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Highest Animation Jobs in West Springfield, MA (NOW HIRING)

ESPN

Senior Concept Artist

Hartford, CT · On-site +1

$112K - $154K/yr

... highest level. This person should be comfortable moving between concept development, art direction, motion design, animation, live-action production, and emerging technologies, while helping build ...

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Highest Animation information

See West Springfield, MA salary details

$10

$39

$69

How much do highest animation jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average hourly pay for highest animation in West Springfield, MA is $39.27, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.78 and $63.70 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are highest animation jobs?

Highest Animation jobs typically refer to the top-paying or most prestigious roles within the animation industry. These positions can include lead animators, animation directors, visual effects supervisors, and senior technical artists. Professionals in these roles are responsible for overseeing animation teams, developing high-quality visuals, and ensuring the creative vision of a project is achieved. These jobs often require extensive experience, a strong portfolio, and advanced technical skills. They are most commonly found in major animation studios, film production companies, and large gaming firms.

What are some common challenges faced by animators working on high-profile animation projects, and how can they overcome them?

Animators working on high-profile animation projects often encounter challenges such as tight deadlines, high client expectations, and the need for seamless collaboration with large, multidisciplinary teams. Maintaining creativity while adhering to strict brand guidelines and technical specifications can also be demanding. To overcome these challenges, it's important to develop strong communication skills, stay organized, and be proactive in seeking feedback and clarifications. Leveraging collaborative tools and staying updated on the latest animation software can help animators deliver high-quality work efficiently.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an animation director, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Animation Director, you need expertise in animation principles, storytelling, and visual design, often supported by a degree in animation or a related field and significant industry experience. Mastery of tools such as Autodesk Maya, Adobe Creative Suite, and storyboarding software, along with knowledge of production pipelines, is essential. Strong leadership, creative vision, and effective communication are vital soft skills for guiding teams and collaborating with stakeholders. These abilities ensure cohesive project direction, high-quality animation output, and the successful realization of creative concepts.

What is the difference between Highest Animation vs 3D Animator?

AspectHighest Animation3D Animator
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in Animation, Art, or related field; often advanced certificationsBachelor's degree in Animation, Computer Graphics, or related field
Work EnvironmentAnimation studios, film and TV production, gaming companiesAnimation studios, gaming companies, advertising agencies
Industry UsageUsed for high-level animation roles, directing projects, and overseeing teamsPrimarily focused on creating 3D character and scene animations
Common Search & ComparisonPeople compare Highest Animation with 3D Animator to understand roles and qualifications

Highest Animation typically refers to advanced roles in animation production, often involving leadership or specialized skills, whereas 3D Animator focuses on creating three-dimensional animations. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and work environments, but Highest Animation often involves overseeing projects or teams, making it a more senior or specialized position within the animation industry.

What is the highest paying job in animation?

The highest paying jobs in animation are typically 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 Houdini.

What job categories do people searching Highest Animation jobs in West Springfield, MA look for?

The top searched job categories for Highest Animation jobs in West Springfield, MA are:

Highest Animation jobs near you

Senior Concept Artist

ESPN

Hartford, CT • On-site, Remote

$112K - $154K/yr

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago

ESPN rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 29 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

17th of 78 rated media

Job description

ESPN is seeking a highly imaginative and versatile Senior Concept Artist to help shape the future of sports storytelling across broadcast, digital, social, experiential, and emerging platforms. This role is ideal for a strategic visual thinker who can take big ideas from early exploration through polished creative execution, translating abstract concepts into compelling visual systems, storyboards, proof-of-concept frames, motion studies, and final design solutions.

The ideal candidate is both an exceptional maker and a confident creative leader; someone who can generate industry-leading work, guide multi-disciplinary teams, and partner across ESPN, Disney, and external stakeholder groups to deliver innovative creative at the highest level. This person should be comfortable moving between concept development, art direction, motion design, animation, live-action production, and emerging technologies, while helping build creative systems designed for long-term success. 

Responsibilities:

  • Create industry-leading concept work that brings ambitious ideas to life, from early storyboards and visual exploration to proof-of-concept frames and refined final creative. 
  • Develop and oversee multi-disciplinary creative across platforms and products, including broadcast graphics, video editing, motion design, animation, live action, digital, social, and experiential work. 
  • Lead, guide, and collaborate with large, multi-layered creative teams with confidence, fairness, transparency, and a strong sense of creative purpose. 
  • Direct strategic creative systems, visual toolkits, and design frameworks engineered for consistency, scalability, and long-term success. 
  • Lead advanced motion design and animation builds while staying current with evolving industry tools, technology, and production workflows. 
  • Concept, direct, and support live-action shoots, including creative development, production planning, and post-production execution. 
  • Prepare and present creative briefs, concepts, and strategic recommendations to internal teams, senior leadership, external partners, and stakeholders. 
  • Push creative excellence and innovation in AR, VR, XR, real-time graphics, and emerging storytelling spaces. 
  • Partner with stakeholder groups across ESPN and Disney to ensure alignment, collaboration, and successful creative outcomes. 
  • Mentor, coach, and elevate emerging designers, animators, and artists across the team. 
  • Stay curious and knowledgeable about design trends, emerging technologies, sports media, visual storytelling, and industry best practices to help maintain ESPN’s position as a leader in sports design. 

Required Qualifications:

  • Strong portfolio demonstrating high-level concept development, art direction, visual storytelling, and polished design execution. 
  • Proven ability to translate strategic goals, brand systems, and creative briefs into compelling visual concepts. 
  • Experience developing creative from early exploration through final execution, including storyboards, mood boards, proof-of-concept frames, style frames, and design systems. 
  • Strong understanding of composition, typography, color, layout, motion principles, and visual hierarchy. 
  • Experience working across multiple creative disciplines, including design, animation, motion graphics, video, or 3D concept development. 
  • Ability to collaborate effectively with creative directors, designers, animators, editors, producers, stakeholders, and external partners. 
  • Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly explain creative ideas and respond thoughtfully to feedback. 
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-visibility creative environment. 
  • Curiosity about emerging creative tools, technologies, design trends, and evolving production workflows. 

Preferred Qualifications 

  • Experience creating high-end 3D concepts, style frames, visual systems, or proof-of-concept work for broadcast, sports, entertainment, or live-event storytelling. 
  • Experience contributing to large-scale tentpole events, premium broadcast packages, or high-profile brand initiatives. 
  • Advanced knowledge of tools such as Cinema 4D, Houdini, Unreal Engine, Redshift, After Effects, Premiere, Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma, or related creative platforms. 
  • Strong motion design, animation, editing, or live-action production experience. 
  • Experience building creative systems, toolkits, or scalable design frameworks across platforms. 
  • Experience mentoring, coaching, or providing creative direction to designers, animators, or multidisciplinary creative teams. 
  • Passion for sports, culture, technology, innovation, and the future of visual storytelling. 

Required Education:

  • High School Diploma

Preferred Education:

  • College degree in related fields

#ESPNMedia


The hiring range for this remote position is $112,700 to $154,800 per year, which factors in various geographic regions. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

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