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Prop Designer Animation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

TrueShort

Reference Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

Reference Designer About TrueShort TrueShort is one of the fastest-growing streaming apps in the ... Examples of character, prop, or environment design work * Optional: links to any animation, film ...

Michael Kors

Visual Concept Designer

New York, NY

Develop creative concepts for seasonal windows, in-store animations, pop-ups, showrooms, special ... Lead creative development for seasonal showrooms, including moodboards, prop concepts, finishes ...

Michael Kors

Visual Concept Designer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

Develop creative concepts for seasonal windows, in-store animations, pop-ups, showrooms, special ... Lead creative development for seasonal showrooms, including moodboards, prop concepts, finishes ...

Michael Kors

Develop creative concepts for seasonal windows, in-store animations, pop-ups, showrooms, special ... Lead creative development for seasonal showrooms, including moodboards, prop concepts, finishes ...

Anagh Technologies, Inc.

React / React Native

NJ · On-site

... engineers, designers, QA professionals, and managers • Create app and UI components from ... animations to create a fantastic user interface • Use third-party dependencies and APIs • Work ...

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Prop Designer Animation information

See salary details

$35.5K

$83.1K

$110K

How much do prop designer animation jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for prop designer animation in the United States is $83,148.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $58,000.00 and $109,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a prop designer animation?

Prop Designers in animation are artists responsible for creating the visual look of objects that characters interact with or that appear regularly in animated scenes. These can include everyday items like phones, vehicles, or furniture, as well as fantastical or unique objects specific to the story. Prop Designers work closely with directors, art directors, and other design team members to ensure that props match the overall style and tone of the animation. Their detailed drawings and turnarounds help animators understand how props should look from different angles and how they function within the story.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a prop designer animation?

To thrive as a Prop Designer in Animation, you need strong drawing skills, an understanding of design principles, and familiarity with animation production pipelines, typically supported by a degree in illustration, animation, or a related field. Proficiency with digital art tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and sometimes 3D modeling software like Blender or Maya is commonly required. Creativity, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate effectively with directors and other artists are standout soft skills. These abilities ensure props visually support storytelling, maintain stylistic consistency, and meet production deadlines in a collaborative environment.

What are some common challenges faced by prop designers animation studios, and how can they be addressed?

Prop Designers in animation often face the challenge of balancing creative vision with production constraints such as tight deadlines and specific style guidelines. Communicating effectively with directors, art teams, and animators is key to ensuring props fit seamlessly into the story world and support character actions. Staying organized and adaptable helps manage revisions and feedback, while keeping up with industry-standard software and design trends enhances efficiency and innovation. Embracing collaboration and maintaining a clear workflow are essential for overcoming these challenges and producing high-quality work.

What is the difference between Prop Designer Animation vs Prop Fabricator?

AspectProp Designer AnimationProp Fabricator
Primary RoleCreates digital 3D animated props for films, games, and mediaBuilds physical props for production sets or films
Skills & Tools3D modeling, animation software (Maya, Blender)Carpentry, sculpting, fabrication tools
Work EnvironmentDigital studios, post-production facilitiesWorkshop, on-location sets
CredentialsDegree in animation, design, or related fieldExperience in carpentry, sculpture, or prop making

Prop Designer Animation focuses on creating digital animated props using 3D software, ideal for visual effects and virtual production. In contrast, Prop Fabricators physically build props for sets and filming. Both roles require creativity and technical skills but differ in tools, environment, and output. Understanding these differences helps employers and job seekers find the right fit in the entertainment industry.

What are popular job titles related to Prop Designer Animation jobs?

For Prop Designer Animation jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Prop Designer Animation job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 88% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $83,148 per year, or $40 per hour.

Reference Designer

Los Angeles, CA • On-site, Remote

TrueShort
See more jobs at TrueShortexternal

Full-time

Re-posted 28 days ago

Job description

Reference Designer
About TrueShort
TrueShort is one of the fastest-growing streaming apps in the United States. An AI studio and streaming platform where we experiment, develop and release original series and films constantly. No development purgatory.
Built for mobile-first viewing, TrueShort delivers premium, bingeable storytelling across an expanding slate of genres, reimagining how modern audiences discover and experience great stories.
Our team is experimenting at the frontier of AI-powered entertainment production across animation, live action, and emerging storytelling formats.
Backed by Jeffrey Katzenberg (Founder of DreamWorks), Scott Belsky, Ravi Nandan (A24), Khosla Ventures, and others.
Role Overview
We're looking for Reference Designers to help develop the visual foundation of original series and films across a wide range of genres and formats.
Reference Designers are responsible for creating the core visual assets that guide production across each series, including character references, environments, props, color direction, and visual worldbuilding materials. Your work will help establish consistency and creative clarity for AI filmmakers, editors, and showrunners throughout production.
This role sits at the intersection of concept design, visual development, and AI-native production workflows. We're looking for artists with strong visual taste, storytelling instincts, and an understanding of how to design assets that translate effectively into AI generation pipelines.
Responsibilities
  • Design character reference sheets, props, environments, and worldbuilding assets
  • Develop cohesive visual identities and style direction for original series
  • Collaborate closely with Showrunners, writers, and AI filmmakers during development and production
  • Create organized reference packs that help maintain consistency across episodes
  • Iterate quickly based on creative feedback and evolving production needs
  • Help establish visual rules, tone, color language, and design continuity for each project
  • Prepare assets and references optimized for AI image and video generation workflows
  • Contribute to the overall creative development of new series and worlds

Preferred Skills & Experience
  • Strong background in character design, concept art, production design, or visual development
  • Strong eye for composition, color, silhouette, shape language, and visual storytelling
  • Experience with AI image-generation tools (Midjourney, Nano Banana, Seedream, Flux, etc.)
  • Familiarity with AI video-generation workflows is a plus (Kling, Veo, Seedance, Runway, etc.)
  • Comfortable working across multiple visual styles and genres
  • Ability to create clear, production-ready visual reference materials
  • Familiarity with Photoshop or other visual editing/compositing tools
  • Passion for animation, filmmaking, internet culture, and emerging creative technology

Compensation & Details
  • Contract Role
  • Potential for long-term employment or full-time role
  • $300 - $800 per series
  • Los Angeles preferred (open to remote)

To Apply
Please send:
  • Portfolio or relevant work samples
  • Examples of character, prop, or environment design work
  • Optional: links to any animation, film, game, or visual development projects
  • A brief overview of your workflow and preferred creative tools

Apply