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Indie Animation Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

INVIZ

Community Manager

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$70K - $80K/yr

You've worked at an indie game studio, animation collective, or startup where creators, fans, and channels were part of a single living ecosystem. You're comfortable being a visible voice for the ...

INVIZ

Community Manager

Santa Monica, CA

$70K - $80K/yr

You've worked at an indie game studio, animation collective, or startup where creators, fans, and channels were part of a single living ecosystem. You're comfortable being a visible voice for the ...

Tolan

Principal Gameplay Engineer - Unity

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$200K - $300K/yr

... animations, secondary motion, haptics, camera shake, VFX, anticipation/overshoot, responsive UI ... Indie feel. You've shipped experiences where the magic comes from timing, simplicity, and cohesion.

Absurd Ventures

Lead Game UX/UI Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$150K - $190K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Experience with motion graphics and animation for UI elements. * Knowledge of front-end development languages (HTML, CSS, JavaScript). * Previous work on AAA titles or high-profile indie games.

Absurd Ventures

Lead Game UX/UI Designer

Santa Monica, CA

$150K - $190K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Experience with motion graphics and animation for UI elements. * Knowledge of front-end development languages (HTML, CSS, JavaScript). * Previous work on AAA titles or high-profile indie games.

Adobe

Staff AI VFX Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

Itshipsa coordinated stack of image, video, animation, and 3D generation models that need to work ... Credits on major feature films or high-profile episodic VFX (think tentpole-scale, not just indie ...

Benefit Cosmetics

Boutique Proprietor

San Francisco, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As part of the LVMH Group, we pair prestige power with our indie spirit, and we're just getting ... Proactively drive in-store events and animations to generate business, improve client loyalty, and ...

Adobe

Staff AI VFX Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

Itshipsa coordinated stack of image, video, animation, and 3D generation models that need to work ... Credits on major feature films or high-profile episodic VFX (think tentpole-scale, not just indie ...

Adobe

Staff AI VFX Engineer

San Francisco, CA

Itshipsa coordinated stack of image, video, animation, and 3D generation models that need to work ... Credits on major feature films or high-profile episodic VFX (think tentpole-scale, not just indie ...

Benefit Cosmetics

Brow & Beauty Expert

Hayward, CA · On-site

$19 - $25.38/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As part of the LVMH Group, we pair prestige power with our indie spirit, and we're just getting ... Proactively drive events and animations to generate business and improve client loyalty. * Ensure ...

Adobe, Inc.

Staff AI VFX Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

It ships a coordinated stack of image, video, animation, and 3D generation models that need to work ... Credits on major feature films or high-profile episodic VFX (think tentpole-scale, not just indie ...

Benefit Cosmetics

Brow & Beauty Expert

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$19 - $25.38/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As part of the LVMH Group, we pair prestige power with our indie spirit, and we're just getting ... Proactively drive events and animations to generate business and improve client loyalty. * Ensure ...

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Indie Animation information

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$10

$38

$69

How much do indie animation jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for indie animation in California is $38.89, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.59 and $63.12 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the main challenges faced by professionals working in indie animation?

Professionals in Indie Animation often manage a variety of tasks, from concept development to final rendering, which means balancing creative work with technical execution and production deadlines. Since indie projects typically involve smaller teams and limited budgets, animators must be adaptable, resourceful, and ready to wear multiple hats such as storyboarding, editing, or even sound design. Collaboration is essential, as you may work closely with writers, voice actors, and composers, often in a remote or decentralized environment. Overcoming these challenges offers valuable experience, fosters creative independence, and can open pathways to both freelance opportunities and larger studio roles.

What is an indie animation?

An Indie Animation job involves creating animated projects outside of major studios, often with smaller teams and independent funding. These roles can range from animators and storyboard artists to writers and producers, requiring a mix of artistic, technical, and entrepreneurial skills. Indie animators often have more creative control but must handle budgeting, marketing, and distribution. Many projects are self-funded, crowdfunded, or supported through grants and partnerships.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in indie animation?

To succeed in Indie Animation, you need strong artistic and storytelling abilities, animation software proficiency, and a deep understanding of design principles, often supported by a degree or coursework in animation, illustration, or related fields. Familiarity with tools like Adobe After Effects, Toon Boom, Blender, or similar animation platforms is critical, and a strong portfolio showcasing previous work is usually expected. Excellent time management, creative problem-solving, and communication skills set candidates apart, especially when collaborating with small teams or handling multiple responsibilities. These skills are vital to deliver high-quality, original content under tight deadlines while maintaining creative vision and team synergy.

What are the most commonly searched types of Indie Animation jobs in California? The most popular types of Indie Animation jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Indie Animation jobs in California? For Indie Animation jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Indie Animation jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Indie Animation jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Indie Animation jobs? Cities in California with the most Indie Animation job openings:
Indie Animation jobs near you
Infographic showing various Indie Animation job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, and 20% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $80,900 per year, or $38.9 per hour.

Community Manager

INVIZ

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$70K - $80K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 29 days ago

Job description

Invisible Narratives, the first-of-its-kind tra-digital studio, is looking for a Community Manager to help scale a fast-growing slate of creator-led IP. This is a hands-on, front-facing role embedded in the heart of fandoms, creator networks, and YouTube ecosystems - with an equal focus on engagement, creator support, and operational oversight.
Who We're Looking For
You're part community lead, part YouTube strategist, part brand steward. You've worked at an indie game studio, animation collective, or startup where creators, fans, and channels were part of a single living ecosystem. You're comfortable being a visible voice for the brand - hosting AMAs, answering lore questions, and managing creator relationships - but you also know how to use the backend: CMS, metadata, analytics, and compliance workflows.
You'll work across fan communities, creator networks, and YouTube channels - helping grow engagement, enforce best practices, and translate insights into action. This isn't a community job in name only - you'll be at the center of how our IP lives, evolves, and scales.
What You'll Do
  • Actively engage across Discord, YouTube, X, Reddit, and other community platforms
  • Be a visible, trusted voice in the community - leading AMAs, town halls, and fan-facing updates
  • Manage relationships with our alliance network of creators - from indie animators to UGC developers
  • Collaborate with the marketing and content teams on YouTube rollouts and go-to-market strategies
  • Manage YouTube CMS tasks, including metadata updates, channel structure, playlisting, and end-screen/post optimization
  • Monitor compliance and brand alignment across partner channels - ensuring creators follow usage guidelines, brand safety requirements, and content obligations
  • Track and report analytics from both fan communities and YouTube channels, surfacing trends, feedback, and red flags
  • Coordinate with external agencies and internal teams to align messaging and strategy
  • Contribute to content planning, surprise community drops, and fan-facing events

What You Need
  • 2-4 years experience in community management, YouTube operations, or digital marketing
  • Strong working knowledge of YouTube CMS, channel structure, metadata optimization, and platform policies
  • Experience working with creator networks or digital IP (animation, gaming, or UGC platforms preferred)
  • Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to manage both fan expectations and creator relationships
  • Familiarity with Discord, Reddit, and social ecosystems where fan and creator communities thrive
  • Excellent written communication and real-time engagement instincts
  • Proficiency in basic analytics/reporting tools (YouTube Studio, Discord admin, or social dashboards)
  • Bonus: light design or motion skills for community content or channel assets

You'll be the connective tissue between the studio, creators, and fans - helping us build something bigger than just a show or a game. If you've lived in the trenches of internet fandoms and creator platforms, we want you in ours.
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About INVIZ

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Santa Monica, CA, US

Year founded

2018

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