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Small Animation Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Thinkingbox

Art Director, Motion - The Heist

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$120K - $150K/yr

Direct small to mid-size teams of animators and designers across various projects. * Contribute to pitch decks, treatments, and new business efforts when needed. * Stay ahead of industry trends ...

Thinkingbox

Art Director, Motion - The Heist

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$120K - $150K/yr

Direct small to mid-size teams of animators and designers across various projects. * Contribute to pitch decks, treatments, and new business efforts when needed. * Stay ahead of industry trends ...

Branchfire, Inc

iOS Developer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$53.25 - $73.50/hr

You'll be part of a small, high-caliber development team, and primarily responsible for working on ... Detailed knowledge of iOS APIs, including UIKit, Core Animation, and building custom views

MiQ

Creative Developer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$65K - $75K/yr

Develop custom, dynamic and interactive advertisement builds, including asset exporting, animation ... Just like inclusivity, our values flow through everything we do - no matter how big or small. * We ...

Miqdigital

Creative Developer

Chicago, IL

$65K - $75K/yr

Develop custom, dynamic and interactive advertisement builds, including asset exporting, animation ... Just like inclusivity, our values flow through everything we do - no matter how big or small. * We ...

JPMorgan Chase & Co

Training Associate

Chicago, IL

... video, and animation technologies to support online coursework and programs * Evaluate the ... small businesses and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government ...

New

JP Morgan Chase

Training Associate

Chicago, IL

... video, and animation technologies to support online coursework and programs * Evaluate the ... small businesses and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government ...

New

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Training Associate

Chicago, IL · On-site

$59K - $85K/yr

... video, and animation technologies to support online coursework and programs * Evaluate the ... small businesses and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government ...

New

Medline

Manager Training

Northfield, IL · On-site

$92K - $138K/yr

Additional Presentation experience (small- to mid-size groups). * Intermediate level skill in Microsoft PowerPoint (for example: changing picture styles, customizing animation and/or setting ...

SOM

Senior Designer - Architecture

Chicago, IL · On-site

$105K - $112K/yr

... animations. * Effectively communicates internally with project teams and externally with ... small scale. * Actively collaborates at a project, consultant team, and client team level by ...

SOM

Architect

Chicago, IL

... animations. * Effectively communicates internally with project teams and externally with ... Our Culture Our creative, interdisciplinary teams work like small, dynamic studios, with all the ...

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Architect

Chicago, IL · On-site

... animations. * Effectively communicates internally with project teams and externally with ... Our Culture Our creative, interdisciplinary teams work like small, dynamic studios, with all the ...

S&C

Senior Digital Communications Specialist

Chicago, IL · On-site

$87K - $116K/yr

We're big enough to be a respected industry leader but small enough for you to impact our company ... animators, to bring social concepts to life. * Support internal teams with social expertise during ...

BISCO, Inc.

Creative Designer, Junior

Schaumburg, IL · On-site

$55K - $64K/yr

Creative thinker with strong design skills, sense of timing for videos / animations, ability to ... Agility of a small company but the stability of a big company * Industry-leading dental restorative ...

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All JobsSmall Animation JobsSmall Animation Jobs in Chicago, IL

Small Animation information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$10

$40

$72

How much do small animation jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average hourly pay for small animation in Chicago, IL is $40.60, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $22.55 and $65.87 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 are popular job titles related to Small Animation jobs in Chicago, IL? For Small Animation jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Small Animation jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Small Animation jobs in Chicago, IL are:
Small Animation jobs near you
Infographic showing various Small Animation job openings in Chicago, IL as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 4% Locum Tenens, 3% Internship, 20% As Needed, 47% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 13% Nights. Highlights an 69% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 28% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $84,445 per year, or $40.6 per hour.

Art Director, Motion - The Heist

Thinkingbox

Chicago, IL • On-site, Remote

$120K - $150K/yr

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago

Job description

Who We Are

Hi! We’re The Heist, the motion design, live action, and post production studio within Thinkingbox, the Brief-to-Built agency.

We bring together directors, designers, animators, editors, and technologists to create work that moves. From brand films to broadcast spots to social campaigns and experiential content, our team blends craft and curiosity to push ideas further. Across our studios, collaboration is real, feedback is open, and culture matters. We take the work seriously. Ourselves, a little less so.

The Opportunity

We're on the hunt for an Art Director, Motion who can lead with vision, inspire teams, and push creative boundaries across a variety of motion design projects. In this hybrid hands-on and leadership role, you’ll take ideas from concept to execution, including: storyboarding, styleframing, directing motion designers, and overseeing high-caliber 3D and 2D content for social, branded, commercial, and experiential campaigns.

You’ll collaborate with fellow creatives and cross-functional teams to shape the visual direction of projects that range from digital micro-content to full-length animated pieces. You’ll ensure creative excellence while mentoring junior talent and maintaining efficiency and clarity throughout the production pipeline.

What You'll Be Doing
  • Lead concept development and the realization of creative direction for motion projects.
  • Create styleframes and storyboards that define tone, motion language, and aesthetic.
  • Oversee/guide and participate in the execution of 3D/2D motion graphics, ensuring quality and cohesion.
  • Collaborate with creative directors, producers, and designers to shape campaign narratives.
  • Give thoughtful and actionable feedback that elevates the work.
  • Direct small to mid-size teams of animators and designers across various projects.
  • Contribute to pitch decks, treatments, and new business efforts when needed.
  • Stay ahead of industry trends, tools, and techniques to continuously elevate our creative output.
What You'll Bring
  • A stunning portfolio demonstrating strong art direction in motion across multiple styles and platforms.
  • 7+ years of experience in motion design or animation, with at least 1-2 years in a senior or leadership role.
  • Strong background in visual storytelling, typography, color theory, and design principles.
  • Expertise in Cinema 4D, Redshift, and Adobe Creative Suite (After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere).
  • Familiarity with Houdini, XParticles, Marvelous Designer, or Substance Painter is a bonus.
  • Excellent communication skills – both visual and verbal.
  • Ability to manage timelines, provide mentorship, and balance hands-on work with strategic thinking.
  • A deep passion for craft and a desire to push what’s possible in motion.
Additional Info
  • Monday - Thursday in office (Fridays are remote optional)
  • Flexible time off, including paid vacation and sick days
  • Consistent culture and team-building events
  • Employee recognition and incentive programs
  • Seasonal celebrations and gatherings throughout the year 
  • Office lunches 
  • Branded company swag
  • Access to industry events, learning opportunities, and non-profit outreaches
  • Dog-friendly offices
  • Unlimited coffee, drinks, and snacks
  • Flex work and travel options
  • Comprehensive extended health benefits
  • 401k matching
Placement in the salary range will be based on factors such as internal equity, candidate experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the role. If your compensation expectations fall outside of this range, we still welcome your application.

Equal Opportunity

At The Heist, we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered to thrive. We believe that diversity is our creative strength – it's the range of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds that fuels our best ideas and most innovative solutions. We welcome and encourage applicants of all races, ethnicities, genders, identities, abilities, ages, sexual orientations, and backgrounds to apply. Your voice matters here.

To Apply

Thank you for your interest in joining our team. Please submit your resume along with links to your online portfolio as part of your application. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we’re unable to respond to every submission. However, all applications are kept in our talent database and will be considered for future opportunities.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.