Storyboard Artist Animator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Blizzard Entertainment is seeking a highly skilled Storyboard Artist to join our production ranks. The ideal candidate is an outstanding draftsperson and a storyteller at heart whose portfolio leans heavily toward action‑adventure and drama. You should possess a masterful grasp of dynamic staging, filmmaking fundamentals, and nuanced character acting. We are looking for a collaborative team player who thrives in a fun, fast‑paced, and highly creative environment.

Job Overview : Storyboard Artist

Position Parameter Details

Company Name Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (A Division of Activision Blizzard / Microsoft)

Job Title Storyboard Artist

Employment Category Approximately 3‑Month Temporary Position (Full‑Time Contract)

Work Model Hybrid (On‑site / Home Studio integration available)

Primary Location Irvine, California, United States (Alternative remote arrangements negotiable)

Standard Base Pay Range $35.03 to $64.80 Hourly (U.S. standard scale)

Primary Toolset Toon Boom Storyboard Pro, Adobe Photoshop, Wacom Cintiq (Blender 3D a plus)

Target Genres Action-Adventure and Drama across legendary Blizzard IPs

Workspace Flexibility & Location Designations

Blizzard Entertainment utilizes a modern workspace framework that balances on‑site creative collaboration with remote flexibility.

• The Hybrid Structure: This contract role is anticipated to operate under a hybrid model, combining structured on‑site studio presence with work‑from‑home periods.
• The Irvine Studio: The primary physical hub and potential home studio for this production team is located in Irvine, California.
• Flexible Remote Arrangements: We recognize that individual geographical circumstances vary. Blizzard talent professionals are fully prepared to explore alternative remote working arrangements for exceptional applicants who reside outside of the immediate Southern California region.

Hourly Compensation Structure

In alignment with transparency and regulatory standards, the standard base pay spectrum for this temporary contract position in the United States is $35.03 to $64.80 per hour. These values reflect the broad range expected for new hires across all nationwide regions.

The finalized hourly rate offered to a successful candidate is negotiable and will be calculated based on a combination of professional criteria, including:

• Total years of verified experience boarding sequences for high‑end animation, VFX, or games.
• Demonstrated technical draftsmanship and cinematic understanding verified during portfolio reviews.
• The chosen geographic work location and its corresponding regional economic index.
• Potential eligibility for discretionary incentive compensation, though incentive pay is not guaranteed.

Holistic Benefits (“Benefits for Every World”)

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage. Access to Health Savings Accounts (HSA), Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA), specialized healthcare flexible spending accounts, and dedicated dependent care spending accounts.
• Financial Protection: Studio-sponsored Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) protection, and short‑term/long‑term disability insurance programs.
• Retirement & Education: A structured 401(k) savings program featuring a corporate matching scheme, tuition reimbursement for ongoing professional education, and charitable donation matching platforms.
• Paid Time Off: Standard paid holidays, accrued vacation time, paid sick leave, floating holidays, parental leave, and compassionate bereavement support windows.
• Lifestyle & Perks: Mental health support programs, corporate fitness incentives, free or discounted Activision Blizzard video games, identity theft protection, group legal services, and discounted renter’s insurance.
• Relocation Support: If the studio mandates structural geographic relocation to our Irvine facility, candidates may be eligible to receive a comprehensive relocation assistance package.

Key Responsibilities as Storyboard Artist

The animation and cinematic development landscape moves rapidly, requiring adaptability and precision. Your daily responsibilities as a Storyboard Artist will encompass the following scope:

1. Sequence Generation & Creative Execution

• Develop complete storyboard sequences traversing all production phases—from quick thumbnails and rough layouts to polished, clean final finishes.
• Implement explicit storytelling objectives, tone, and pacing parameters laid out by the script, outline, and Director.
• Ensure all storyboards align tightly with the creative goals of leadership, consistently adhering to the established vision, style, and narrative standards of our various shows and intellectual properties.
• Collaborate directly with the Director to evaluate narrative direction, design requirements, and the expected level of visual polish required for each episode or cinematic sequence.
• Partner with creative leadership and production managers to review storyboard goals, discuss schedule complexity, flag timeline constraints, and proactively solve structural bottlenecks.
• Participate regularly in cross‑departmental reviews alongside the Supervisor, Director, Producer, Editor, and fellow Storyboard Artists to thoroughly analyze, execute, and revise ongoing boards.

3. Pitching, Feedback & Document Management

• Formally pitch storyboard sequences to Supervisors, Directors, crew members, executives, and external stakeholders, cleanly incorporating constructive feedback and tracking revision notes.
• Attend and actively contribute to script meetings and concept pitches, offering professional perspective and creative ideas from a specialized storyboarding lens.
• Maintain precise document management habits, tracking asset variations and adhering strictly to delivery requirements according to production asset guidelines.

Position Requirements for Storyboard Artist

Blizzard Entertainment is looking for a visually expressive artist who combines excellent draftsmanship with a profound structural understanding of sequential film language.

Required Experience & Artistry

• Industry Track Record: A minimum of five (5) or more years of active, professional experience operating as a dedicated Storyboard Artist and/or Director within an animation, VFX, or game production studio pipeline.
• Masterful Draftsmanship: Advanced figurative drawing and deep perspective drawing skills are strictly mandatory. Candidates must demonstrate an ability to draw characters accurately on‑model inside complex, three‑dimensional digital environments.
• Visual Clarity: Proven capability to provide cleaned‑up storyboard panels that prioritize narrative clarity, strong silhouette tracking, and distinct entertainment value.

Technical & Cinematic Knowledge

• Cinematographic Skillset: Adept understanding of physical staging, camera lens logic, composition rules, screen direction, continuity editing, and the overarching language of modern cinema.
• Software Competency: Advanced proficiency operating industry‑standard hardware and software pipelines, including Wacom Cintiq displays, Toon Boom Storyboard Pro, and Adobe Photoshop. Functional familiarity with Blender 3D workflows is considered a distinct advantage.
• Time Management & Workflow: Exceptional time‑management skills with a proven track record of meeting strict production deadlines.
• Adaptability: The ability to work seamlessly from a Director’s or fellow board artist’s rough thumbnails to generate final boards, while offering regular status updates, troubleshooting asset hitches, and reviewing potential changes on the fly with production staff.
• Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to write clear, specific, and legible textual directions directly onto storyboard panels when requested.

Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility Commitment

Blizzard Entertainment is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

We know that diverse teams operating in an inclusive environment enhance our ability to build immersive worlds where everyone can thrive. We strongly encourage applications from women, members of under‑represented communities, and individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable physical or mental accommodations during the application or interviewing process, please submit your confidential request to accommodationrequests@activisionblizzard.com.