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Freelance Animation Character Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Scattermesh

3D Character Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$124K - $130K/yr

... design. The ideal candidate will have experience creating photorealistic human characters of ... Understanding of FACS, facial blendshapes, facial performance animation, and wrinkle-map systems is ...

Epic Games

Character Animation Lead

Cary, NC · On-site

Collaborate closely with engineers and technical designers to design scalable, flexible animation ... Expert-level understanding of character animation principles, with the ability to deliver both ...

MOD Worldwide, LLC

Motion Designer

Philadelphia, PA · On-site

FREELANCE : We are seeking a part-time freelance #animator , specializing in 2D and 3D animation ... Preferred working knowledge of 3D motion design workflow, character animation workflow, and visual ...

Scattermesh

Senior 3D Character Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$124K - $130K/yr

... design. The ideal candidate will have experience creating photorealistic human characters of ... Deep understanding of FACS, facial blendshapes, facial performance animation, and wrinkle-map ...

Sony Pictures Animation

Character Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$59.16 - $70/hr

Sony Pictures Animation is an animation studio based in Los Angeles, California, creating both ... Propose design approaches that consider downstream departments (modeling and texturing) * Ensure ...

Sony Pictures Animation

Character Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$59.16 - $70/hr

Sony Pictures Animation is an animation studio based in Los Angeles, California, creating both ... Propose design approaches that consider downstream departments (modeling and texturing) * Ensure ...

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Freelance Animation Character Design information

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$14

$47

$132

How much do freelance animation character design jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for freelance animation character design in the United States is $47.71, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.28 and $61.78 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Freelance Animation Character Design vs Freelance 3D Modeler?

AspectFreelance Animation Character DesignFreelance 3D Modeler
Skills & CredentialsDrawing, illustration, character concept skills, portfolio3D modeling, software proficiency (e.g., Blender, Maya), portfolio
Work EnvironmentCreative studios, remote, client meetingsRemote, studio, or on-site, client collaboration
Industry UsageAnimation, gaming, advertisingGaming, film, product visualization
Search & Comparison IntentClients seeking character design for animation projectsClients needing 3D models for various media

While both roles involve digital artistry, Freelance Animation Character Designers focus on creating 2D character concepts and illustrations for animation and media, whereas Freelance 3D Modelers specialize in building three-dimensional models for various applications. Understanding these differences helps clients find the right freelancer for their project needs.

More about Freelance Animation Character Design jobs
What cities are hiring for Freelance Animation Character Design jobs? Cities with the most Freelance Animation Character Design job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Animation Character Design jobs? The most popular types of Animation Character Design jobs are:
What states have the most Freelance Animation Character Design jobs? States with the most job openings for Freelance Animation Character Design jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Freelance Animation Character Design jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Freelance Animation Character Design jobs are:
Freelance Animation Character Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Freelance Animation Character Design job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 33% Internship, and 67% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $99,230 per year, or $47.7 per hour.
3D Character Artist - Talent Pool (N Americas)

3D Character Artist - Talent Pool (N Americas)

Side

Fort Lauderdale, FL

$115K - $121K/yr

Contractor

Posted 4 days ago

Job description

About Side

Side is a global video game development and services provider, offering technical and creative solutions to many of the largest developers and studios around the world. Founded in 2009 and drawing on 30+ years' experience from our parent company in Japan, Side has since grown to become a global force with 15+ studios in over a dozen countries across North America, Europe, South America, and Asia.

Our industry-leading services include game development, art production, audio production, quality assurance, localization, localization QA, player support, community management, and datasets.

About This Opportunity

Please note, this listing is not for an immediate open position but for our Talent Pool for Co-Development Roles. By applying, you express interest in being considered for future project-based opportunities that align with your skills and experience.

These opportunities are contingent on client needs and project availability. As projects are initiated or client proposals are developed, we will review candidates from this pool and contact those who most closely align with the specific requirements of the co-development opportunity.

As a 3D Character Artist, you will play a key role in crafting high-quality characters that bring life and personality to our projects. This mid-level generalist role focuses on modeling, texturing, and optimizing character assets across a variety of styles for AAA-quality games on PC, console, mobile, and VR/AR platforms.

How We Keep You Engaged

We maintain strong relationships with our talent pool by providing regular updates, industry insights, and information on upcoming opportunities. We will check in to confirm your availability and interest.

Our hiring teams carefully vet and select top candidates who best meet project needs, ensuring that you are matched with the right opportunity when it becomes available.

Next Steps

If you are passionate about contributing to cutting-edge projects and want to be considered for future co-development opportunities, we encourage you to apply to this listing. While there may not be an immediate opening, your application ensures that you will be part of our ongoing talent review for upcoming roles.

Key Responsibilities

  • Create high-quality 3D character assets, including organic and hard surface elements, from concept to final game-ready models.
  • Collaborate with art leads, designers, and animators to ensure characters align with the project's artistic vision and technical requirements.
  • Develop textures and materials using industry-standard tools, ensuring assets are optimized for performance across platforms.
  • Work within established pipelines and workflows to maintain consistency and efficiency in asset creation.
  • Ensure proper topology, rigging, and skinning for characters to meet animation and gameplay requirements.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve technical challenges related to character development.
  • Actively participate in team critiques, offering and receiving feedback to refine assets.

Requirements

Experience:

    • 3+ years of experience as a Character Artist in the video game industry.
    • Demonstrated contribution to at least one shipped title on PC, console, mobile, or VR/AR.

Technical Skills:

    • Proficiency with ZBrush, Maya, 3ds Max, Substance Painter, Photoshop, and other industry-standard tools.
    • Strong understanding of anatomy, proportion, weight, and volume as they relate to character design and animation.
    • Experience with high- and low-poly modeling, texturing, and shading techniques.
    • Knowledge of proper topology, rigging, and skinning practices.

Artistic Skills:

    • Strong eye for detail, form, and style consistency.
    • Ability to adapt to and create a range of visual styles, from realistic to stylized.

Collaboration Skills:

    • Effective communication and teamwork abilities.
    • Ability to incorporate feedback and iterate effectively.

Passion for Gaming: Genuine enthusiasm for creating compelling characters and contributing to immersive game worlds.

Preferred Skills

  • Familiarity with Marvelous Designer for clothing design and simulation.
  • Experience with photogrammetry and procedural workflows.
  • Knowledge of Unreal Engine or Unity for integrating character assets into the game.

Note: Specific requirements may vary depending on project needs.

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