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Small Animation Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Bonfire Studios

Gameplay Animator (Senior/Principal)

Irvine, CA · On-site +1

$113K - $129K/yr

On a small team, your work will directly influence the feel of every ability, encounter, and moment of impact. If you care about animation as gameplay (and want real ownership over the result) we'd ...

Superpower

Motion Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120K - $170K/yr

Design UI animations and micro-interactions that elevate the product experience * Collaborate with ... A-players only: small team of exceptional people who actually do the work * Founder mode: everyone ...

Clera

Frontend Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

You'll be an early engineering team member helping shape how developers and small teams manage ... Experience designing and implementing UI animations. * Comfort contributing to backend code in at ...

Monks

Integrated Producer, Social

Los Angeles, CA · Hybrid

Integrated Producers at Monks are responsible for independently leading small to mid-tier projects ... 3D animation, editorial and finishing). You must be able to problem solve in a timely, cost ...

Virtuos Corporation

Management Trainee

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

Formed by a team of animation advocates and industry veterans, our studio in Los Angeles offers a ... Create and present insights, project updates, and analytical findings to department leads and small ...

Virtuos

Management Trainee

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

Create and present insights, project updates, and analytical findings to department leads and small ... Formed by a team of animation advocates and industry veterans, our studio in Los Angeles offers a ...

Monks

Integrated Producer, Social

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

... 3D animation, editorial and finishing). You must be able to problem solve in a timely, cost ... Manage small in-house productions working closely with our internal studio resources to produce ...

Media.Monks

$70K/yr

... 3D animation, editorial and finishing). You must be able to problem solve in a timely, cost ... Manage small in-house productions working closely with our internal studio resources to produce ...

Workato

Creative Director, Product

Palo Alto, CA

$182K - $223K/yr

Experience leading a small team of 2-3 digital designers. * Experience creating a wide range of creative assets for tech products - videos, animations, icons, GIFs, illustrations, and presentation ...

Spellbrush

HPC/ML Infrastructure Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$126K - $166K/yr

... with a small, fast-paced research team. Qualifications : Required : • Experience in HPC ... Spellbrush is an illustration platform that enables artists, illustrators, and animators to ...

Hark

Frontend Engineer

San Jose, CA

$170K - $400K/yr

This is a high-ownership role on a small team. You'll work directly with designers and the ... You notice when animations are off, when loading states feel wrong, when something just doesn't ...

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All JobsSmall Animation JobsSmall Animation Jobs in California

Small Animation information

See California salary details

$10

$38

$69

How much do small animation jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 26, 2026, the average hourly pay for small 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 job makes $10,000 a month without a degree?

A small animation artist or freelancer can earn $10,000 a month by creating high-quality animations for clients, often working independently or through online platforms. Success depends on skills, portfolio, and client base, with many professionals building their income through digital tools like Adobe After Effects or Blender. No formal degree is required, but strong technical skills and a good reputation are essential.

What jobs can I do with animation?

With animation skills, you can pursue roles such as animator, character designer, story artist, motion graphics artist, or visual effects artist. These jobs often require proficiency in software like Adobe After Effects, Maya, or Blender and may involve working in film, television, advertising, or gaming industries.

Will AI replace animators?

AI can automate certain tasks in animation, such as in-betweening and rendering, but it is unlikely to fully replace animators. Skilled animators are needed to create creative, expressive, and complex animations that require human judgment and artistic vision. AI tools are more likely to serve as assistants to enhance productivity rather than replace the role entirely.

What is the difference between Small Animation vs Character Animator?

AspectSmall AnimationCharacter Animator
Required SkillsBasic animation techniques, software proficiency (e.g., Adobe Animate, After Effects)Advanced character rigging, facial expressions, lip-sync, and performance animation
Work EnvironmentFreelance, small studios, or online platformsAnimation studios, media companies, or game development firms
Industry UsageUsed for simple animations, explainer videos, or social media contentUsed for character-driven scenes, storytelling, and complex animations

Small Animation typically involves creating simple, short animations often for online content or social media, requiring basic skills. Character Animator specializes in bringing characters to life with detailed movements and expressions, often within larger production environments. While both roles involve animation skills, Character Animator requires more advanced techniques and experience in character performance.

What jobs can I get with animation?

With animation skills, you can pursue roles such as animator, motion graphics designer, character designer, storyboard artist, or visual effects artist. These jobs typically require proficiency in animation software like Adobe After Effects, Maya, or Blender and may involve working in film, television, advertising, or gaming industries.
What are popular job titles related to Small Animation jobs in California? For Small Animation jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Small Animation jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Small Animation jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Small Animation jobs? Cities in California with the most Small Animation job openings:
Small Animation jobs near you
Gameplay Animator (Senior/Principal)

Gameplay Animator (Senior/Principal)

Bonfire Studios

Irvine, CA • On-site, Remote

$113K - $129K/yr

Full-time

Posted 11 days ago

Job description

What's the one game you couldn't put down? The game that connected you with friends, and made you feel like you belonged? If a game has ever defined a chapter of your life, then you already know the spark we're chasing. Our mission is to ignite that same feeling for players; the thrill of competition, the joy of community, and the belonging of finding your own corner of a larger world.
Great games begin with people who dare to dream big. If that sounds exciting, you might be exactly who we're looking for.
Bonfire is a group of experienced and ambitious developers, proud to be creating our first original IP: Arkheron. It is a fast-paced, competitive PVP game set in a surreal dark fantasy world where 15 teams of three battle their way up the Tower. In a world built from memories, you will loot powerful items to create and adapt a unique build-out that will change your strategy and combat experience with every Ascension.
The best way to understand our Art team is in their own words - here's how they describe their work.
Our goal is to immerse players in an extraordinary and haunting realm. From initial concept art to final in-game elements, we are crafting a compelling aesthetic experience that seamlessly blends with and brings to life the game's narrative, level design, combat and audio. We play the game daily and our deep understanding of it allows us to deliver visuals that put the player experience first, while still pushing artistic boundaries to fully capture the unique tone and unforgettable atmosphere of the Arkheron's world.
We're looking for a Senior/Principal Animator who understands that every frame communicates something: timing, weight, threat, opportunity. You'll help define the animation language of a competitive experience, shaping clarity and responsiveness from the earliest stages of development. On a small team, your work will directly influence the feel of every ability, encounter, and moment of impact. If you care about animation as gameplay (and want real ownership over the result) we'd love to see your reel.
YOU'LL CONTRIBUTE BY:
  • Creating high-quality, in-game character animations that bring combat, movement, and moment-to-moment gameplay to life.
  • Collaborating closely with designers, engineers, and tech artists to develop combat that feels responsive, readable, and satisfying in a competitive multiplayer environment.
  • Partnering with animation, engineering, and tech art to help shape rigs, tools, and animation systems that improve workflows and elevate quality.
  • Owning animation features end-to-end, from early exploration and iteration through polish and final implementation.
  • Aligning with the animation team on style, quality bar, and execution, while contributing your own ideas, taste, and problem-solving.
  • Participating actively in playtests, evaluating your work through the lens of the player experience and iterating based on feel, clarity, and gameplay impact.
  • Balancing animation fidelity with gameplay needs, making smart tradeoffs that serve performance, readability, and fun.
  • Wearing multiple hats in a small, focused team and using your experience to contribute beyond your core lane when it helps the game or studio.
  • Helping shape a new IP, contributing creatively and thoughtfully as the game, systems, and pipelines evolve.

WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT YOU BECAUSE YOU:
  • Have strong experience creating high-quality gameplay animation, ideally across multiple shipped titles.
  • Are genuinely excited by competitive multiplayer combat and understand how animation affects feel, fairness, and clarity.
  • Bring a deep understanding of combat systems and how animation drives responsiveness and player satisfaction.
  • Have experience working with or helping develop animation systems and tools, including in new or evolving engines.
  • Are comfortable owning work independently, seeing features through from concept to completion.
  • Are highly skilled at conveying character through gameplay animation, not just cinematics.
  • Push for animation excellence while prioritizing gameplay quality first.
  • Are self-motivated and good at identifying what matters most right now for the game.
  • Thrive in highly collaborative, cross-disciplinary teams and communicate clearly with partners in all disciplines.
  • Value trust, openness, and diverse perspectives, and enjoy learning from others.
  • Have a growth mindset and care about raising the quality bar for both yourself and the team.
  • Are passionate about the creative process and excited to help build something new together.

THIS MIGHT NOT BE THE ROLE FOR YOU IF:
  • You're primarily looking for a people-management or team-lead role rather than a hands-on IC position.
  • You prefer working in a highly siloed environment with minimal cross-disciplinary collaboration.
  • You're uncomfortable iterating based on playtests or adjusting work to serve gameplay needs.
  • You're looking for a role with narrowly defined responsibilities and little room to explore beyond your lane.
  • Competitive multiplayer games (and the tradeoffs they require) don't genuinely excite you.
  • You prefer fully established pipelines and systems over building and evolving things as you go.

YOU'LL LOVE WORKING AT BONFIRE BECAUSE WE:
  • Embrace bold challenges with creativity and courage, making the tough calls to build a game we're proud to play every day.
  • Keep fun at the core: we play Arkheron daily, staying grounded as players. If it's not more fun than yesterday, we fix it. We don't chase trends; we listen by playing.
  • Stay truly independent, with decisions driven by the team - not by investors or a board.
  • Thrive in a culture of passion, trust, and shared ownership; where transparency matters and egos don't.

The base salary range for this role is $196,500 - $247,133. Depending on your experience and level (whether you're closer to mid-level or principal), your offer may land above or below that range. We don't just look at years on a résumé - we think about the impact you can have on the team and the game. Of course, compensation at Bonfire goes beyond salary. Every new teammate receives equity, plus a full benefits package and some extra perks to make work (and life) better. When we connect, we'll happily walk you through the full details.
Want to get a feel for what it's like to work here? You can check out more about our culture, team, benefits, and perks at www.bonfirestudios.com. And don't worry - anything you share with us in the application process is just for recruiting and won't be shared. You can read more in our privacy policy.

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