Contract Animator
Rockville, MD · On-site
Key Responsibilities * Create 2D and/or 3D animations for marketing, product, and brand storytelling * Develop motion graphics for videos, product demos, social media, web, and presentations
Quick apply
Rockville, MD · On-site
Key Responsibilities * Create 2D and/or 3D animations for marketing, product, and brand storytelling * Develop motion graphics for videos, product demos, social media, web, and presentations
Quick apply
Rockville, MD · On-site
Key Responsibilities * Create 2D and/or 3D animations for marketing, product, and brand storytelling * Develop motion graphics for videos, product demos, social media, web, and presentations
Reno, NV · On-site +1
$105K - $120K/yr
Key Responsibilities: * Create and lead the development of complex animations and dynamic visual effects for EGM (Electronic Gaming Machine) development, including both real-time and pre-rendered ...
Reno, NV · On-site +1
$105K - $120K/yr
Key Responsibilities: * Create and lead the development of complex animations and dynamic visual effects for EGM (Electronic Gaming Machine) development, including both real-time and pre-rendered ...
Reno, NV · On-site +1
$105K - $120K/yr
Key Responsibilities: * Create and lead the development of complex animations and dynamic visual effects for EGM (Electronic Gaming Machine) development, including both real-time and pre-rendered ...
Reno, NV · On-site +1
$105K - $120K/yr
Key Responsibilities: * Create and lead the development of complex animations and dynamic visual effects for EGM (Electronic Gaming Machine) development, including both real-time and pre-rendered ...
Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1
Key Responsibilities: * Show exceptional understanding of facial animation, acting, appeal, entertainment, weight, locomotion, anatomy, and dialogue. * Create high-quality, keyframe Character ...
Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1
Key Responsibilities: * Show exceptional understanding of facial animation, acting, appeal, entertainment, weight, locomotion, anatomy, and dialogue. * Create high-quality, keyframe Character ...
Key Responsibilities: * Show exceptional understanding of facial animation, acting, appeal, entertainment, weight, locomotion, anatomy, and dialogue. * Create high-quality, keyframe Character ...
Key Responsibilities: * Show exceptional understanding of facial animation, acting, appeal, entertainment, weight, locomotion, anatomy, and dialogue. * Create high-quality, keyframe Character ...
Las Vegas, NV · On-site +1
$101K - $115K/yr
Key Responsibilities * Build, rig, and maintain high-quality Spine animation files for production. * Create animator-ready files with clean skeletons, skins, constraints, and reusable setups.
Quick apply
Las Vegas, NV · On-site +1
$101K - $115K/yr
Key Responsibilities * Build, rig, and maintain high-quality Spine animation files for production. * Create animator-ready files with clean skeletons, skins, constraints, and reusable setups.
$124K - $142K/yr
Experience with hand key facial animation and tools such as Jali. * A love for research, reference, and documenting your findings to share with the team. Who You Are: * A reliable, positive force ...
$124K - $142K/yr
Experience with hand key facial animation and tools such as Jali. * A love for research, reference, and documenting your findings to share with the team. Who You Are: * A reliable, positive force ...
Novato, CA · On-site
$124K - $142K/yr
Experience with hand key facial animation and tools such as Jali. * A love for research, reference, and documenting your findings to share with the team. Who You Are: * A reliable, positive force ...
Novato, CA · On-site
$124K - $142K/yr
Experience with hand key facial animation and tools such as Jali. * A love for research, reference, and documenting your findings to share with the team. Who You Are: * A reliable, positive force ...
$124K - $142K/yr
Experience with hand key facial animation and tools such as Jali. * A love for research, reference, and documenting your findings to share with the team. Who You Are: * A reliable, positive force ...
$124K - $142K/yr
Experience with hand key facial animation and tools such as Jali. * A love for research, reference, and documenting your findings to share with the team. Who You Are: * A reliable, positive force ...
Expert knowledge in key frame creature & character animation of Max/Maya using FK and IK in a variety of styles * Expertise in knowledge of creature anatomy, motion, weight, acting and timing applied ...
Expert knowledge in key frame creature & character animation of Max/Maya using FK and IK in a variety of styles * Expertise in knowledge of creature anatomy, motion, weight, acting and timing applied ...
Brooklyn, NY · On-site +1
$80K - $100K/yr
Take animations from design spec through key pose to finished animation, creating responsive but authentic motion * Collaborate with other departments to implement animations in engine Skills ...
Brooklyn, NY · On-site +1
$80K - $100K/yr
Take animations from design spec through key pose to finished animation, creating responsive but authentic motion * Collaborate with other departments to implement animations in engine Skills ...
Novato, CA · On-site
$124K - $142K/yr
Experience with hand key facial animation and tools such as Jali. * A love for research, reference, and documenting your findings to share with the team. Who You Are: * A reliable, positive force ...
Novato, CA · On-site
$124K - $142K/yr
Experience with hand key facial animation and tools such as Jali. * A love for research, reference, and documenting your findings to share with the team. Who You Are: * A reliable, positive force ...
Irvine, CA · On-site +1
Expert knowledge in key frame creature & character animation of Max/Maya using FK and IK in a variety of styles * Expertise in knowledge of creature anatomy, motion, weight, acting and timing applied ...
Irvine, CA · On-site +1
Expert knowledge in key frame creature & character animation of Max/Maya using FK and IK in a variety of styles * Expertise in knowledge of creature anatomy, motion, weight, acting and timing applied ...
Key Requirements: * Model: Fully modeled, animation-ready topology (wings, body, head, tail, feet, talons, eyes, beak) with clean UVs/silhouette, matching the existing owl's design exactly. * Rig:
Key Requirements: * Model: Fully modeled, animation-ready topology (wings, body, head, tail, feet, talons, eyes, beak) with clean UVs/silhouette, matching the existing owl's design exactly. * Rig:
Los Angeles, CA · On-site
$114K - $130K/yr
As a key bridge between creative intent and technical execution, you'll drive the evolution of our animation framework and ensure seamless, high-quality integration across the game. Responsibilities:
Los Angeles, CA · On-site
$114K - $130K/yr
As a key bridge between creative intent and technical execution, you'll drive the evolution of our animation framework and ensure seamless, high-quality integration across the game. Responsibilities:
Los Angeles, CA · On-site
$114K - $130K/yr
As a key bridge between creative intent and technical execution, you'll drive the evolution of our animation framework and ensure seamless, high-quality integration across the game. Responsibilities:
Los Angeles, CA · On-site
$114K - $130K/yr
As a key bridge between creative intent and technical execution, you'll drive the evolution of our animation framework and ensure seamless, high-quality integration across the game. Responsibilities:
As a key bridge between creative intent and technical execution, you'll drive the evolution of our animation framework and ensure seamless, high-quality integration across the game. Responsibilities:
As a key bridge between creative intent and technical execution, you'll drive the evolution of our animation framework and ensure seamless, high-quality integration across the game. Responsibilities:
Denver, NC · On-site +1
Lead a team of animators on a show ... Be the key contact for production and supervisor/s. Maintain clear communication, deal with ...
Denver, NC · On-site +1
Lead a team of animators on a show ... Be the key contact for production and supervisor/s. Maintain clear communication, deal with ...
New York, NY · On-site
$60 - $100/hr
You'll design UI animations, build out our character universe, and bring it all to life with bold ... and other key brand moments. This role is perfect for someone obsessed with game mechanics ...
New York, NY · On-site
$60 - $100/hr
You'll design UI animations, build out our character universe, and bring it all to life with bold ... and other key brand moments. This role is perfect for someone obsessed with game mechanics ...
$112K - $128K/yr
This role serves as a key creative lead across assigned projects, partnering closely with internal ... Reporting to the Sr. Director, Mattel Studios Animation Creative (Adult & Four-Quad), this position ...
$112K - $128K/yr
This role serves as a key creative lead across assigned projects, partnering closely with internal ... Reporting to the Sr. Director, Mattel Studios Animation Creative (Adult & Four-Quad), this position ...
$15.67 is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
$10.58 - $16
27% of jobs
$16 - $21.42
0% of jobs
$21.42 - $26.84
19% of jobs
The median wage is $28.50 / hr.
$26.84 - $32.26
14% of jobs
$32.26 - $37.67
4% of jobs
$37.67 - $43.09
0% of jobs
$43.09 - $48.51
0% of jobs
$48.51 - $53.93
0% of jobs
$59.11 is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.
$53.93 - $59.35
12% of jobs
$59.35 - $64.77
6% of jobs
$64.77 - $70.19
18% of jobs
$10
$39
$70
As a Key Animator, your typical workflow involves receiving storyboards or layouts, creating key frames that define critical poses or movements, and collaborating closely with directors and other animators to maintain the animation’s style and timing. You’ll often review and adjust your work based on feedback, ensuring consistency and fluidity before handing off sequences to in-between animators. Communication and regular check-ins with other departments, such as layout and clean-up, are common to align on visual direction. This process requires both creative input and technical accuracy to bring animated sequences to life as envisioned.
A Key Animator is responsible for creating the primary frames of an animation, known as keyframes, which define the movement and actions of characters or objects. They establish the foundation for the animation by setting poses and timing, ensuring smooth transitions between frames. Key Animators work closely with directors and animation teams to maintain consistency and quality. Their work is crucial in bringing scenes to life by emphasizing motion, emotion, and storytelling within an animation project.
To thrive as a Key Animator, you need advanced drawing skills, a strong understanding of animation principles, and relevant experience or a degree in animation or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard software such as Adobe Animate, Toon Boom Harmony, or TVPaint is typically required. Attention to detail, creative problem solving, and the ability to collaborate and communicate effectively are important soft skills. These capabilities ensure high-quality animation sequences and efficient teamwork within fast-paced production schedules.
The top searched job categories for Key Animator jobs are:

Full-time
Re-posted 28 days ago