2

Remote 3D Character Animator Jobs in San Rafael, CA

Lead Animator

Novato, CA · Remote

$123K - $182K/yr

... shape the character performance and movement systems of our project. In this role, you'll ... for our players. #LI-Remote The pay range for this position in California at the start of ...

Lead Character Artist

Novato, CA · Remote

$150K - $180K/yr

Expert proficiency in 3D creation tools including 3ds Max, Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter ... for our players. #LI-Remote The pay range for this position in California at the start of ...

Lead Character Artist

Novato, CA · Remote

$150K - $180K/yr

Expert proficiency in 3D creation tools including 3ds Max, Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter ... for our players. #LI-Remote The pay range for this position in California at the start of ...

Lead Character Artist

Novato, CA · Remote

$150K - $180K/yr

Expert proficiency in 3D creation tools including 3ds Max, Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter ... for our players. #LI-Remote The pay range for this position in California at the start of ...

Lead Character Artist

Novato, CA · Remote

$150K - $180K/yr

Expert proficiency in 3D creation tools including 3ds Max, Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter ... for our players. #LI-Remote The pay range for this position in California at the start of ...

Some weeks you'll be deep in a flagship animation yourself; others you'll be running critique ... Fluency in at least one 3D tool (Cinema 4D, Blender, Spline, or similar) * Real visual design ...

AI/ML Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$152K - $220K/yr

Familiarity with 3D scene understanding, reconstruction, or geometry-based AI techniques ... You approach technical hurdles with the focused determination of a main character in a classic ...

AI/ML Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$152K - $220K/yr

Familiarity with 3D scene understanding, reconstruction, or geometry-based AI techniques ... You approach technical hurdles with the focused determination of a main character in a classic ...

Remote 3D Character Animator information

See San Rafael, CA salary details

$34.6K

$71.2K

$147.7K

How much do remote 3d character animator jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for remote 3d character animator in San Rafael, CA is $71,192.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $55,200.00 and $69,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a remote 3D character animator do?

A Remote 3D Character Animator creates lifelike or stylized character animations for video games, movies, TV, or other digital media while working from a location outside a traditional studio. They use specialized 3D animation software to bring characters to life, focusing on movement, facial expressions, and timing to convey emotions and story. Remote animators collaborate with teams through online tools, attend virtual meetings, and share their progress digitally. Strong communication, self-motivation, and technical skills are essential for success in this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a remote 3D character animator?

To thrive as a Remote 3D Character Animator, you need expertise in character animation principles, 3D modeling, and a solid portfolio demonstrating your animation work, often supported by a relevant degree or equivalent experience. Proficiency in industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max, and familiarity with collaboration tools like Slack or ShotGrid, is typically required. Strong communication, self-motivation, and the ability to incorporate feedback remotely are standout soft skills. These competencies ensure seamless collaboration, high-quality animation output, and efficient workflow management in a distributed work environment.

How do remote 3D character animators typically collaborate with other team members given the virtual work environment?

Remote 3D Character Animators usually work closely with modelers, riggers, and creative directors through digital collaboration tools like Slack, Zoom, and project management platforms. Clear communication and regular check-ins are essential to ensure animation assets align with the overall vision and technical requirements. Sharing progress through cloud-based file storage and receiving feedback via annotated videos or live review sessions is common. Building strong virtual relationships and proactively seeking clarification helps maintain workflow efficiency and creative synergy.

What job categories do people searching Remote 3D Character Animator jobs in San Rafael, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Remote 3D Character Animator jobs in San Rafael, CA are:

What cities near San Rafael, CA are hiring for Remote 3D Character Animator jobs?

Cities near San Rafael, CA with the most Remote 3D Character Animator job openings:

3D Game Programmer (Unity)

Spellbrush

San Francisco, CA • Remote

Full-time

Re-posted 8 days ago


Job description

tl;dr: We're building a 3D first-person adventure game where an AI companion is the core of the game. Think MiSide with LLMs, but truly integrated with gameplay, not just a RP chatbot.

About Us

Here at Spellbrush, we're passionate about making a good anime game.

We also happen to be the world's leading generative AI studio—we're the team behind niji・journey.

Our mission is simple: use AI to bring characters to life and push the boundaries of narrative-driven games.

What We’re Building

We’ve developed an in-house LLM storytelling system that blends AI, story, and gameplay—going far beyond shallow “chat-only” experiences.

The result is an AI companion who cooperates with you in puzzles, remembers across worlds, and changes how each chapter unfolds.

We’re looking for a strong Unity engineer who loves 3D story-driven games. You’ll join our lead Unity dev, who has spent the past 5 years building interactive anime avatars, to grow our working prototype into a full game.

In-game screenshots (development build)


About The Role

You will join a small but extremely talented team to define a new kind of video game experience. You'll work alongside top otaku minds in the industry, including the creator of Warudo and Cytoid, a Google Deepmind veteran behind Project Astra, and top-tier AI researchers.

As an early member of this team, you will have significant artistic and research freedom to shape what could become the next-generation LLM-driven storytelling experience.

Why You'll Love Working With Us

Impact and Ownership: As an early team member, you'll have the opportunity to push the boundaries of what's possible at the intersection of the AI, anime, and video game industry.

A World-Class Team: You'll work directly with some of the best AI researchers and engineers in the world in a small, mighty, and fast-paced team.

Culture: We are seeking individuals who ideally are fans of anime and the anime aesthetic. We believe in the unmatched speed of in-person collaboration.

International Opportunities: We have primary research offices in downtown Akihabara, Tokyo, and San Francisco. Visa sponsorships are available for qualified candidates.


You may be a good fit if: You love anime and the anime aesthetic

We are literally building an anime game, so this is a requirement!

You have independently developed a 3D narrative game in Unity

Bonus points if the game is first-person.

You’re good at 3D character animation

Bonus if you have used mocap and understand the mocap workflow at a studio. Bonus for having your assets on the Unity store.

You're excited about the potential of Generative AI

You'll also be working closely along some of the best AI researchers in the world. Part of working with our team may involve looking at our latest research results, and figuring out how to best apply it into our game. You will be at the literal cutting edge of what is possible with machine learning, art, and games. Having experience working with LLMs is a plus.

You're comfortable working on small, fast-paced teams

Working here will feel very much like a small indie studio: close-knit, with high ownership and flexibility.

We also believe in the unmatched speed of in-person teams, and prefer on-site collaboration in either our primary research office in Tokyo (downtown Akihabara) or San Francisco. Visa sponsorships are available.