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Full Time Animation Background Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

AGBO Films LLC

Technical Artist, Character

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$123K - $147K/yr

You will partner closely with Character Artists, Animators, Riggers and Engineers to ensure our ... Review and optimize skin weights, joint counts, and influence limits across hero and background ...

2K

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Escalate issues to the Animation Director when artistic decisions or direction are needed. What ... Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including ...

CoCreativ

AI Artist (freelance to hire)

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$500 - $800/day

The ideal candidate has a background in commercial production, filmmaking, VFX, animation, motion ... Exceptional freelancers may be considered for full-time opportunities as our AI team continues to ...

31st Union

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Escalate issues to the Animation Director when artistic decisions or direction are needed. What ... Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including ...

CoCreativ

AI Artist (freelance to hire)

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$500 - $800/day

The ideal candidate has a background in commercial production, filmmaking, VFX, animation, motion ... Exceptional freelancers may be considered for full-time opportunities as our AI team continues to ...

CoCreativ

AI Artist (freelance to hire)

New York, NY

$500 - $800/day

The ideal candidate has a background in commercial production, filmmaking, VFX, animation, motion ... Exceptional freelancers may be considered for full-time opportunities as our AI team continues to ...

Insomniac Games

Senior Cinematic Animator

$76.92 - $86.06/hr

Develop high-quality cinematic animation content using both motion capture and hand-key techniques ... This job has no supervisory responsibilities, however this role mentors more junior artists.

Hp

Senior CG Artist - Product Visualization

Spring, TX

$130K - $205K/yr

Animate products and cameras to create dynamic product animations and highlight key features ... Job - Marketing Schedule - Full time Shift - No shift premium (United States of America) Travel ...

Swaybox Studios

Senior CG Lighting Artist

New Orleans, LA · On-site

$122K - $146K/yr

As we collaborate with DC Studios/Warner Bros Pictures Animation and Matt Reeves' 6th and Idaho on ... Background in traditional art. * Prior experience in both stylized and realistic texture and ...

Hamline

Visiting Artist - Emerging Technologies

Paul, ID · On-site

$56K - $58K/yr

... animation, immersive media (augmented reality, virtual reality, audio-visual installation ... This is a full time, 1.0 FTE, exempt non-tenured faculty position, 12 months a year. Compensation ...

31st Union

Expert Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

In this role, you'll partner closely with animation, design, and engineering teams to create and ... Work together with character artists and riggers to establish both core and secondary functionality ...

2K

Expert Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

In this role, you'll partner closely with animation, design, and engineering teams to create and ... Work together with character artists and riggers to establish both core and secondary functionality ...

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All JobsFull Time Animation Background Artist Jobs

Full Time Animation Background Artist information

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$5

$29

$37

How much do full time animation background artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 3, 2026, the average hourly pay for full time animation background artist in the United States is $29.11, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.76 and $32.93 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Does Disney still hire 2D animators?

Disney continues to hire 2D animators for certain projects, especially in legacy animation and specialized roles, though the company primarily focuses on 3D animation for most productions. Skilled 2D artists with proficiency in traditional techniques and digital tools like Toon Boom or Adobe Animate remain valuable for specific tasks and legacy work.

What is the highest paid animation job?

The highest paid animation jobs typically include lead or senior roles such as Animation Director, VFX Supervisor, or Creative Director, often earning six-figure salaries. These positions require extensive experience, strong leadership skills, and proficiency with industry-standard tools like Maya or Adobe After Effects.

Is there a high demand for animators?

Full Time Animation Background Artists are in steady demand as animation continues to grow across film, television, and gaming industries. Skills in digital tools like Adobe Photoshop and After Effects, along with a strong portfolio, can improve job prospects, especially in studios and freelance work.

How much do animation background artists make?

Animation background artists typically earn between $40,000 and $80,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of projects. Entry-level artists may start lower, while experienced professionals working on major productions can earn higher salaries. Skills in digital painting, knowledge of animation software, and a strong portfolio can influence earning potential.

What is the difference between Full Time Animation Background Artist vs Full Time Character Designer?

AspectFull Time Animation Background ArtistFull Time Character Designer
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in fine arts, illustration, or animationRequires a degree in character design, illustration, or animation
Work EnvironmentWorks mainly in studios creating backgrounds for animated scenesDesigns characters for animation, often collaborating with storyboards and animators
Industry UsageUsed in TV, film, and game animation to create environment visualsUsed in animation, gaming, and entertainment to develop character concepts
Common Search/ComparisonOften compared for roles in animation production

The main difference is that a Full Time Animation Background Artist focuses on creating the environments and backgrounds for animated scenes, while a Full Time Character Designer specializes in designing the characters that appear in those scenes. Both roles require artistic skills and animation knowledge but serve different functions within the animation production process.

More about Full Time Animation Background Artist jobs
What cities are hiring for Full Time Animation Background Artist jobs? Cities with the most Full Time Animation Background Artist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Animation Background Artist jobs? The most popular types of Animation Background Artist jobs are:
What states have the most Full Time Animation Background Artist jobs? States with the most job openings for Full Time Animation Background Artist jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Full Time Animation Background Artist jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Full Time Animation Background Artist jobs are:
Full Time Animation Background Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Full Time Animation Background Artist job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 92% In-person, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $60,546 per year, or $29.1 per hour.

Technical Artist, Character

AGBO Films LLC

Raleigh, NC • On-site

$123K - $147K/yr

Full-time

Posted 22 days ago

Job description

About the Company:
Founded in 2017 by Anthony and Joe Russo, AGBO is an artist-led independent studio shaping the future of film and television. The Russo Brothers and AGBO have generated more than $7 billion at the global box office, including Avengers: Endgame. The studio's projects include Academy Award-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once, Netflix hits The Gray Man and Extraction, and Prime Video's visceral thriller The Bluff and the global Citadel franchise. Citadel Season 2 premieres in May 2026.
AGBO is currently in production with Netflix on Tygo and Mercenary, both part of the Extraction universe, as well as with Lionsgate on John Rambo, a prequel to the iconic franchise. The studio is in post-production on The Whisper Man, starring Robert De Niro, and Avengers: Doomsday, which will be released December 18, 2026. AGBO will begin shooting Avengers: Secret Wars later this year. Both upcoming Avengers films are directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and co-produced by AGBO and Marvel Studios.
In 2023, AGBO welcomed Donald Mustard-former Chief Creative Officer at Epic Games and co-creator of Fortnite-as a partner. Mustard brings a bold creative vision to AGBO: to expand what storytelling can be through immersive, interconnected worlds that span across media. We're building the future of storytelling-and we're looking for bold, creative minds to help shape it. If you're ready to help define what comes next, we'd love to meet you.
Position Summary:
AGBO is looking for a Technical Artist, Character to drive the technical quality and pipeline integrity of our characters - from high-resolution sculpts through fully rigged, characters and NPCs. You will partner closely with Character Artists, Animators, Riggers and Engineers to ensure our cast looks and moves exactly as intended.
Key Responsibilities:
  • Define and maintain workflows for mesh import, LOD generation, skinning, morph targets, and engine integration
  • Diagnose and resolve character related technical issues.
  • Author character shaders and skin subsurface scattering, hair and strange rendering, eye shaders, cloth, and layered material blending
  • Develop and maintain scripts and plugins supporting riggers and animators, including corrective shapes, space switching, and deformer optimization
  • Review and optimize skin weights, joint counts, and influence limits across hero and background character tiers
  • Configure skeletal meshes, physics assets, LOD chains, Groom assets, and control rig setups into Unreal Engine
  • Partner with animators on IK rigs, animation Blueprints, cloth and physics simulations
  • Author, maintain and troubleshoot existing character creation workflows and pipeline efficiency to ensure performance and stability
  • Interface with internal artist teams and codevelopers to maintain milestone cadences
  • Perform all other duties as assigned

Qualifications & Skills:
  • 3-5 years of professional experience as a Character TD or Character Technical Artist in games/interactive media. Experience working on and shipping AAA preferred.
  • Deep knowledge and experience working in Unreal Engine 5 - Skeletal Mesh, Control Rig, Groom, Physical Assets
  • Expert-level Maya skills - rigging, skinning, deformers, and Python/MEL scripting
  • HLSL shader authoring experience focused on skin, hair, and other character materials
  • Deep understanding of PBR texturing for character
  • Experience with facial rigging, blend shapes, and FACS-based setups
  • Ability to profile and optimize GPU skinning and character rendering costs

Additional Information:
  • This role is based in Los Angeles, CA or Raleigh, NC and only candidates located in or willing to relocate to the area will be considered.
  • Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.

AGBO Labs LLC is committed to operating fair and unbiased recruitment procedures allowing all applicants an equal opportunity for employment, free from discrimination on the basis of religion, race, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, color, ethnic or national origin or any other classification as may be protected by applicable law. We aim to recruit the right people for the jobs we have to offer, and to assess applications on the basis of relevant skills, education, and experience.
AGBO participates in E-Verify - English | Spanish
The job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent to this position.

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