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Game Animation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Epic Games

Cinematics Animation Director

Cary, NC · On-site

What You'll Do Epic Games is searching for a Cinematic Animation Director to join our cinematic ... team working on projects, including Fortnite and other IP. You'll create original animation with a ...

CD PROJEKT RED

Senior Animation Programmer

Boston, MA · On-site +1

$118.80K - $217.80K/yr

Developing gameplay mechanics related to locomotion and animation. * working daily in close collaboration with a diverse group of colleagues, including other engineers, designers, and animators.

CD PROJEKT RED

Senior Animation Programmer

Boston, MA · On-site +1

Developing gameplay mechanics related to locomotion and animation. * working daily in close collaboration with a diverse group of colleagues, including other engineers, designers, and animators.

CD PROJEKT RED

Senior Animation Programmer

Boston, MA · On-site +1

$118.80K - $217.80K/yr

Developing gameplay mechanics related to locomotion and animation. * working daily in close collaboration with a diverse group of colleagues, including other engineers, designers, and animators.

Ten4

Senior Gaming Animator

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$129.80K - $148.10K/yr

Ten4 works with some of the best ad agencies, start-ups, production studios, and video game shops. * Drive animation performance without pushing out of a believable and realistic style; your hand ...

Velan Studios

Gameplay Animator (Senior+/Lead)

Troy, NY · On-site

$110K - $150K/yr

Help define and drive the game's animation style with expressive, solid body mechanics that makes gameplay feel amazing. * Take ownership of the full gameplay animation process, from rough prototypes ...

Velan Studios

Gameplay Animator (Senior+/Lead)

Troy, NY

$110K - $150K/yr

Help define and drive the game's animation style with expressive, solid body mechanics that makes gameplay feel amazing. * Take ownership of the full gameplay animation process, from rough prototypes ...

Ten4

Senior Gaming Animator

Redwood City, CA

$129.80K - $148.10K/yr

Ten4 works with some of the best ad agencies, start-ups, production studios, and video game shops. * Drive animation performance without pushing out of a believable and realistic style; your hand ...

Velan Studios

Gameplay Animator (Senior+/Lead)

Troy, NY · On-site

$110K - $150K/yr

Help define and drive the game's animation style with expressive, solid body mechanics that makes gameplay feel amazing. * Take ownership of the full gameplay animation process, from rough prototypes ...

Epic Games

Character Animation Lead

Cary, NC · On-site

What You'll Do Epic Games is looking for a Character Animation Director to join our Special Projects team to help drive the vision and execution of character animation across experimental and ...

Epoch Games

3D Game Animator

Winston Salem, NC

Understanding of traditional animation principles that enhance believable movement * Experience with non-gaming Non-linear Animation (NLA) systems and/or has animated for games * Rapid prototyping ...

Ember Lab

Senior Gameplay Animator

Orange, CA

$88K - $120K/yr

... game project and relevant animation systems * Collaborate with the design and engineering teams to ensure animations align with gameplay mechanics and technical constraints. * Iterate and refine ...

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$156K

How much do game animation jobs pay per year?

As of May 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for game animation in the United States is $149,118.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $155,000.00 and $155,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Game Animation job?

A Game Animation job involves creating the movement and behavior of characters, creatures, and objects in video games. Animators use software like Maya, Blender, or Unity to bring life to models through keyframe animation or motion capture techniques. They work closely with designers, artists, and programmers to ensure animations are smooth, realistic, and enhance gameplay. Strong knowledge of timing, weight, and fluid motion is essential for making animations feel natural and immersive.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Game Animation position, and why are they important?

To thrive in Game Animation, you need a strong understanding of animation principles, character rigging, and a solid portfolio demonstrating your artistic and technical abilities. Expertise in industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, Blender, and game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine is typically required. Soft skills like creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication are highly valued for collaborating with designers and developers. These skills are crucial for bringing characters and worlds to life, ensuring animations meet the visual and interactive needs of modern video games.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of someone working in Game Animation?

A typical day for a Game Animator involves creating and refining character and object animations, collaborating with game designers and programmers to ensure animations integrate smoothly into the game engine, and reviewing feedback to make necessary adjustments. Animators often attend team meetings to discuss project goals, sync up with other departments, and troubleshoot animation issues as they arise. Depending on the studio, you may also be involved in motion capture sessions or prototyping new animation systems. This role requires a balance of technical skill and creative input, making teamwork and adaptability especially important in fast-paced development cycles.
More about Game Animation jobs
What cities are hiring for Game Animation jobs? Cities with the most Game Animation job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Game Animation jobs? The most popular types of Game Animation jobs are:
What states have the most Game Animation jobs? States with the most job openings for Game Animation jobs include:
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Game Animation jobs near you
Infographic showing various Game Animation job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, and 17% Part Time. Highlights an 72% Physical, 9% Hybrid, and 19% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,118 per year, or $71.7 per hour.
Senior Technical Gameplay Animator

Senior Technical Gameplay Animator

Naughty Dog

Santa Monica, CA

$119K - $135.80K/yr

Other

Posted 19 days ago

Job description

This is a hybrid / onsite position.  

For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Part I and Part II are now available for the first time on PC. Currently, we're busy at the kennel working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and we'd love to find talented individuals to join us!

Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together.

Please note: This is not a rigging position. We are looking for an animator that is capable of being the bridge between art and technical teams by designing, implementing, and troubleshooting complex runtime animation systems and character behaviors. 

What you will do: 

Facilitate the creation and implementation of tools and techniques that allow the building of complex and high-quality animation systems

Innovate and streamline animation pipeline processes and workflows

Collaborate with the Animation, Design, and Engineering teams to analyze, troubleshoot, and resolve in-game animation implementation issues and animation-related technical challenges

Create high quality animation content supporting the newly developed behaviors and systems and implement it in engine

Work with the animation leadership on defining and maintaining the style and quality bar of the in-game animation

Take ownership of challenging projects and provide innovative solutions, including mentoring team members and creating documentation

Contribute to the strategic development of internal technologies and artistic processes

What skills you will use: 

5+ years of industry experience in technical animation for games

Proficiency in Python, C#, C++ or other programming languages is required

Full understanding of in-game animation tools like state machines, blend trees, IK solvers, etc.

Expertise with mocap and keyframe based digital content creation pipelines built on Maya or Motionbuilder

Proven track record of creating visually stunning animations for diverse game genres

Proactively contributes to the progress of the team and the project

As a part of the Naughty Dog application process, candidates will be expected to provide a portfolio or demo reel of their work and may be asked to complete an animation test. 

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The estimated USA base pay range for this zone (Los Angeles area) is listed below. This role may be eligible for additional compensation packages that includes annual bonus and other incentive plans.

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