to retain the timing, emotion, intent, and subtle physical nuances that make performances feel authentic. Your expertise will help establish the standards by which model outputs are evaluated, ensuring that AI-generated performances remain faithful to the original artistic expression.

This is a part-time opportunity to collaborate with world-class AI researchers, engineers, and creative professionals working on next-generation visual AI technologies.

Requirements

Key ResponsibilitiesEstablish Evaluation Standards
  • Define clear criteria for assessing performance fidelity, emotional authenticity, and physical accuracy.
  • Evaluate how effectively AI-generated outputs preserve the original actor's intent, timing, expression, and movement.
  • Identify shortcomings in existing evaluation approaches and recommend improvements.
Curate Benchmark Content
  • Select and analyze examples of performances that range from straightforward to highly nuanced and challenging.
  • Help establish meaningful benchmark datasets for evaluating AI performance transfer capabilities.
Shape Human Evaluation Frameworks
  • Define reviewer qualifications, expertise requirements, and evaluation methodologies.
  • Develop scoring rubrics and assessment guidelines for large-scale human review processes.
Collaborate with Domain Experts
  • Work closely with other creative and technical specialists to ensure evaluation consistency and quality.
  • Provide subject matter expertise that informs future model development and assessment strategies.
Required Qualifications
  • 7-10 years of professional experience in the entertainment, film, animation, visual effects, or related creative industries.
  • Demonstrated contributions to at least two professionally released films, animation productions, or equivalent projects.
  • Expertise in one or more of the following disciplines:
    • Character Animation (human or character performance-focused)
    • Character Technical Design
    • Acting Coach or Acting Instructor (film, television, or theater)
    • Director of Photography (DP)
    • Performance Capture or Character Performance Development
  • Exceptional ability to recognize and evaluate:
    • Micro-expressions
    • Emotional nuance
    • Physical acting choices
    • Timing and performance rhythm
    • Authenticity of human movement and behavior
  • Strong familiarity with AI tools and workflows, including the ability to generate and evaluate visual examples.
  • Excellent written communication skills and the ability to translate complex performance observations into structured evaluation criteria and documentation.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience working with performance capture, facial animation, or digital character pipelines.
  • Familiarity with visual AI technologies, generative media tools, or machine learning-driven creative workflows.
  • Experience developing review standards, quality frameworks, or artistic evaluation methodologies.
  • Access to a professional-grade display environment, including a 4K-resolution monitor, for detailed visual review.
Location & Collaboration Requirements
  • Ability to attend in-person working sessions in:
    • Playa Vista (Los Angeles), California, or
    • New York City, New York
  • Availability for on-site collaboration approximately once or twice per month.
Why Join
  • Help define how future AI systems understand and preserve human performance.
  • Influence evaluation standards used by cutting-edge generative AI models.
  • Collaborate with leading researchers, engineers, filmmakers, animators, and creative professionals.
  • Contribute to groundbreaking advancements at the intersection of storytelling, performance, and artificial intelligence.
Equal Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to legally protected characteristics. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request.