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Traditional Animation Jobs in Toronto, ON (NOW HIRING)

Relay

Senior Design Engineer

Toronto, ON · On-site

$130.50 - $159.50/hr

Help evolve a workflow that replaces traditional handoffs with continuous collaboration. * Create ... You have experience with motion or animation work (motion/react, GSAP, or vanilla CSS animations)

All JobsTraditional Animation JobsTraditional Animation Jobs in Toronto, ON

Traditional Animation information

See Toronto, ON salary details

$13.8K

$73K

$192.3K

How much do traditional animation jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for traditional animation in Toronto, ON is $73,037.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $39,605.00 and $92,093.00 per year, 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 Toronto, ON?

The most popular types of Traditional Animation jobs in Toronto, ON are:

What are popular job titles related to Traditional Animation jobs in Toronto, ON?

For Traditional Animation jobs in Toronto, ON, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Traditional Animation jobs in Toronto, ON look for?

The top searched job categories for Traditional Animation jobs in Toronto, ON are:

Traditional Animation jobs near you
Infographic showing various Traditional Animation job openings in Toronto, ON as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 55% Full Time, 44% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $73,037 per year, or $35.1 per hour.

Advanced Gameplay Animator

Certain Affinity, Inc.

Toronto, ON • On-site

Full-time

Posted 16 days ago

Job description

As an Advanced Animator at Certain Affinity, you'll be part of a creative team generating highly polished in-game animations for AAA and original IP titles. This is a great opportunity to assist in the project's design by providing pre-visualization animations for gameplay elements and evolving and refining motion for characters, weapons, vehicles, and environmental objects. Are you looking for an opportunity to work with insanely talented, humble, and collaborative game devs? Then look no further and read on.
***Candidates must be located in Ontario or British Columbia Canada to be eligible for this opportunity.***
Responsibilities
 
  • Work with the Art Director, Lead Animator & Design team to visualize and integrate motion into a highly immersive world
  • implementation of animation assets and testing in engine for accuracy
  • Mentor other animators on technique and process
  • Create animations in a variety of styles, from ultra-realistic mocap based movement to highly stylized hand-keyed motion depending on the needs of the project
Requirements
 
  • 4+ years’ experience in the game industry, specifically associated with character and object animation
  • Shipped 2+ titles as an animator
 
  • Experience establishing and driving new workflows for content creation
  • Experience establishing new tools for both internal and codev project use
  • Expert-level understanding of the principles of animation
  • Experience in UE4 and UE5
  • Excellent understanding of game animation pipelines and workflow
  • Strong communication and time management skills
  • Ability to work within predefined styles from realistic to stylized and effectively communicate this style to the rest of a team
  • Knowledge and application of both keyframe and performance capture animation in a real-time environment
  • Solid grasp of performance requirements and constraints of current-generation console and PC gaming development
  • Solid understanding of how animation by way of performance, staging, dynamics, timing, and pacing influences player response and feedback to help make a game fun and engaging
  • Experience mentoring other artists and animators
  • Must be able to initiate visual direction without specific concept or design
  • A desire to work and support a diverse and inclusive environment

Extra Credit
 
  • Experience in the setup, organization, and performance direction of a motion capture shoot
  • Expert level knowledge of Maya. MotionBuilder and other 3D animation packages are a plus
  • Strong foundational knowledge in traditional arts, including but not limited to graphic design or illustration, life drawing, acting, and cinematography
  • Experience working with co-development partners
Salary: $110K CAD-$140K CAD
 

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