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Traditional Animation Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Proactively engage with and help define traditional, GenAI, and hybrid workflows to achieve creative excellence, bridging 2D and 3D ideas and integration for high-quality animation and story.

Proactively engage with and help define traditional, GenAI, and hybrid workflows to achieve creative excellence, bridging 2D and 3D ideas and integration for high-quality animation and story.

Proactively engage with and help define traditional, GenAI, and hybrid workflows to achieve creative excellence, bridging 2D and 3D ideas and integration for high-quality animation and story.

Proactively engage with and help define traditional, GenAI, and hybrid workflows to achieve creative excellence, bridging 2D and 3D ideas and integration for high-quality animation and story.

Art Director - Ink

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$236K - $395K/yr

Help develop and document new GenAI/traditional hybrid workflows, collaborating with production and technology teams to improve efficiency and creative output. * Collaborate with the animation studio ...

Art Director - Ink

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$236K - $395K/yr

Help develop and document new GenAI/traditional hybrid workflows, collaborating with production and technology teams to improve efficiency and creative output. * Collaborate with the animation studio ...

... GenAI/traditional hybrid workflows, collaborating with production and technology teams to improve efficiency and creative output. Collaborate with the animation studio partner to communicate ...

... GenAI/traditional hybrid workflows, collaborating with production and technology teams to improve efficiency and creative output. Collaborate with the animation studio partner to communicate ...

Motion Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$76K - $83K/yr

Traditional art and illustration skills. * Deck and presentation design. * 3D design and animation. At Monks, we believe in fostering an environment where a diversity of perspectives can thrive. We ...

Proactively engage with and help define traditional, GenAI, and hybrid workflows to achieve ... Apply a strong understanding of design principles, particularly in stylized animation imagery.

... animation production process, leveraging both generative AI and traditional tools to create feature-quality content in a creator- and artist- led environment. The Assistant Editor should have a ...

Proactively engage with and help define traditional, GenAI, and hybrid workflows to achieve ... Apply a strong understanding of design principles, particularly in stylized animation imagery.

Showing results 41-60

Traditional Animation information

See California salary details

$10

$38

$69

How much do traditional animation jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for traditional 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 types of traditional animation jobs are there?

Traditional animation jobs include roles such as character animator, background artist, layout artist, and storyboard artist. These positions typically require skills in drawing, storytelling, and knowledge of animation principles, often using tools like pencil, paper, and digital software. Job opportunities can be found in animation studios, film, television, advertising, and game development industries.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the traditional animation position, and why are they important?

To thrive in Traditional Animation, you need strong drawing abilities, a solid understanding of animation principles (like timing and movement), and often relevant educational background such as a degree in animation or fine arts. Familiarity with animation tools such as light tables, peg bars, and industry-standard software for scanning and compositing, as well as a portfolio demonstrating your work, are important. Creativity, keen attention to detail, time management, and teamwork are vital soft skills in this field. These combined skills ensure the creation of fluid, expressive animations that meet production deadlines and collaborative artistic standards.

What is a traditional animation?

A Traditional Animation job involves creating hand-drawn frames to produce fluid motion in animated films, television shows, advertisements, or video games. Animators sketch each frame on paper or digitally replicate the traditional process to bring characters and scenes to life. This role requires strong drawing skills, an understanding of motion, and knowledge of animation principles like timing and spacing. Professionals in this field may work as key animators, inbetweeners, or clean-up artists, depending on the production stage.

How to become a traditional animator?

To become a traditional animator, develop strong drawing skills and a solid understanding of animation principles such as timing and spacing. Obtain a degree or training in animation, art, or a related field, and gain experience through internships or personal projects using tools like pencil and paper or traditional animation software. Building a portfolio showcasing your work is essential for job applications in the field.

What does a typical workday look like for a traditional animator, and how do they interact with other team members?

A typical day for a traditional animator involves sketching or inking animation frames by hand, reviewing animatics or storyboards, and refining character movement to maintain consistency across scenes. Traditional animators often work closely with directors, layout artists, and clean-up teams to ensure visual continuity and incorporate feedback. Daily tasks may include attending team meetings, collaborating on scene revisions, and coordinating with digital departments if the project blends traditional and digital techniques. This collaborative environment allows animators to contribute their creative skills while working towards the shared vision of the animation project.

What are the most commonly searched types of Traditional Animation jobs in California? The most popular types of Traditional Animation jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Traditional Animation jobs in California? For Traditional Animation jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Traditional Animation jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Traditional Animation jobs in California are:
Infographic showing various Traditional Animation job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, 47% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $80,900 per year, or $38.9 per hour.

Storyboard Artist- Ink

Netflix

Los Gatos, CA • On-site

$74.52/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 16 hours ago


Netflix rating

5.8

Company rating: 5.8 out of 10

Based on 15 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

70th of 76 rated media


Job description

At Netflix, our mission is to entertain the world. Together, we partner with creators as they experiment with a range of cutting-edge tools that bridge innovation with imaginative storytelling. Come join Inkubator to shape what's next and explore the creative possibilities.

Position Summary

We are seeking a Storyboard Artist to join our pioneering team in developing animated shorts and specials using experimental GenAI-native production pipelines. You will be a crucial partner in visual storytelling, responsible for creating high-quality storyboards from story inception through final delivery. This role requires technical curiosity to navigate, build, and support hybrid workflows using both traditional and new tools, all while contributing to the development of feature-quality content within our creator- and artist-led environment.

Key Responsibilities
  • Collaborate with creative leadership to define and clarify staging, camera, pacing, and character acting, bringing story concepts to life and creating a visual blueprint.

  • Apply a strong understanding of story principles. Use knowledge of 2D and/or CG animation to ensure that posing, staging, and cutting is both inventive and producible.

  • Translate script pages and written or verbal descriptions into visual, ranging from rough thumbnail sketches to finalized storyboard panels. Pitch storyboards to the story, leadership and creative teams.

  • Brainstorm inventive story beats, comedic/dramatic actions, and dialogue tweaks to elevate the story.

  • Proactively engage with and help define traditional, GenAI, and hybrid workflows to achieve creative excellence, bridging 2D and 3D ideas and integration for high-quality animation and story..

  • Receive and incorporate feedback quickly and thoughtfully, maintaining consistency with creative direction, production guidelines, and sprint timelines. Work closely with leadership to resolve issues and address notes.

  • Drive look development and visual experimentation efforts by pioneering new approaches to blend generative imagery with traditional renders and footage.

  • Build workflows, templates, and scripts as needed.

  • Ensure storyboards are delivered to the highest standard and on schedule through effective teamwork and problem-solving skills.

  • Help foster a collaborative, inclusive, curious, and exploratory team environment.

Qualifications
  • 4+ years of storyboarding experience in animation, games, or digital media (feature, episodic, or high-end shortform); experience with stylized or nonphotoreal work is a plus OR a portfolio that demonstrates extensive story experience for animated shorts, series, or features.

  • Storyboarding samples and/or credits demonstrating excellence and inspiration in cinematic sense, graphic storytelling, character development, composition, and editorial pacing.

  • Advanced working knowledge of digital drawing tools.

  • Demonstrated and genuine interest in Generative AI imagery and video, with a proactive, hands-on approach to exploring new GenAI tools to enhance storytelling capabilities.

  • Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to deliver high-quality work on schedule in a fast-moving sprint-based environment.

  • Ability to take direction positively, collaborate across disciplines, and communicate clearly with creative, technical, and production partners.

  • A scrappy, builder's mindset with a high degree of independence, out-of-the-box application, and initiative as production support and workflows evolve alongside the creative process. Demonstrated experience working in ambiguous environments where the core production pipeline is being built and rapidly iterated upon.

  • Comfortable taking big-picture approaches while willing to build new workflows in a fluid, evolving production environment.

  • Ability to provide upward, constructive feedback to leadership for improved scalability.

  • Preferred, not required:Traditional art, photography, or film background.

This job may be covered by a collective bargaining agreement. If so, pay for the position is governed by the currently effective applicable collective bargaining agreement and thus will be no less than $74.52 an hour and up to any better conditions and terms negotiated and obtained as expressly provided therein.

Depending on whether you are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, INK benefits can include medical/dental/vision plans, mental health support, retirement programs, and family-forming benefits, paid leave of absence programs, and paid time away programs to be used for vacation and sick paid time off.

Inclusion is a Netflix value and we strive to host a meaningful interview experience for all candidates. If you want an accommodation/adjustment for a disability or any other reason during the hiring process, please send a request to your recruiting partner.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and celebrate diversity, recognizing that diversity builds stronger teams. We approach diversity and inclusion seriously and thoughtfully. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, caste, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic makeup, marital status, or military service.


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About Netflix

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Netflix is the world's leading streaming entertainment service with 222 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries, feature films and mobile games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any Internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.

Industry

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Gatos, CA, US

Year founded

1997