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Traditional Animation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Skill

Sr. UI Animator / Motion Designer

Culver City, CA · On-site

$91/hr

The ideal candidate has a solid foundation in all of the classic principles of animation and is a ... Traditional motion graphics portfolios without clear user-interaction examples (e.g., app ...

Skill

Sr. UI Animator / Motion Designer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$91/hr

The ideal candidate has a solid foundation in all of the classic principles of animation and is a ... Traditional motion graphics portfolios without clear user-interaction examples (e.g., app ...

Aquent

Sr. UI Animator / Motion Designer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$81 - $91/hr

The ideal candidate has a solid foundation in all of the classic principles of animation and is a ... Traditional motion graphics portfolios without clear user-interaction examples (e.g., app ...

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Traditional Animation information

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How much do traditional animation jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for traditional animation in the United States is $39.41, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.88 and $63.94 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the salary of a traditional animator?

The salary of a traditional animator typically ranges from $40,000 to $70,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Entry-level animators may earn less, while experienced professionals working in major studios or with specialized skills can earn higher salaries. Many traditional animators also work freelance or on contract, which can affect income levels.

What is traditional animation called?

Traditional animation is also known as hand-drawn animation or cel animation, where each frame is created by drawing or painting on paper or transparent sheets. This method was widely used before the advent of digital techniques and requires skills in drawing and timing. Animators often use tools like pencils, ink, and paint to produce the sequences frame by frame.

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 job?

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.

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 types of jobs are in animation?

In traditional animation, common jobs include character animator, background artist, layout artist, storyboard artist, and timing director. These roles often require skills in drawing, storytelling, and familiarity with animation software like Toon Boom or Adobe Animate. Additional positions may involve art director, cleanup artist, and production coordinator, depending on the project size and studio structure.

What jobs can I do with animation?

With a background in traditional animation, you can pursue roles such as animator, storyboard artist, character designer, or animation director. These jobs often require skills in drawing, storytelling, and familiarity with animation software, and may involve working in film, television, gaming, or advertising industries.
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Traditional Animation jobs near you
Infographic showing various Traditional Animation job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% Locum Tenens, 5% Internship, 15% As Needed, 55% Full Time, 19% Part Time, and 3% Nights. Highlights an 70% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 27% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $81,974 per year, or $39.4 per hour.
Senior Animator, Unannounced Super Fun Video Game (Contract)

Senior Animator, Unannounced Super Fun Video Game (Contract)

Second Dinner Studios, Inc

Remote

$60 - $70/hr

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago

Job description

Our Team
We're building a PvE co-op action game with a small, highly autonomous team.
Each discipline is represented by a single owner. There is no large animation department, dedicated technical animation team, or production layer separating disciplines. The people who thrive here are comfortable making decisions, solving problems independently, and moving work forward without extensive process or oversight.
We care more about demonstrated capability than years of experience, previous titles, or studio pedigree. Show us great animation work, shipped games, side projects, game jam projects, mods, tools you've built, pipelines you've improved, or anything else that demonstrates your ability to create and ship great experiences.
Your Role
Animation is the primary focus of this role.
We're looking for someone who can create both expressive character performances and exceptional gameplay animation. Our characters need to feel compelling when viewed up close through facial expressions, acting, personality, and charm, while also feeling responsive, readable, and satisfying during gameplay.
You'll own animation from rigging and implementation through final polish. Most of your time will be spent creating animation, but because of our team's size, you'll also be expected to identify technical challenges, improve workflows, and occasionally step outside traditional discipline boundaries when it helps the project move forward.
This is a fully remote role. Much of the team's coordination happens asynchronously, so success requires clear written communication, proactive updates, and the ability to make progress without waiting for meetings or direction.
The strongest candidates tend to be builders. They make games outside of work, participate in game jams, create mods, experiment with new tools, or otherwise demonstrate a habit of learning and creating beyond their day job.
What You'll Do
  • Create high-quality character, gameplay, and combat animation.
  • Bring personality, appeal, emotion, and charm to characters through performance and facial animation.
  • Create responsive, readable, and satisfying gameplay animation that supports combat and player feedback.
  • Rig, skin, and prepare assets for animation.
  • Implement, iterate on, and polish animation directly in Unreal Engine.
  • Work closely with Design and Engineering to improve gameplay feel, responsiveness, readability, and player experience.
  • Coordinate with Character Art, Environment Art, and VFX to ensure assets integrate smoothly into the game.
  • Identify bottlenecks and improve workflows through tooling, automation, technical solutions, or process improvements.
  • Evaluate and leverage AI-assisted workflows when they meaningfully improve iteration speed, content creation, or production efficiency.
  • Occasionally collaborate with external art partners to review deliverables, communicate feedback, and maintain quality standards.
  • Own animation as a discipline from concept through final implementation.

What You'll Need
  • A portfolio demonstrating exceptional animation work.
  • Demonstrated strength in both character performance animation and gameplay animation.
  • Strong understanding of character acting, facial expression, appeal, timing, and physicality.
  • Strong understanding of gameplay readability, responsiveness, combat feel, and player feedback.
  • Strong rigging skills.
  • Experience implementing animation content in Unreal Engine.
  • Comfort working directly in-engine to solve problems and iterate on content.
  • The ability to independently own a discipline and make forward progress with minimal oversight.
  • Strong written communication skills and comfort working in a fully remote, asynchronous
  • environment.
  • The ability to discuss technical and creative tradeoffs with designers, engineers, artists, and external partners.
  • Comfort learning unfamiliar tools, workflows, or disciplines when doing so benefits the project.
  • Comfort using AI-assisted tools as part of a modern game development workflow.

Nice to Have, But Not Necessary
  • Experience as a Technical Animator, Tech Artist, Art Director, or other cross-disciplinary role.
  • Experience building tools, pipelines, procedural systems, or workflow automation.
  • Experience managing external vendors or outsourcing relationships.
  • Experience shipping an indie game, game jam project, mod, or significant personal project.
  • Experience working on small teams where individuals routinely contribute outside their primary discipline.
  • Experience with cooperative action games, boss-focused encounters, or other highly replayable multiplayer experiences.
  • Affinity for complex competitive games such as League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, or similar titles.
  • Experience with endgame MMO content such as raiding in World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV, or similar games.
  • Familiarity with anime-inspired visual styles, character archetypes, and modern anime storytelling conventions.

This position pays a range of $60 - 70 per hour (USD).
Individual pay within this range may span multiple levels within the discipline and is determined by assessed job-related skills, experience, relevant education, or training. It also factors in market demands and business needs. The disclosed range is not adjusted based on location and may be subject to change or modification based on business needs in the future. This role is contracted through a third-party that provides health benefits, etc., which your recruiter can discuss more during the hiring process.
We are an equal opportunity employer that places high value on diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, disability status, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military status, or veteran status.
You must be legally authorized to work and reside in the United States. We do not sponsor visas or support employment outside the U.S. for this role.

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